Images in this gallery were taken either within the Bears Ears, or within the original boundaries, or in adjacent areas at risk of cumulative impacts. The Bears Ears area holds one the most significant and sacred landscapes in North America, composed of over 13,000 years of human occupancy, over 100,000 estimated archaeological sites, and active places of ceremony for present-day tribes.

Actions from the Trump administration exclude many of the sites included in this gallery from the protections of a National Monument. These eviscerated sacred places are at an increased risk of development.

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These photographs are provided for conservation purposes, education, and historical insight. I strongly discourage inexperienced individuals from visiting sacred places. These are not provided as a guide and no locations will be provided in any circumstance. Remember, these are fragile, deeply important, and irreplaceable spiritual and scientific resources. They are not appropriate for irreverent or casual activities. Poor visitation practices could result in the violation of applicable state and federal laws if damages were to occur. Furthermore, individuals could precipitate vandalism and looting to archaeological sites unwittingly (for example, by posting photographs online with contextual landscape features that can be identified by vandals/looters using satellite imagery). Please exercise caution when sharing locations, even to individuals whom you may trust. Remember that experience does not always equate to respectful behavior.

You can learn more about visiting with respect at https://www.baileyimages.com/Visiting-with-Respect

Everyone should review this information regardless of your experience with hiking and/or cultural resources.

Jonathan Bailey

Conservation Photographer

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