What to know before your first visit to the Bears Ears region
A short orientation: what to read, what to bring, how to behave, and where to go for more.
Tips for visiting with respect
Eight rules of thumb for visiting cultural sites in the region without doing damage.
Visiting with respect — what the phrase means
An essay on the principle of respect-based visitation and what it actually asks of us.
Packing out what we bring in — a desert backcountry primer
Why the dry climate makes human waste a long-term problem, and how to handle it properly.
Perishable artifacts and what they tell us
Sandals, baskets, cordage — the fragile evidence of daily life preserved in dry shelter.
Monitoring sites — a citizen’s role
How visitors with training and patience help document change at fragile sites.
Bears Ears on the World Monuments Watch (2020)
Why an international preservation organization added Bears Ears to its list of vulnerable places.
Defending Bears Ears — a short history
Three presidential proclamations, two boundaries, and the long argument over how this land is best held.
Cultural celebration in the canyon country
A look at the seasonal observances and gatherings that mark time in the region.
Supporting the cause
Ways visitors can support public-lands conservation broadly, not only through this site.
Learning resources — video and audio
A growing list of recommended sources for deepening your understanding before arrival.