Hovenweep National Monument

We left Cortez and drove through the red rocks of McElmo Canyon on Road G across the Great Sage Plain to Hovenweep National Monument.

Hovenweep, which is Paiute for ‘deserted valley’ straddles the Colorado/Utah border and is close to Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. The once thriving communities have been deserted for over 700 years

We followed the trail from the visitor centre along the edge of Little Ruin Canyon

Hovenweep Castle

Square Tower House was built on a sandstone boulder in the canyon, close to a permanent water source.

The trail dips down a very steep 80ft across a weathered coal deposit then crosses the canyon floor before winding its way up the opposite side.

Stronghold House from the canyon floor.

It took us around 2 hot, dusty hours to hike around all the towers. We had lunch under a shady ramada and, once the motor home that had its aircon running left, listened to the silence.

Have fun, we are!