Trail of the Ancients
Hovenweep National Monument, UT

The ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites found at Hovenweep National Monument were all erected around A.D. 1200 and are characterized by their unique square, oval, circular, and D-shaped towers. The monument contains six groups of ruins. Square Tower is the best preserved. The others are Cajon, Holly, Hackberry Canyon, Goodman Point, and Cutthroat Castle. Cajon is the ruin of two large pueblos. Holly, Hackberry Canyon, and Cutthroat Castle contain towers and peublos. Goodman Point is a large unexcavated surface ruin with numerous small sites close by. A self-guiding trail leads from the ranger station at Square Tower ruin to the tower and its associated structures. Ranger-guided tours are available on a seasonal basis. Unlike the large ruins at Mesa Verde, these are approachable and the visitor can wander among the fallen walls and consider the people who built them. The outlying ruins are reached by auto along graded gravel or native surface roads. Vehicles with high clearance are recommended to reach these outlying ruins. Trails of varying length lead to the ruins from the road. No trail is of extreme difficulty, but visitors are encouraged to wear outdoor clothing and good hiking boots. Often, there are few people at the monument so the experience can be very individual and peaceful.