Pioneers in the Wild West: A Walk Through Historical Bluff

(3 reviews)

San Juan County, Utah audio tour: Pioneers in the Wild West: A Walk Through Historical Bluff

This is a 1.3mi walking tour

It takes an average of 30 mins to complete.

San Juan County, Utah

The United States

$3.99

Access all 22 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

Have you ever wondered what it was like to settle in one of the most remote and inhospitable corners of the American West? On this walking tour, you'll take a stroll back in time in the stark and beautiful landscape of the Utah canyonlands to discover the fascinating history of Bluff. You’ll hear stories about the earliest inhabitants who coexisted in harmony with the elements, and the Mormon settlers who sought out religious freedom in a harsh land many years later. Along the way, we’ll visit some of the key sites in this little town’s history.

You’ll also learn about:

The historical home of Al Scorup, a poor cattleman turned banker
Polygamous Mormons’ hideouts
A sacred Navajo landmark
Households built through pioneer industry and felled by epidemic
The colorful characters that form part of the town’s history

The tour begins beside a significant trading post and passes by ‘The Fort’, a reconstruction of the original Bluff settlement that was founded by the original ‘Hole in the Rock’ pioneers. There’s a cafe near the start of the tour where you can purchase refreshments before or after you set off on this trek through time.

Tour Producer

Karen Walker

1 tour

I'm Karen, a retired educator and hiking guide. My husband and I run an adventure travel company that specializes in hiking tours around the world. I also taught English and was a school administrator for many years. One of my favorite parts of running a school was creating outdoor and travel opportunities for students. I currently split my time between Bluff, Utah and Ophir, Colorado where you'll find me hiking, exploring, and Nordic skiing. My husband and I also spend a lot of time abroad, especially in the Alps where we develop inn-to-inn hiking tours for our guests. Wherever I travel, I love to learn about the regional history and culture, so to combine my interests I started creating tours with VoiceMap. I think that GPS based walking tours are a really fun way to explore an area and learn while walking!

Preview Location

Location 1

Twin Rocks Cafe and Trading Post

Welcome to the Bluff historic walking tour.

My name is Karen. I'm a part time Bluff resident and a retired educator and hiking guide. As a way to share some of what I have learned about Bluff, I thought it would be fun to make a VoiceMap Tour of historic Bluff.

Bef... Welcome to the Bluff historic walking tour.

My name is Karen. I'm a part time Bluff resident and a retired educator and hiking guide. As a way to share some of what I have learned about Bluff, I thought it would be fun to make a VoiceMap Tour of historic Bluff.

Before you begin walking, let's get oriented and I'll give you some historical context. I'll let you know when to head out!

Bluff's location has been home to nomadic Native peoples such as the Utes and Paiutes, to the herding and farming tribe of the Navajo, and before them to the ancient people known as the Anasazi or Ancestral Puebloans, famous for their dwellings in the cliffs. In 1880, the early Mormon settlers traversed the rugged region in covered wagons, by horseback, and even by foot. Theirs is a dramatic tale of survival and dedication to founding a settlement in a hard land. Part of their mission was to share their faith and culture with the Navajo, who were settled in the region farming and herding when the pioneers arrived.

Even as Bluff was a crossroads of cultures, values, and beliefs in the late 19th C, so it remains today. Bordered by the Navajo Nation to the south, Ute tribal lands to the north and east, the original boundary of the Bears Ears National Monument to the west, and with predominantly Mormon towns as neighbors to the north, Bluff today rests in a crucible of diversity. Some things never change! Today's walk will explore the historic town core, settled in the late 19th C with its many fine examples of pioneer houses built by the early Mormon settlers.

Today's walk is a little over a mile over flat terrain on the town's streets and makes a circuit that returns to your starting point. Traffic won't be a problem, and the locals are friendly! There are no bathroom breaks or services along the way, so bring water if you'll need to refresh yourself.

Right now, you are standing in front of the Twin Rocks Cafe and Trading post, owned by Bluff-born Steve Simpson. The cafe serves a full range of menu items, some inspired by southwestern and Navajo cuisine. If you haven't had a meal here already, I recommend coming back after the tour. The adjacent trading post is a must-visit destination for contemporary Native arts, including museum-class Navajo rugs, baskets, and jewelry. Credited with starting a renaissance in Navajo basketry, the trading post also offers an unusual collection of handwoven rugs inspired by colorful southwestern paintings by artists such as Serena Supplee. Be sure to visit-- perhaps after the walking tour!

Before we get going, I'll explain how VoiceMap works. It uses your location to play audio along our journey at the right time and place; so, at this point, you can put your phone away. There will be times when I am quiet, but, do not worry, I will be with you when the time is right to give a commentary or directions. There is a map on your screen if you ever feel lost, and if you do get way off track without noticing, VoiceMap will let you know.

So, let's get going.

With your back to the cafe, start walking to the right along Navajo Twins Drive away from Highway 191. Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

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Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

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Major Landmarks

Bluff Utah
Bears Ears National Monument
Navajo Twins
Twin Rocks Trading Post
Al Scorup House
Platte Lyman House
Lemuel Redd House

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
913 East Navajo Twins Dr, Bluff, UT 84512, USA
Total distance

2km
Final location
160 7th E, Bluff, UT 84512, USA
Distance back to start location

379.58m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts in front of the Twin Rocks Cafe, just off highway 191 at the northeast end of the town of Bluff, Utah.

Show Directions

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

If you are interested in a meal, the Twin Rocks Cafe is great for casual southwestern and Navajo inspired cuisine. The Comb Ridge Eat Drink at the southwest end of town is also a favorite and serves traditional bistro selections. Two trading posts, the Twin Rocks and the Cow Canyon Trading Post across highway 191 offer local and native arts. Some of their pieces are museum quality and their proprietors are friendly and knowledgeable, so leave some time to explore these trading posts. The Fort reconstruction managed by the Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation is another destination to learn about the Mormon pioneers who settled Bluff.

Best time of day

This tour is great anytime in the daylight. In summer months, the morning and evening are the best to avoid the heat.

Precautions

Bring water during the summer months.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

Google Play Store

Questions and Reviews

5 / 5

3 Ratings

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