Monticello

A town in San Juan County, Utah. Named for the estate of Thomas Jefferson, Monticello became the county seat in 1895 and was incorporated as a city in 1910.

Monticello is a high-elevation town on the edge of Canyon Country, on the sheltered eastern slope of the Abajo Mountains, overlooking a maze of sandstone canyons and mesas. The Abajo Mountains, topped by 11,000-foot Abajo Peak, are Monticello's summer paradise, with mild temperatures, cooling rainfall, and recreation sites scattered throughout the Manti-La Sal National Forest.

Monticello is also a place where Utah's past rubs against the present, with Ancient ruins and rock art scattered throughout nearby Bears Ears National Monument and Hovenweep National Monument. The city is also a starting point for the 775-kilometer Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway, a massive road loop lined with scenic views and important archaeological sites.