Photography Richard Durnan©
Written By KATHLEEN M. BUSH
South of Moab, on Highway 191, lies Monticello, Utah. As the gateway to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Monticello is perched at the base of Abajo, or Blue Mountain, on the Great Sage Plain of southeastern Utah. Needles District Road, Highway 211 (a recommended scenic drive), penetrates the Canyonlands in an inimitable fashion and travels to a myriad of biking/hiking trails and four-wheel driving routes. This drive provides views of earth-etched canyons that drop some 2,000 feet and meander through spectacular rock formations. In addition, petroglyphs and pictographs can be viewed from many roads, particularly at Newspaper Rock (near Monticello and alongside Highway 211), a mammoth cliff covered with three periods of written history; and along both Highway 95 and Squaw Flats Scenic Byway, south of Blanding on the way to Natural Bridges National Monument.
For most of the year, Monticello remains a comfortable temperature, despite its surrounding desert country. Resting at an elevation of 7,069 feet, the community is surrounded by highly acclaimed tourist attractions, including Canyon Rims Recreation Area, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Needles and Anticline overlooks, Lowry Ruin and the Anasazi Heritage Center. Lodging, camping, outfitting, dining, shopping and gallery opportunities are widespread in Monticello, while thrills of outdoor adventure await.
LOCAL STATISTICS:
Location: On Highway 191, 45 miles south of
Canyonlands National Park
Population: 1,958
Average Home Price: $80,000
Average Rental: $350
Median Age: 27
Average Household Income: $28,000
Elevation: 7,069 Ft.
Median Temperatures: Summer: 78/40F Winter: 40/18F
Days of Sunshine per year: 350
Average Annual Snowfall: 69.9 in.
Founded: 1880
Industry: Ag/GovernmentTourism
Rio Blanch County Population: 14,416
College: Utah State University College of Eastern Utah
Visitor's Services:
Monticello Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 217
Monticello, UT 84535-0217
(800) 574-4386
Email: info@sanjuancounty.org
Website: www.utahscanyoncountry.com
Attractions/Services:
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Hovenweep National Monument
Lake Powell
Natural Bridges National Park
Mysterious and Superb Surroundings!
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