THE BEST THINGS TO SEE IN TOWN

EDGE OF THE CEDARS STATE PARK: ($5)
View the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) pottery on display in the Four Corners Region and explore an authentic Puebloan village behind the museum. In addition to permanent collections, Edge of the Cedars offers special exhibits, festivals, and events throughout the year.

Visit Edge of the Cedars Pueblo, a village inhabited by the ancestors of contemporary Puebloan peoples from AD 825 to 1225, and climb down a ladder to enter the 1,000-year-old kiva. Enjoy programs for adults and children, including archaeology and art exhibitions. Our goal is to inspire and educate museum visitors about the prehistoric and contemporary American Indian cultures of the Four Corners region.

Park facilities include a short, paved interpretive trail around the ruin, landscaping with native plants and outdoor sculptures, and picnic area.

CEDAR MESA POTTERY TOUR: (free)

The Native American Indian artists, who sign each piece, combine their natural artistic talents with the inspiration of their culture and breathtaking beauty of their homeland. Cedar Mesa Pottery gives their artists free hand and encourage them to use their inherent talent. Each piece of Cedar Mesa pottery thus reflects the creative genius of the artist. With over 60 product lines with 20-30 shapes in each line, Cedar Mesa Pottery has a large selection and variety of American Indian pottery and southwestern pottery.

THE DINOSAUR MUSEUM: ($3.50)

At The Dinosaur Museum, the complete history of the world of the dinosaurs is presented. Skeletons, fossilized skin, eggs, footprints, state-of-the-art graphics, and beautifully realistic sculptures present the dinosaurs from the Four Corners region and throughout the globe.

In the museum you will see exhibits which show dinosaurs from the different countries and how they were distributed throughout the globe. You will also view the latest in dinosaur skin research, which shows startling new aspects to some familiar dinosaurs. Enjoy the displays of dinosaur eggs from around the world, and the baby Protoceratops and Maiasaura sculptures.

NATIONS OF THE FOUR CORNERS: (free)

"Nations of the Four Corners" is a cultural center owned and operated by the San Juan Foundation. Nations is a self-guided tour park with no admission fee; a minimum five mile hike of the park itself is guaranteed, and there is additional hiking paths into the canyon itself.

Nations of the Four Corners is made up of sites representing the different groups that contributed to the history of this area; Ute, Navajo, Hispanic, and Pioneer.

LITTLE WESTWATER RUINS: (free)

Little Westwater Ruin, also known as Five Kiva Ruin, is an easily accessed ruin that is very interesting to visit. Little Westwater Ruin is located in the Westwater Creek Canyon just outside of Blanding, UT. Blanding is in the heart of Anasazi country and this ruin is practically part of the town. In fact, many residents tell stories of childhoods spent playing near the ruins.

You get great views of Little Westwater Ruin from the parking area and, with good binoculars, you can see a lot of detail. However, the best way to see the Ruin is to climb over to it. Although the canyon is steep its an easy hike to climb down to the bottom and up the other side to the ruin. There are structures scattered on the other ledges near the ruin but the main ruin is in the large alcove.

VISITORS CENTER: (free)

Modeled after a ranch house of the previous century, the Blanding Visitor Center has a wide variety of maps, books, and other travel necessities. The center's friendly staff has vast knowledge of San Juan County and can answer any questions a visitor may have about the area. The Pioneer Museum is part of the visitor center and is free to the public. Review left on Tripadvisor "Passed thru here the most beautiful welcome center like a mini museum Beautiful clean and they gave us three gorgeous posters for free. Nice place Definitely stop in!"