Mission

Fly the Senator staffers, Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, Grand Canyon Trust, SUWA, and other stakeholders to offer the aerial view and a new appreciation for the region’s rich history and breathtaking landscape.

We flew over dramatic sandstone cliffs, Comb Ridge, ancient cliff dwellings tucked into canyon walls, Grand Gulch and Cedar Mesa, and the expansive plateaus that define this sacred place.

Designated as a national monument in 2016, Bears Ears was established to protect one of the most culturally and archaeologically rich areas in the United States. In 2017, the monument’s boundaries were significantly reduced by 80%, but in 2021, they were fully restored, reaffirming the importance of preserving this remarkable region.

From above, the cultural significance of the Bears Ears region becomes especially clear - dotted with Ancestral Puebloan ruins, rock art panels, and centuries-old trails, the area remains important to Native American tribes who continue to have deep connections to the land today. Wildlife thrives in this diverse terrain as well - golden eagle and peregrine falcon, known to nest in the cliffside of Indian Creek, mule deer, and desert bighorn sheep roam the region, and bobcats inhabit the ancient juniper forests.

Bears Ears also serves as a hub for outdoor recreation, including hiking, climbing, and exploring backcountry routes. Thank you for flying with us and seeing it from above; the vastness and remote beauty of these lands offer a rare and humbling perspective - a reminder of why this place is worth protecting.

Click for photos from the flights, Tim Peterson’s photos, and geo-referenced flight photos.