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Ancient Wayves River and Hiking Adventures
We provide the most unique guided adventures in the delicate and picturesque landscapes of Southeast Utah!
The Bear's Ears National Monument and along the mystical waters of the San Juan River, is where you'll find Ancient Wayves conducting adventurous tours (river rafting, hiking, backpacking & photography).
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We are a 100% Indigenous owned (Dine) outfit with a team of guides and staff from different Indigenous backgrounds. We respectfully extend acknowledgement and respect to the many clans of the Hopi, Ute, Paiute, Zuni, Dine (Navajo) and many other Pueblo nations who consider this area their ancestral homelands. Our team is honored and privileged to lead tours in this awesome region.
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This mesmerizing corner of Utah is exquisitely spectacular possessing geological wonders and a vast amount of ancient history. People from all over the world come to this area to see the spectacular remnants of ancient civilizations (ancestral sites & petroglyphs) and exquisite display of rock formations.
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Come on out for an Indigenous tour in this Indigenous landscape with our adventurous group of Indigenous guides.
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Explore ancestral lands and waters with Ancient Wayves!
Our guides have Indigenous roots deeply connected to the San Juan River and Bears Ears National Monument. This spectacular region is the ancestral homelands to many Indigenous tribes and our guides. It is natural for us to provide an "Indigenous" tour in a place we call "home".​
Much of the plants and wildlife we have here been thriving amongst these delicate landscapes for thousands of years. Many of these plants and animals are talked about in the stories of the tribal people. There is a strong connection with the Indigenous cultures and nature. Adventure with an Indigenous guide and you'll hear about the cultural connection between the people, the land, wildlife and plant life.
There is no better way to explore this landscape of vast Indigenous history than with guide who's deeply rooted to the place through heritage and culture. ​
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Contact us today to schedule a memorable tour!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Information for Guests
How difficult are the trails?
The trails we explore vary in difficulty.
Difficulty levels depend on the length of the trail and the region of the trail.
Different regions and terrain: Comb Ridge (Sand/Slickrock)
San Juan River (Rocky/Steep)
Cedar Mesa (Sand/Slickrock)
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One of the difficult trails we trek is near the river on a trail called the "Honaker Trail". This is a switchback trail beginning at the rim of the canyon and leading down to the river. We hike down to the river and back up the switchback trail.
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Most trails we trek average low-level difficulty, meaning they're gradually sloped and have minor obstacles such as crossing creek beds or small hills. These low-level difficulty trails are mostly composed of sand from the various red formations of the region.
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How long in distance are the trails?
* There are many trails in the region we tour.
* There are trails that average 2 miles and some that range around 30 miles.​
* The average length of trail we trek during "Half-day" tours is approximately 2.5 miles.
* During "Full-day" hiking tours, we average 3.5 miles of hiking.
* Our guests give us an idea of how many miles they'd like to hike in a day.​​
What do we bring on our hiking adventure?
* Water bottle (We'll have water for refilling)
* You may bring a day pack to carry your personal belongings. ​
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Can we bring our dog on the hike or river adventure?
* Hiking trails where dogs are permitted, they are required to be leashed at all times.
* During hiking adventures, we emphasize to our guests to stay on trails because of the landscape being delicate and we want to limit disturbing the natural setting. There is much "cryptobiotic soil" in the region which is important to the ecosystem and can be destroyed if stepped on by humans or pets. We often come across archaeological settings where we tread softly to limit disturbing those delicate places as well.
​* Contact us to find out if a trail you want to visit allows visitation with dogs.
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* Sorry but dogs are not allowed along the San Juan River. Again, reasons are because the landscape along the river is very delicate.
How many people are allowed to participate in a "Hiking" or "Backpacking"Â tour?
* Ancient Wayves is limited to a group size of 10 guests per trail.
* For groups with more than 10 people, we'll need to split up the group and each group will visit different locations.
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Do guests need to bring their own water and food?
* Ancient Wayves provides scrumptious food during "full-day" hiking tours and all river trips.
* We bring water for refilling. Please bring your personal water bottle.
​* 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
