How to Get a Moon House Permit: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re planning to hike to Moon House, you’ll need a Moon House Utah permit. The process is straightforward, but details like release windows, fees, and pick-up/printing rules can change, so it pays to double-check official sources before you drive out to Cedar Mesa.

Disclaimer: This guide is for trip planning only, not legal advice. Always verify current rules, closures, and permit requirements through the official managing agency and permit portal before your hike.

What the Moon House Utah Permit is For

Moon House is a protected archaeological area within the Moon House/McCloyd Canyon Recreation Management Zone (RMZ) on Cedar Mesa in/near Bears Ears National Monument. The Moon House Utah permit is a day-use permit that limits visitation and sets site-protection rules (for example: cultural resources must not be disturbed, and certain areas may be closed to entry).

Key points to know (confirm before you go because policies can change):

• Moon House day hiking requires a permit (it’s treated differently than general day hiking passes in the area).
• Daily availability is limited, and there is also a maximum group size listed in the permit rules.
• Common RMZ rules include no pets, and restrictions on fires/overnight use.

Where to Check Official Info

Before you pick dates or book anything, verify the latest details in two places:

1. Managing agency page
   • Search: “BLM Cedar Mesa Moon House permit” or “BLM Utah Cedar Mesa permit system”.
   • This is where you’ll usually find the most current notes about how permits work, what’s required, and any changes to procedures.
2. Permit portal listing
   • Search: “Recreation.gov Moon House Day Hiking Permits”.
   • This is where you’ll see availability, checkout steps, and the “Need to Know” rules that apply to your permit.

Why this matters: permit fees, release timing, ranger-station hours, and rule details can shift season to season—always treat blogs/forums as secondary.

Plan First: Dates, Group Size, and Prerequisites

Do this before you click “Book”:

• Pick 2–3 possible dates (a primary date + backups). Permits are limited per day, so flexibility helps.
• Confirm your group size. The permit rules list a maximum group size (and you must enter your group size to check availability).
• Be honest about ability and comfort: the route is described as rugged, and some hikers may find the exposure/downclimb features a deal-breaker.
• Know key restrictions (examples that are commonly listed): no pets, and limitations on fires/camping within the RMZ.
• Plan water and waste: official info emphasizes being self-sufficient with water and packing out human waste.

Release Times

Release timing can change, so confirm in the official permit system and/or the managing agency’s page right before you plan your booking.

That said, official guidance for this permit system commonly includes:

• Permits becoming available online up to about three months in advance of your entry date.
• A “self-issue/print at home” window opening closer to the trip (the agency page describes a 14-day window for self-issuing/printing).

Practical tip: Put a reminder on your calendar for the day your preferred date first becomes available, then book as early as you can.

How to Get a Moon House Utah Permit (Step-by-Step)

1) Set up your account (5 minutes)

1. Create a Recreation.gov account (or sign in).
2. Save your phone number and payment method so checkout is fast.

2) Find the correct permit listing

1. In Recreation.gov, search “Cedar Mesa” or “Moon House Day Hiking Permits.”
2. Confirm you’re looking at the Moon House day hiking permit (not a day hiking pass or a backpacking permit).

3) Choose your date and group size

1. Select your entry date.
2. Enter group size to view availability (availability displays can change based on group size).

4) Review rules and trip fit before paying

1. Read the “Need to Know” section carefully (this is where you’ll see key restrictions and responsibility rules).
2. If your group includes an organized club/school/scouts, verify whether additional permitting applies (this is sometimes handled outside standard bookings).

5) Book and pay

1. Add the permit to your cart and complete checkout.
2. Fees and reservation charges can change; the portal lists current amounts during checkout. (Recent listings have shown a per-person permit fee plus a reservation fee for advance reservations.)

6) Print/save your permit

1. Follow portal instructions to print at least one copy of your permit (official guidance has emphasized bringing a printed copy).
2. Save a digital copy on your phone as backup (but don’t assume you’ll have service).

Pick-Up Steps

Procedures can vary by season and staffing, so confirm the current instruction on your permit and the managing agency page.

In recent official guidance:

• In-person check-ins have not always been required for Moon House permits.
• If you do stop in, staff at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station (seasonal) or Monticello Field Office (year-round) may share current conditions, road updates, and cultural-site etiquette reminders.

What To Do If Permits Are Sold Out

When your date is full, here are realistic next moves:

1. Check nearby weekdays (often less competitive than weekends).
2. Split into smaller groups (within the max group size) and look for partial availability on the same day. Do not exceed daily or group limits.
3. Look for cancellations: refresh the portal periodically, especially 1–7 days before your trip when plans change.
4. Pivot to other permitted areas: Cedar Mesa has other permit/pass systems (day hiking passes vs backpacking permits). Confirm what applies to your alternate hike.
5. Adjust your trip plan: if Moon House is your “must-do,” plan lodging and driving around the permit date you can actually secure.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Booking the wrong product (day hiking pass or backpacking permit instead of Moon House day-use).
• Assuming rules from last year still apply (release windows, fees, printing/pick-up procedures can change).
• Showing up with pets when the RMZ rules prohibit them.
• Not bringing enough water or a plan to pack out waste.
• Treating the hike like a signed trail (official info notes limited signage and challenging terrain).
• Touching walls, entering closed areas, or disturbing artifacts (serious legal and cultural consequences).

What to Bring

Use this checklist:

Show Up Prepared for Your Moon House Trip

Getting a Moon House Utah permit is mostly about planning ahead: confirm the latest rules on the managing agency page, book on the permit portal as soon as your date opens, and show up prepared with a printed permit and the right safety/Leave No Trace essentials.

Moon House Permit FAQs