My guess is this discussion will be shut down as it probably should be since it have very little to do with RV'ing. But before it does, I'll toss in my two cents (or is it five cents now due to inflation?).
I have visited these monuments (and surrounding federal lands) multiple times (heck, I just returned from S. Utah two days ago). I spend time in the backcountry, hiking, backpacking, and packrafting (using my RV as a base camp to return to) and have seen many, many ruins and other "special places" (House on Fire is just So-So if you are willing to put in the effort and look further). I avoid National Parks and the more developed National Monuments whenever possible.
I am of the opinion that we shouldn't turn every special place in this country into a National Whatever. With National attention comes crowds, signs, paved paths and rules to follow. Along with visitor stations, rangers, more pavement and more signs. Even just since Bears Ears first came on the national stage, I have noticed an significant increase in the numbers of people there (did an amazing backpack trip through Dark Canyon well before anyone in Washington knew of the place). These additional people mean the managing agencies will need to put more into infrastructure, and perhaps even limit the number folks entering the area. It's special to wander down a remote canyon and feel like you are the first (white) person to see something. But that (all be it, false) sense of discovery would not be there if there was lots of on-line information to follow, a parking lot, paved path and signs pointing the way. I realize that Monument Status is a long way from paved paths and signs, but over the course of my life I have watched quite a few "special areas" go from simple BLM/Forest lands to Wilderness Study Areas, to Wilderness, to Nat. Monument, to Nat. Park (not necessarily in that order). But never, have I seen it go the other way. So I say, lets leave the next generation the ability to have this same sense of discovery and leave some places alone without turning them into the over loved amusement parks that all our National Parks and some of our National Monuments have become.
