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Moon House Day Hiking Permit permit area in Cedar Mesa / Bears Ears - backcountry hiking destination

Moon House Day Hiking Permit

Cedar Mesa / Bears Ears · Utah

One date at a time

Day permit to visit Moon House, the Ancestral Puebloan structure in McLoyd Canyon known for the painted band running through its interior rooms.

Watch your Moon House dates

One Moon House reservation is one date. Tell us every date you'd take and we'll ping you the second one of them opens up.

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70% of the openings our scanner caught on Moon House were gone within 5 minutes.

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Moon House Quick Facts

Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
Daily Quota20 people
Max Group Size12 people

Moon House Permit Facts

  • As of September 2026, Moon House in Cedar Mesa / Bears Ears, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation.
  • Moon House is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
  • Cancelled Moon House permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Live availability activity →When Moon House permits open up →

Key Information

Permit Details

TypeDay Use
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level7/10
LocationBears Ears / Cedar Mesa, UT

Pro Tips

  • •Stop at Kane Gulch Ranger Station for road and route conditions when it is open. The drive is the part that surprises people.
  • •This is a permit for a fragile archaeological site. Read BLM's Visit With Respect guidance before you go.
  • •Commercial and organized groups need a separate special recreation permit from the Monticello Field Office.

How to Get This Permit

1

Create a Recreation.gov account

Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

2

Know the release schedule

Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.

3

Be ready when permits drop

Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

4

Monitor for cancellations

If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Recreation.gov
Learn More
Best booking timesCancellation huntingRecreation.gov tips

Plan Your Trip

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Gear Checklist

Required and recommended gear for Moon House

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Shuttle Services

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Safety & Planning

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Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Moon House. Sign up to track this permit.

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Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit. Sign up to track this permit.

Moon House FAQ

How far ahead can I book a Moon House permit?

Three months. BLM puts the entire Moon House quota on Recreation.gov starting three months ahead of the entry date, so there is no separate advance block held back.

How many people per day does the Moon House permit allow?

Twenty visitors per day, with a maximum group size of 12. That is the whole daily allocation for the site.

Can I get a walk-up Moon House permit?

Sometimes. In spring and fall the Kane Gulch Ranger Station sells walk-ups as available, open 8:00 a.m. to noon Thursday through Sunday during its season. In summer and winter you go through the Monticello Field Office at 435-587-1500.

How hard is the hike to Moon House?

Rougher than the mileage suggests. BLM calls the road out there rough and suggests high clearance and four-wheel drive, and flags a five-foot pouroff halfway in that turns some visitors around. Dogs are not allowed in the Moon House Recreational Management Zone.

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Trail Conditions

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Trip Reports

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Where to Stay

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