Ancient Wayves River and Hiking Adventures
Come join us for an epic journey into the delicate and remote landscapes of Southeast Utah!
Let us guide you amongst the magnificence of the Bear's Ears National Monument and along the mystical waters of the San Juan River.
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We are an Indigenous owned outfit that invites you to experience a guided tour you will never forget!
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This mesmerizing corner of Utah is exquisitely spectacular possessing geological wonders that tell millions of years old stories.
Thousands of years ago amongst these rugged landscapes, people roamed and thrived in the region.
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Explore with guides who call this place "Home"
Our adventurous guides invite you to explore with us in this unique part of Utah where our ancestral roots are located. The San Juan River and Bears Ears region are the sacred homelands of many Indigenous tribes who still live in the area.
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Ancient Wayves is a company whose roots grow from Dine bi Keyah (the Navajo Nation). We are very fortunate and happy to lead river adventures along the San Juan River and amongst Shash bi Jaa' (Bear's Ears).
Navajo Nation lands sit next to the Bears Ears National Monument and the San Juan River.
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Learn more about the different areas we tour in this website.
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Contact us today to schedule a memorable guided tour!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Information for Guests
How difficult are the trails?
All the trails differ in difficulty. The desert terrain where we trek consists of watersheds (drainages), slickrock (smooth surfaces), and areas of dense vegetation.
The trails we explore also differ in slope.
Some trails are "average" in difficulty such as walking in a dry creek bed and could be considered as a "walk in the park".
And there are other trails which require walking a switchback trail beginning at the rim of the canyon to the river and consists of a gradual sloped trail having some steep grades at the points of trail switchback.
All trails are manageable.
Guests should be physically prepared for their desired hike.
Contact our team for detailed information for any trail you have in mind to explore.
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How far in distance are the trails?
Each trail and tour differs in length.
Several trails where we conduct guided adventures average 3 miles (roundtrip).
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Hiking tours averaging more than 9 miles in length will require at least 1 overnight stay in the backcountry.
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Contact us for detailed information about the different lengths of trails.
What do we bring on our adventure?
Bring only what you need. A day pack to carry your belongings is recommended for "Single-Day" adventures.
We'll provide guests "Packing lists" when they schedule a "Multiple-Day" adventure.
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For river adventures, we'll provide guests with "drybags" to keep gear dry.
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*The carrying of unlawful items such as illegal weapons or drugs is not permitted.
Can we bring our dog on the hike or river adventure?
Regulations regarding our four-legged friends depends on the trail's location:
- Where dogs are permitted, they are required to be leashed. During our adventures, we trek on trails that are surrounded by Cryptobiotic Soil and often come across archaeological settings where we tread softly to limit the disturbance of these delicate places.
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Contact us to find out if a trail you want to visit allows visitation with dogs.
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Regulations do not permit or allow dogs along the San Juan River.
How many people are allowed to participate in a "Hiking" or "Backpacking"Â tour?
Ancient Wayves limits a group's size to 10 guests per trail. For groups with more than 10 people, we are able to split up the groups. Each group will visit majestic settings possessing the uniqueness of Southeast Utah. Large groups that are split up for hikes will rendezvous for a scrumptious lunch in a scenic dining area.
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Do we bring our own water and food?
Ancient Wayves provides scrumptious food during "Full-Day" and "Multiple-Day" trips.
We bring water for refilling bottles. Please bring a water bottle.
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* River trips include three meals a day except on the first and last days. The first day is breakfast on your own and the last day is dinner on your own.
* We provide guests pre-packaged meals during backpack trips.
Does Ancient Wayves offer group discounts?
We sure do. Groups with 7 or more participants will be eligible for a 10% discount.
Are there rapids on the San Juan River?
We provide tours on stretches of the San Juan River that extend from Montezuma Creek to Clay Hills, Utah.
There are no rapids on the stretch between Montezuma Creek and Sand Island.
There are several rapids between Sand Island and Clay Hills. Rapids within the canyons have the potential to reach Class III during low water seasons. For most part of the season, the rapids are rated Class II.
What is the refund policy?
We provide refunds (full), only in the case where cancellation is caused by inclement weather.
Let us know about your experience
We'd love to hear how your trip went!  If you would like to provide a review about your adventure, we would truly appreciate any encouraging words. We thank you for your support in our goal to provide excellent adventures. Ahe hee'(Thank you in Navajo language)
Contact Us:
Ancient Wayves River and Hiking Adventures is ready to help you plan your next guided exploration!...Book your unique tour today!!...
P.O.Box 943
Montezuma Creek, Utah 84534
5052398505