Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum
A 1,000 year old Ancestral Puebloan great house, a kiva you can climb down into, and the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan pottery in the Four Corners — an easy day trip that adds real depth to a Moab adventure trip.
An Ancestral Puebloan great house you can actually walk through
Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum sits on the site of a Chacoan era great house occupied from roughly AD 825 to 1225. Behind the museum, an excavated pueblo and a reconstructed kiva let you walk the same ground the Ancestral Puebloans built on — no roped off distance viewing, no imagination required. Inside, exhibit halls hold the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan pottery and cultural artifacts in southeastern Utah, alongside tools, basketry, and a rare macaw feather sash that hints at trade routes stretching deep into Mesoamerica.
Context for everything else you're hiking through
If your Moab itinerary already includes ruins, rock art, or granaries tucked into canyon walls, Edge of the Cedars is where those fragments turn into a story. It's also one of the few genuinely quiet, air conditioned stops on a Moab trip — a good counterweight to a schedule built around heat, dust, and elevation gain. Many travelers pair it with a Trail of the Ancients loop through Bears Ears, Natural Bridges, and Hovenweep, using Blanding as a base for the day.
A calm, self guided walk through 1,000 years of history
- A museum floor of pottery, tools, baskets, and cultural artifacts
- Exhibits on migration, farming, canyon ecology, and community life
- An excavated great house directly behind the museum
- A reconstructed kiva you can climb down into by ladder
- Helpful staff, clear interpretive signage throughout
- A short, flat, fully accessible walking route
What actually happens once you walk in
Start in the exhibit halls
Pottery styles from different centuries, stone tools, agricultural technology, and cultural traditions are laid out with interpretive signage built for slow reading, not a quick pass through.
Walk out to the great house
A short paved walkway leads from the museum's back exit to the excavated great house, where classic Ancestral Puebloan masonry rooms are visible along the outer walls.
Climb down into the kiva
A ladder leads into the reconstructed ceremonial chamber. It's cool, dim, and quiet — one of the best preserved, most respectfully presented kivas open to the public in the region.
Step back for the view
Outside, the cedar covered edge that gives the park its name stretches toward the Abajo Mountains — a good five minutes before you head back to the car.
Every season works — pick based on your itinerary
| Season | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Spring | Warm days, comfortable indoor and outdoor conditions — a good midday stop after a morning hike. |
| Summer | Hot afternoons outside, but the museum is climate controlled, making it a smart heat break in the middle of the day. |
| Fall | Crisp air and warm light — arguably the best season for photos of the great house walls. |
| Winter | Cold winds across the grounds, near empty museum, and shortened Sunday hours (see below). |
Hours, admission, and directions from Moab
Hours
- April – October
- Monday–Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday noon–4pm
- November – February
- Monday–Saturday noon–5pm, closed Sunday
- March
- Monday–Saturday 9am–5pm, closed Sunday
- Closed
- Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day
Admission
- Adults
- $5
- Utah seniors (62+)
- $3
- Children (6–17)
- $3
- Children 5 and under
- Free
Getting There from Moab
- Route
- Head south on US Highway 191 for about 75 miles
- Drive time
- Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
- Address
- 660 West 400 North, Blanding, UT 84511
Good to Know
- Difficulty
- Easy — paved, flat, fully accessible
- Parking
- Free paved lot, easy for RVs
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs welcome in outdoor areas
- Guided tours
- Not offered on site — this is a self guided visit
Mistakes to Avoid
- Rushing — slow down and read the exhibits; they bring the whole region to life
- Skipping the kiva — this is one of the few places where you can respectfully climb into one
- Underestimating the visit — plan at least an hour, even on a packed itinerary
- Expecting a large outdoor ruin field — most of the experience is museum based, with a compact outdoor component
What to Bring
- Water bottle, even though most of the visit is indoors
- Comfortable walking shoes for the paved outdoor path
- A light jacket in winter
- Sun protection for the great house walkway
- Time to actually read the pottery labels — they tell real migration and trade stories
Pair Edge of the Cedars with the rest of your trip
Dead Horse Point State Park
If you'd rather stay closer to Moab, this rim edge overlook delivers one of the biggest views in southeast Utah without the drive to Blanding.
Read our park guide →Canyonlands National Park
Island in the Sky sits right along the route toward Blanding — an easy add on for a fuller day of canyon country views.
Plan your Canyonlands visit →Bears Ears & Natural Bridges
Many travelers extend the day from Blanding toward Bears Ears National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument, or Hovenweep for a full Trail of the Ancients loop.
Guide coming soonEdge of the Cedars, Answered
What are the hours of Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum?
The museum is open year round, Monday through Saturday. From April through October it's also open Sunday afternoons (noon–4pm). Hours run 9am–5pm April through October, and noon–5pm November through February. It's closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
How much does it cost to visit?
General admission is $5 for adults, $3 for Utah seniors 62 and older, and $3 for children ages 6 to 17. Children 5 and under get in free.
How far is Edge of the Cedars from Moab?
It's about 75 miles south of Moab via US Highway 191, roughly a 1 hour 30 minute drive to Blanding, Utah.
Can you actually go inside the kiva?
Yes. A ladder leads down into the reconstructed kiva behind the museum, and it's one of the few places in the region where the public can respectfully enter one. Move slowly on the ladder and keep an eye on kids climbing in and out.
Is Edge of the Cedars good for kids?
Yes — the walking route is short, flat, and fully accessible, and most kids are drawn straight to the kiva and the pottery displays. Most families spend one to two hours here.
Does the park offer guided tours?
Not on site — this is a self guided visit with interpretive signage throughout the museum and great house. Travelers wanting a guided experience typically pair the stop with a guided archaeology or cultural tour elsewhere in the Bears Ears region.
The Story Behind Every Ruin You'll See in Southeast Utah
An hour and a half south of Moab, Edge of the Cedars turns the scattered granaries, rock art, and canyon dwellings you'll pass on every other adventure into one connected story.