Bluff, Utah

06/12/2026

The Bluff River Trail has been just been designated a National Recreation Trail by the Department of the Interior.

Announced in conjunction with National Trails Day and Great Outdoors Month, the designation recognizes the Bluff River Trail as one of six newly designated National Recreation Trails in the U.S. It now joins a nationwide network of more than 1,350 trails recognized for their recreational, scenic, and cultural significance.

The approximately 8-mile non-motorized trail follows the San Juan River through Bluff and into Bears Ears National Monument at Sand Island Recreation Area. The Sand Island portion consists of a paved, ADA trail. Along the way, visitors can explore river habitat, floodplains, and important cultural and archaeological sites that tell thousands of years of human history.

The Department of the Interior noted the trail's accessibility and educational value (educational kiosks along the way).

Congratulations to everyone whose vision and hard work helped make this designation possible. The Bluff River Trail was made a reality by the Bluff City Historic Preservation Society, Grand Canyon Trust, the Bureau of Land Management, and local residents.

Whether you're taking a short stroll at Sand Island or exploring deeper into the trail system, this new designation recognizes that the Bluff River Trail is one of southeastern Utah's special places.

For more information, see links in first comment.

06/11/2026

🌌 Not bad for a couple of amateurs and an iPhone 13.

This photo was taken right from a front yard in Bluff, Utah using an iPhone in Night Mode with a 30-second exposure and 5 second delay.

To the naked eye, the Milky Way was faint and difficult to make out. But with a tripod, a steady camera, and a little patience, the phone revealed thousands of stars overhead. Can you spot Scorpius and Antares?

You don't need expensive equipment or years of experience to start exploring the night sky. One of the best things about Bluff's dark skies is that they're accessible to everyone—from seasoned astronomers to absolute novices bumbling around in their front yard.

Have you tried photographing the night sky with your phone?
Pro tip: You do need a tripod or something to steady your phone.

📍 Bluff, Utah
✨ Captured with an iPhone in Night Mode from a local front yard.

06/09/2026

Another June stargazing opportunity near Bluff, Utah!

Join visiting NPS Rangers Justin and William Yazzie (from Canyon de Chelly & Hubbell Trading Post) at on Saturday, June 13th as they present a cultural night sky program from a Diné/Navajo perspective. The program begins at 8:30pm and runs until 10:00pm.

Bring a flashlight/headlamp, good shoes, bug spray, and the whole family. Hovenweep is an international dark sky park, so this is an ideal place to not only get a cultural education but see an incredible number of stars!

This event is free and open to the public.
https://www.nps.gov/hove/planyourvisit/calendar.htm #/?dateStart=2026-06-07

NPS photo/Jake Frank

06/06/2026

Tomorrow we celebrate AstroFest at Natural Bridges! Activities will be available throughout the day, but it really kicks off at night in the world's first International Dark Sky Park:

Daytime Activities:
10:00 am: Create your own comet
11:00 am–2:00 pm: Solar telescope and activity table
2:30 pm: Create your own comet
3:30 pm: Poet Lauren Camp shares her poetry and astronomy experiences

Evening Programs:
9:30 pm: "Poetry Under the Stars" with Lauren Camp
10:00 pm: Constellation Tour
10:00 pm–11:30pm: Telescope viewing

For more information, check out our website: https://ow.ly/szms50Z3qze

NPS/Heidi Blankenship

06/05/2026

Everyone experiences Moki Dugway differently.

🚗 Driver: "This is amazing."
😳 Passenger: "This is a lot."

Who's who in your vehicle?

