Cedar Mesa & Comb Ridge Day Hiking Pass

Bears Ears National Monument

Cedar Mesa and Comb Ridge Day Hiking passes are required year-round for day hiking in the canyons of the Cedar Mesa and Comb Ridge area in Bears Ears National Monument. Locations where a day hiking pass is required include:

• Comb Ridge and Butler Wash area (east side of Comb Ridge)
• The following canyons and their tributaries - Grand Gulch, Slickhorn Canyon, Fish and Owl Canyons, Lime Creek, Road Canyon and the South and North Forks of Mule Canyon (including House on Fire)

Passes are not valid for overnight backpacking or Moon House day hiking. A separate permit is required for these activities. Obtain your Cedar Mesa Backpacking Permits or Moon House Day Hiking Perm its online through rec.gov.

For more detailed trip planning info, please visit the BLM Cedar Mesa - Bears Ears National Monument Permits and Passes site.

Please familiarize yourself with the Bears Ears Partnership's tips for Visiting With Respect, and enjoy the cultural and natural sites of the area in a manner that will help preserve them for future generations.

If you have questions regarding day hiking passes, please call the Monticello Field Office at 435-587-1500.

General Rules & Regulations

• Maximum group size is 12 people.
• Cultural Resources including structures, artifacts, and all other remains, whether at an archaeological site or isolated, must not be disturbed. Moving or disturbing cultural artifacts from any location is a violation of federal law.
• Pack it in, Pack it out for all trash and garbage.
• Washing, bathing, or swimming is not permitted in or near natural water sources such as springs, streams, and potholes.
• Using rock-climbing equipment to access archaeological sites is not allowed. Using a safety rope as an aid along a hiking route is permissible.
• Pets are not permitted in Grand Gulch, Slickhorn Canyon, nor their tributaries. Where pets are permitted they must be kept on a leash at all time and kept out of springs, potholes and other natural water sources. Pets are not allowed at any archeological sites. Pet owners must bury pet waste away from trails, campsites and water sources.
• Bicycles and motorized vehicles must stay on designated roads.
• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS)/drones are prohibited in the canyons of Cedar Mesa.
• Disposal of human waste is not permitted within 200 feet of a water source, trail, or campsite. Human waste will be deposited in a 'cat hole' (6 inches deep) and covered with soil. Toilet paper must be carried out; it cannot be burned nor buried.
• The permit holder will be held legally and financially responsible for historical, archaeological, cultural, or ecological values damaged, destroyed, or removed by trip participants.
• The permit holder assumes all risk due to acts of nature, including but not limited to hazard trees, flash floods, wildfire, inclement weather, and difficult trail conditions.
• Permits for commercial and organized groups (including universities, schools, scouts, and clubs) or pack stock use must be obtained in advance from the BLM Monticello Field Office. These permits are not available at Kane Gulch Ranger Station, Recreation.gov, or trailheads.

Passes are only valid for day hiking in the canyons of Cedar Mesa and Comb Ridge at Bears Ears National Monument. Passes are not valid for overnight backpacking or Moon House day hiking. A separate permit is required for these activities and may be obtained at the Cedar Mesa and Bears Ears National Monument Permits page (http://www.recreation.gov/permits/273374).

All passes are required to be visible on your vehicle's dashboard during your visit. For annual passes, a vehicle hang tag must be obtained in person or by mail from the BLM after purchase. Please refer to the Additional Pass Details section of your PDF Pass for further instruction.

Day and 7-Day passes can also be purchased in person with exact change at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station and at most trailheads. Look for a kiosk and brown metal fee tube with white envelopes. 

Passes are non-transferable, non-refundable, not replaceable if lost or stolen, and are void if altered or reproduced.

Please familiarize yourself with the Bears Ears Partnership's tips for Visiting With Respect, and enjoy the cultural and natural sites of the area in a manner that will help preserve them for future generations.