We’ve seen some beautiful spots on our Great Big Adventure, but this might top our list as one of the prettiest! After camping in Devils Canyon for a couple nights, we stopped in Monticello, Utah to hike around Lloyd Lake. I hadn’t done any homework — just happened to see that this place had an easy, relatively short hike. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we got here!
This adorable little town is relatively close to the southern Utah/Colorado border, and is only a few hours from Capitol Reef National Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Mesa Verde National Park. While much of Utah is beautiful red rock canyons and desert, Monticello is an oasis!
What to See in Monticello
We stumbled upon Monticello after finding the Lloyd Lake Trail on AllTrails (also written as Loyd Lake). We wanted a quick and easy trail to just get our legs moving, and this 2.3-mile hike was perfect. I’d actually consider this more of a nature walk given the beauty and ease. The trail is well-designated and best hiked counterclockwise. Not only will you enjoy a beautiful view of the lake, but the Abajo Mountains in the background are stunning!
There is also a Canyon Country Discovery Center, as well as a Frontier Museum in town, and Bears Ear National Monument isn’t too far away either. While you’re there, consider visiting Newspaper Rock, a 2,000-year-old historical site with petroglyphs created by Native Americans from the ancient Archaic and Fremont cultures to the historic Utes.
Where to Camp
While we didn’t stay long enough to camp, there are a few close options nearby. Prior to our visit, we camped for three days at Devil’s Canyon Campground, which is about 13 miles south of Monticello in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The sites are surrounded by ponderosa pines, pinyon pines, and junipers. We also had a decent AT&T cell signal here, and at $10/night, it’s a really affordable campground centered among many Utah attractions.
If it isn’t important to have a cell signal, I highly recommend checking out the Buckboard Campground, just up the road from Lloyd Lake. It’s sooooo pretty here, with aspens and gamble oaks surrounding the campsites. It’s also $10/night here.
Although our stop was short, we really enjoyed our time in Monticello, Utah. Have you ever stopped somewhere totally unexpected and fell in love? ?
