The original boundary is shown in light green; since December 2017 the national monument has been greatly reduced in size, and now consists of two separate protected areas, the Indian Canyons Unit in the north, adjoining Canyonlands National Park, and the Shash Jaa Unit to the south, containing Comb Ridge and the Bears Ears Buttes.

Major paved roads in and around Bears Ears National Monument are US 163 between Bluff and Mexican Hat along the southern edge, Hwy 261 across Cedar Mesa, Hwy 95 across the center, Hwy 276 towards Halls Crossing, and Hwy 211 towards the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park.