Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks might be calling you to the American Southwest, but Utah’s national monuments deserve a place on your itinerary, too. From ancient cultural sites and dinosaur fossils to slot canyons and natural stone bridges, these lesser-known landscapes are made for taking the scenic route. Consider this your guide to discovering the best national monuments near Under Canvas locations in Utah. Visit them on a day trip from camp or add them to your Southwest road trip itinerary.
National Monuments Near Under Canvas Moab
Surrounded by red-rock landscapes and public lands, Under Canvas Moab makes an unforgettable base camp for exploring Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Dead Horse Point State Park, and four national monuments.
Bears Ears National Monument
About 2 hours from Under Canvas Moab | 70 miles
Bears Ears National Monument is more than a striking desert landscape. Sacred to several Tribal Nations, this region is home to ancestral dwellings, rock art, granaries, and other irreplaceable sites set among canyons, mesas, and sandstone formations.
Spend the day following scenic routes, photographing the cliffs of Indian Creek, or hiking through Cedar Mesa and Comb Ridge. Some areas require day-use passes or advance permits, so plan your route before setting out.
Natural Bridges National Monument
About 2 hours from Under Canvas Moab | 125 miles
Water, wind, and time created the three natural bridges protected within Natural Bridges National Monument: Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo. See them from overlooks along the scenic drive, or descend into the canyon on trails ranging from short walks to more challenging hikes that connect all three bridges.
Natural Bridges is an excellent road trip stop between Moab and the Lake Powell or Monument Valley regions. Spend a few hours viewing the bridges, stretch your legs on a trail, and continue toward your next destination with another extraordinary Utah landscape checked off your list.
Hovenweep National Monument
About 2.5 hours from Under Canvas Moab | 133 miles
Marvel at six preserved prehistoric sites above quiet canyons along the Utah–Colorado border at Hovenweep National Monument. Built by ancestral Puebloan communities, these structures showcase extraordinary stonework and offer a glimpse into the lives of people who inhabited the region centuries ago.
Begin at the visitor center before walking the trail around the Square Tower Group, where towers, pueblos, and other structures stand along the canyon rim.
Consider including Hovenweep on the way to or from Moab, particularly if your road trip continues toward Mesa Verde, southwest Colorado, or Monument Valley.
Dinosaur National Monument
About 3 hours from Under Canvas Moab | 174 miles
Indulge your inner paleontologist by heading north to Dinosaur National Monument just across the Utah–Colorado border. At the Quarry Exhibit Hall, approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones are embedded in a towering rock wall. But the monument offers far more than fossils. You can see petroglyphs, hike through rugged canyon country, take scenic drives, or raft the Green and Yampa Rivers.
Consider visiting Dinosaur National Monument before or after arriving in Moab from Salt Lake City, Park City, or western Colorado rather than a day trip from camp.
National Monuments Near Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase
Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase places you within easy reach of sculpted canyons, glistening waters, and some of the Southwest’s most spectacular scenery.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
About 15 minutes from Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase | 12 miles
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a vast playground of cliffs, plateaus, slot canyons, and colorful desert badlands. Hike among the Toadstool Hoodoos, set out on a slot-canyon adventure, or explore part of Cottonwood Canyon Road when conditions permit.
With its proximity to Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase, it’s easy to drop in for a short hike, take a full-day trip, or follow scenic back roads on your journey toward Bryce Canyon.
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
About 1.5 hours from Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase | 84 miles
Just across the Arizona border, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument feels wonderfully wild. Its dramatic landscape includes soaring cliffs, sweeping desert views, and the Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness.
Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch are home to some of the region’s best slot-canyon scenery. Permits are required for some areas, including the famously limited-access (but unforgettable and photogenic) Wave.
Vermilion Cliffs is easy to include when road tripping to Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase from Zion, the Grand Canyon, or northern Arizona.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Plan a full-day boat + hike adventure from Lake Powell
One of the world’s largest known natural bridges, Rainbow Bridge rises from a remote canyon near Lake Powell and is considered to be a sacred site.
Trips typically begin at Wahweap Marina, about a 20-minute drive from Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase. From there, you can travel across Lake Powell by private, rental, or tour boat to the mouth of Forbidding Canyon near Buoy 49.
After entering the canyon, you’ll dock at the floating courtesy dock and continue on foot for 1 to 2 miles, depending on lake levels, to reach the monument.
Combining time on the water with a scenic hike, Rainbow Bridge makes for a rewarding full-day adventure and a memorable addition to your Lake Powell itinerary.
National Monuments Near Under Canvas Zion
Experience the best of Zion National Park and its surroundings from the comfort of Under Canvas Zion, where you’ll enjoy upscale glamping beneath Utah’s star-filled desert skies.
Pipe Spring National Monument
About 1 hour from Under Canvas Zion | 59 miles
Located across the Arizona border, Pipe Spring National Monument shares the history of the Kaibab Paiute people and Mormon settlers through museum exhibits, historic cabins, gardens, livestock, and the stone fort known as Winsor Castle.
Tour the grounds, learn how access to water shaped life in this desert region, and walk the half-mile Ridge Trail for views across the Arizona Strip.
Pipe Spring is a natural stop on a road trip between Zion and Lake Powell, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, or northern Arizona. It also makes for a slower-paced day trip between hiking adventures at Zion National Park.
National Monuments Near Under Canvas Bryce Canyon
Explore the Crown of the Grand Staircase, perfectly located between two of Utah’s national parks: Bryce Canyon and Zion.
Cedar Breaks National Monument
About 1.5 hours from Under Canvas Bryce Canyon and Under Canvas Zion | 70 miles
Perched at 10,000 feet, Cedar Breaks National Monument overlooks a half-mile-deep amphitheater filled with striped cliffs, spires, and hoodoo-like formations. Colorful wildflowers in summer, ancient bristlecone pines, and sweeping overlooks make it an even more beautiful place to stop and explore. Walk the easy Sunset Trail between overlooks or follow a longer route along the rim.
Located between Zion and Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks is an easy addition to a road trip between Under Canvas Zion and Under Canvas Bryce Canyon.
Tips for Visiting National Monuments in Utah
- Leave no trace: Stay on designated trails, avoid touching rock art or historic structures, and leave artifacts where you find them.
- Check fees and permits: Some Utah national monuments are free, while others charge entrance or day-use fees that may be covered by the America the Beautiful Pass. Certain hikes and sites may also require separate permits.
- Know the road conditions: Many roads are unpaved, and some may require a high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicle, especially after rain. Check weather conditions before heading out.
- Come prepared: Gas stations, food, water, and cell service can be limited. Fill up when you can and bring extra water, snacks, sun protection, and layers.
- Download maps ahead of time: Cell service can be unreliable, so save directions and offline maps before heading out.
Have a Grand Outdoor Adventure With Under Canvas
Under Canvas makes it easy to experience more of the American Southwest. Choose one camp as your base or create a multi-stop journey through Moab, Lake Powell, Zion, and Bryce Canyon on the Grand Circle Road Trip. After each day on the road or on the trails, unwind in comfort and style in upscale safari-inspired tents with plush king-sized beds, private decks, and the option of ensuite bathrooms. Enjoy cafe-style dining, daily guest programming, and nightly s’mores gathered outside together beneath certified Dark Skies for spectacular stargazing.
The next great stop on your Southwest road trip may be closer than you think!