Bluff, Utah was founded by Mormon Pioneers in 1880 who forged a wagon trail from western Utah to the Bluff area to establish a settlement here based on the assignment of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Later-Day Saints. Their story is one of heroic struggles and creative planning on how to traverse the rugged landscaped to arrive in eastern Utah. Their tales cover the Hole-In-The-Rock Trail which the brave pioneers, close to 250 men, women, and children, created to allow them to get down the 1,200 foot drop with covered wagons to the Colorado River. The Hole-In-The-Rock trail is still visible from Lake Powell. It is quite a story of strength, courage, and faith and it allowed them to be successful with no casualties and two births during their 6 month winter journey. They ended in Bluff and the rest, as they say, is history. The town has history written all over it and it listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A very interesting town to visit.
Bluff Fort
Bluff Fort is a rebuilt and restored fort detailing the efforts and lives at the pioneers who forged a wagon trail in 1880. The visitor’s center has a great film detailing the pioneers efforts and the fort has a tremendous amount of information, stories, and rebuilt cabins that make the visit worthwhile.
Bluff Cemetery
Bluff Cemetery sits atop the hill with tremendous views where many of the original pioneer settlers of the area are buried.
Twin Rocks Trading Post
The trading post provides an extensive array of Native American and southwestern art. An employee give us quite the tour highlighting the Najavo baskets created by a Elsie Stone Holiday. Her detail to her art and her creativity is a pleasure to view and the trading post offers a large selection of her art along with many other fabulous pieces by other artists. AND you get to see the Twin Rocks that tower high above the building. Hope they don’t fall!
Valley Of The Gods
What can we say about this place, paradise, heaven?? Yes, to both. A beautiful 17-mile dirt road drive, free, through a BLM just off of Hwy 163 between Mexican Hat and Bluff. Well worth the drive and the time. The area offers unbelievable dispersed camping where your biggest problem may be driving your rig to some of the sites. They are all beautiful.
The drive can be taken either clockwise or counter clockwise, either way is beautiful. We spent close to 4 hours on the drive just taking it easy and stopping and enjoying all along the way. The east entrance is off of Hwy 163 and is well marked.
There are not only lots of dispersed camping sites but lots of areas to turn off and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
We took a few pictures of some of the dispersed camping areas but before long we could not keep up. Every single site was gorgeous. We stopped taking photos!
At the western end of the drive is the Valley of Gods Bed and Breakfast with fantastic views!
It is hard to see in the photos but the mountain behind the B&B is the road called the Moki Dugway which is an unpaved road which winds up the mountain with steep switchbacks and fantastic views. It is not for the faint of heart.
We fell in love with Bluff!
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