“Juan-derlust in the American Southwest – Exploring San Juan County”

Travel Talk with Ed Finn

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Monday, 13 October 2025 - 12 minutes

“Today on Travel Talk, I’m in the heart of Utah chatting to Allison Yamamoto-Sparks in Monticello, San Juan County — a place where red rock canyons, ancient cultures, and pure adventure come together.”

Tucked between towering red cliffs and the winding San Juan River, Bluff, Utah is one of the Southwest’s most atmospheric small towns — a perfect base for exploring the magic of San Juan County. Start with Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where monumental mesas rise from the desert floor in cinematic splendor, then wind your way to Goosenecks State Park for a jaw-dropping view of the river’s meandering canyons. Step back in time at the Bluff Fort Historic Site, where pioneer cabins and wagons recall the heroic Hole-in-the-Rock settlers. History runs even deeper in Mule Canyon, home to the ethereal House on Fire ruins, and at Butler Wash, where cliff dwellings reveal the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans.

Don’t miss a visit to Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum in nearby Blanding — one of the finest Native American archaeological collections in the Southwest. Stop at a trading post or gallery, like the Twin Rocks Trading Post, to meet Navajo and Ute artisans and pick up hand-crafted jewelry or pottery. Owner Steve (pictured below) steve@twinrocks.com is a terrific host who gave us some great tips and places to see. 

Peggy Black is a local who weaves incredible baskets which are available at this trading post.  For a touch of indulgence, check into the Bluff Dwellings Resort & Spa, (image below) beautifully carved into the red rock and the perfect spot to watch the desert turn gold at sunset. End your day at Twin Rocks Café, where Navajo tacos and starlit skies serve up the true flavor of the Utah frontier.

https://www.utahscanyoncountry.com/

www.visitutah.com

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