How to Get the Indian Creek Permit (2024-2025 Guide)

Indian Creek Canyon is part of Bears Ears National Monument, managed jointly by the BLM and NPS under a framework established in 2016 and revised multiple times since. As of 2024-2025, day use at the primary Indian Creek climbing corridor (the Supercrack Buttress area and adjacent walls) requires either a $5 day-use fee paid at the self-service kiosk at the UT-211 junction, or coverage by an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80/year, covers all federal recreation areas).

Dispersed overnight camping in the Indian Creek corridor does not currently require a reservation or permit, but is subject to a 14-day continuous stay limit and the standard Bears Ears National Monument regulations: pack out all waste (including human waste in wag bags in high-use areas), stay on established surfaces, do not park blocking drainages or wildlife corridors.

The permit situation at Indian Creek is straightforward compared to Zion. There is no timed entry permit, no lottery, and no quota on daily visitor numbers as of the 2024-2025 season. The fee at the kiosk is self-reported and enforced by periodic ranger patrols. Carry proof of your America the Beautiful pass if you have one — rangers do check.

What does require a permit at Indian Creek and the broader Bears Ears area: Overnight camping in specific designated zones (check the BLM Bears Ears website for current zone maps). Campfire rings and fire rings in dispersed areas (campfires are permitted in existing rings only, or in fire pans with Leave No Trace pack-out protocols). Commercial guided activities require a special use permit from BLM — this is the guide's responsibility, not the client's, but it is worth confirming your guide is permitted.

The most important logistical fact about Indian Creek permits is that the system can change. The monument boundary has been revised multiple times by different administrations, and management protocols have shifted accordingly. Check the BLM Monticello Field Office website (blm.gov/office/monticello-field-office) and the Bears Ears Education Center website (bearsearscoalition.org) for current conditions before departure. Access Fund (accessfund.org) maintains a Utah climbing access page that is updated when conditions change.

For the 2025 season, the practical advice is: have your America the Beautiful pass or $5 in cash for the kiosk, arrive early on spring weekends (the parking areas fill by 8am in April), and comply with all waste management requirements. The Creek's long-term access depends on the climbing community demonstrating responsible use. Rangers are present, they do issue citations, and they are watching how the climbing community manages the impact of growing visitation.

Temporary closures for raptor nesting are possible in spring (February through July depending on nest activity). Check Mountain Project and the American Alpine Club's land access page for current closure information before departure. Peregrine falcon nesting has closed portions of the canyon in the past, and the closure boundaries move based on actual nest locations each year.