MEXICAN HATis a tiny desert community of 50 or so people near the southeastern corner of Utah. It sits along the San Juan River among impressive rock formations. It serves mainly as a stopping off point for those traveling to Monument Valley (22 miles southwest) and Natural Bridges National Monument (44 miles north). Mexican Hat is also a convenient base for those exploring the San Juan River. A few other attractions -- Goosenecks State Park, Muley Point Overlook and the Valley of the Gods -- are within 15 miles of town.
Mexican Hat is located on Hwy 163, 24 miles west of Bluff. It has a few small motels, a private campground, a few restaurants, service stations and some gift shops. Mexican Hat gets its name from a rock formation north of town that resembles an overturned sombrero.
Mexican Hat is located on Hwy 163, 24 miles west of Bluff. It has a few small motels, a private campground, a few restaurants, service stations and some gift shops. Mexican Hat gets its name from a rock formation north of town that resembles an overturned sombrero.
Valley of the Gods
The main road through Mexican Hat (US 163) eventually joins US 191 which goes north to Monticello and Moab, but before this it passes close to the Valley of the Gods. This is a smaller scale version of Monument Valley, with tall, red, isolated sandstone mesas and cliffs standing above the level valley floor, remnants of some ancient landscape. The area may be toured via a 17 mile dirt road (FR 242) that winds amongst the eerie formations; this is rather steep and bumpy in parts but should be passable by normal vehicles in good weather. The western end joins UT 261 shortly before its 1,200 foot ascent up Cedar Mesa, while the eastern end starts 9 miles from town along US 163 and heads north, initially crossing flat, open land and following the course of Lime Creek, a seasonal wash, before turning west towards the buttes and pinnacles.
Goosenecks State Park
Around the small village of Mexican Hat in southeast Utah, the San Juan River is slow-moving and flows through a relatively shallow red rock canyon with many wide curves; more of these convolutions can be seen in the nearby Goosenecks State Park, reached by a 4 mile paved side road (UT 316) that branches off UT 261 a little way north of town. The park, to which entry is free, has just one extended viewpoint of several huge river bends, now flowing one thousand feet below ground level in a deep canyon with a series of stepped cliffs and terraces, a feature recognized as one of the best examples of entrenched river meanders in the world. At the park, the waters flow through 5 miles of canyon whilst progressing westwards only one mile. Beyond the visible meanders, the river continues to twist and turn as the canyon deepens, before joining Lake Powell after about 35 miles.
The Night
The Hat Rock Inn is literally in the heart of Southern Utah
The Hat Rock Inn sits 100 feet abovethe Gypson Rapids (class III) of the San Juan River.Currently, access from the motel to our private, as of yet un-developed beach, requires a 1/4 mile walk along acliffside trail that adjoins a dirt road, you may also drive to a public beach!
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