06/04/2026

The Fifth Annual Southeast Utah AstroFest starts today! Events may be shooting by as fast as a comet, but don’t fear, there’s still time to enjoy this year's festivities! 🌠
Find activity, location, and time details below:

June 4, 2026
⭐Moab Information Center
6–7 pm, Shedding Light on the Dark, a talk by Ranger Kale Wernsing

⭐Utahraptor State Park
📍 CCC Historic Site
9:30 pm Dark Sky Program
10:00–11:30 pm Telescope Viewing and Constellation Tours

June 5, 2026
⭐Island in the Sky District, Canyonlands National Park
📍 Grand View Point
9:30–10:00 pm Dark Sky Program
10:00–11:30 pm Telescope Viewing, Constellation Tours
📍 Green River Overlook
9:30–10:00 pm Dark Sky Program
10:00–11:30 pm Telescope Viewing, Constellation Tours

⭐Needles District, Canyonlands National Park
📍 The Needles Visitor Center
9:30 pm Dark Sky Program
10:00–11:30 pm Telescope Viewing, Constellation Tours

June 6, 2026
⭐Dead Horse Point State Park
📍 Visitor Center Area
5:00 pm Indoor arts & crafts activity.
7:00 pm Solar System Walk: Easy 1 mile hike. Bring hiking shoes and water.
9:30 pm Dark Sky Program
10:00–11:30 pm Telescope Viewing and Constellation Tours

⭐Natural Bridges National Monument
📍 Visitor Center Area
3:30 and 9:30 pm "Poetry and Darkness" with visiting poet Lauren Camp
8:45 pm Astronomy Program

June 7, 2026
⭐Arches National Park
📍 Visitor Center
8:00–9:00 pm Program: The Navajo Cosmos with Ravis Henry. An introduction to the Navajo cultural worldview and constellations. Enjoy an evening of cultural immersion and storytelling under the evening twilight and the glittering crystals of the night sky.
📍 Panorama Point
9:30–10:00 pm Dark Sky Program, Telescope Viewing, Constellation Tours
10:00–11:30 pm Telescope Viewing, Constellation Tours
📍 The Windows Section
9:30–10:00 pm Dark Sky Program
10:00–11:30 pm Telescope Viewing, Constellation Tours
📍 Delicate Arch Viewpoint
9:30–10:00 pm Dark Sky Program
10:00–11:30 pm Telescope Viewing, Constellation Tours

⭐Hovenweep National Monument
📍 Visitor Center Patio
8:30–9:30 pm Ranger program
9:30–11:00 pm Telescope Stations

🌌 For more information see the park website:
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/annual-southeast-utah-astrofest.htm

NPS photo

06/04/2026

The fifth annual Southeast Utah AstroFest is next week, June 4–7!

Events at Hovenweep will occur on Sunday, June 7th. A ranger program kicks things off at the visitor center starting at 8:30 p.m. followed by telescope viewing at two different stations from 9:30 until 11:00 p.m. We'll bring the stories, telescopes, and complimentary snacks (while supplies last). All you have to bring is a flashlight, sturdy shoes, layers, friends & family, and a little curiosity.

Check out our website for details: https://ow.ly/p4W450Z3vAv

Photo c/o Marjorie Van Hoy

06/04/2026

Milky Way Season Is Here 🌌

Join us June 11 for a free community star party at the Bluff Community Center. Enjoy telescope viewing, constellation tours, and an unforgettable night under the stars. Remember, Bluff is an International Dark Sky Community.

June is one of the best times of year for stargazing. In summer, the bright core of the Milky Way, the center of our galaxy, becomes visible in the evening sky, creating some of the year's most impressive stargazing opportunities.

📅 Thursday, June 11
🕤 9:30 PM
📍 Bluff Community Center

✨ Telescope Viewing
✨ Constellation Tours
✨ Family-Friendly Fun

06/03/2026

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/28/2026

Looking for an easy way to experience the beauty of Bluff, Utah? The Bluff River Trail follows the San Juan River beneath the red rock bluffs that gave our town its name. 🌿🏜️

It’s perfect for a morning stroll, sunset walk, birdwatching, or simply slowing down and soaking in the quiet beauty of southeastern Utah.

Feeling adventurous? You can walk all the way from Sand Island to Bluff on this trail.

📍Bluff River Trail
🥾 Easy walking trail
📸 Great for photos, families, and relaxing

See the link to the trail website in the first comment.