Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument features five village groups of the Anaszi people, or Ancient Pueblo. It’s located in Southwest Colorado, between Cortez and Blanding, Utah. All 5 sites are located along a 16 mile road in the high desert.

The Visitor Center is located just across the border in Utah. It’s a modern facility with exhibits, info and a small gift shop. There’s a 31-site modern campground situated next to the visitor center and next to an awesome 2 mile loop trail, the Square Tower Group.

Camping, hiking and Anasazi ruins in Dolores

Although headquartered just across the border in Utah, Hovenweep Monument has several ruin sites to the east in Colorado. The main attraction is Square Tower, which is located by the visitor center in Utah.

The trails on the Colorado side can be accessed most of the way by an unmanaged dirt road. Some are located next to the “Painted Hand” ruin from the Canyons of the Ancients, which is nice and makes it easy to see both national monuments at the same time. The ruin sites aren’t as well marked on the Colorado side. They are marked just by a small wooden sign with a picture of a white dove. Check out Mesa Verde National Park.

The campground has 31 scenic sites in a circle, open first come, first serve. Several sites look out over a canyon, while others have the Sleeping Ute Mountain to gaze upon. Most are for tent camping, though some will accommodate RVs up to 36′.

It’s an ideal campground in the high desert, located next to the visitor center and the two mile hike around the monument’s main attraction: Square Tower Group. Campsites cost only $10, water is supplied, restrooms, fire pits, and tables with sun awnings. To get into the park it costs $6 for a vehicle and $3 for walk-in, motorcycle or bicycle.

Ruins

All the sites offer something unique and are worth visiting. If you only have time for one, see Square Tower.

Square Tower – The most popular archaeological group at Hovenweep. A 2 mile trail wraps around all sites, including Hovenweep Castle.
Horseshoe & Hackberry – A 0.8 mile hike takes you by these two ruins.
Holly – Several ruins make up this exciting group.
Cutthroat Castle – Shares a dirt road with “Paint Hand” of Canyons of the Ancients. It’s about a mile and half round trek if you don’t a real high-clearance vehicle.
Cajun – Located furthest south is this group of several ruins.

Square Tower (Rim Rock Trail)

"Stronghold House" is part of the Square Tower loop trail next to Visitor Center.

Hovenweep Castle.

"Twin Towers".

"Rim Rock House".

"Stronghold House".

The main rim rock trail takes approx. 1.5 hours and is quite scenic. There are several old towers perched atop a canyon cliff. Hovenweep Castle is the main attraction.

Horseshoe and Hackleberry

The trails for Holly, Horsehoe, Hackberry and Cutthroat Castle aren't well marked. Only a small wooden sign of a white dove indicate the Monument. Something with the BLM preventing it.

The roads back to the other 4 groups are dirt. Low clearance vehicles not recommended.

All the sites in the Colorado area boarded with Canyons of the Ancients lands. A metal fence lets you know you're passing through.

A tower on the hike to Horseshoe and Hackberry.

"Horseshoe" is a 0.5 mile walk from the parking lot.

See the tower from above picture in the distance.

"Hackberry" is a 0.8 mile hike from the parking area.

Horseshoe and Hackberry overlooked this vast canyon.

Both are seen along the same mile round-trip hike. The ruins are in good shape and are quite the sight.

Holly

"Holly" group.

More ancient Puebloan ruins in the Holly group.

A tower at the center of the canyon.

More of Holly.

Buildings guard the canyon.

It's a 4 mile hike to the campground, so 8 miles round trip.

A Petroglymph. You can see the different layers of rock if you know what you're looking at.

You can drive to the edge of the trailhead. It’s a short hike from here. Several towers on top of a canyon.

Cutthroat Castle

This is the final bit of 0.8 miles of the road to Cutthroat Castle. This road is high clearance only. Most will hike it the 0.8 miles.

Hiking to Cutthroat Castle.

The extra 0.8 mile trail takes you through a sage desert. Bring water, a hat and sunglasses.

This is the final high-clearance section. My Rav 4 stood no chance.

"Cutthroat Castle".

Ancient Puebloans were master masons and used every bit of cliff to use.

More Cutthroat Castle.

A tower in the canyon in front of Cutthroat Castle.

Cutthroat Castle.

The road is not very developed. Most cars should be fine, but SUV and high-clearance is performed. Be prepared to walk the last 0.8 miles trail unless you have a Jeep. The castle itself has several old ruins, each a sight to see. The road is the same as going to Painted Hand of Canyon of the Ancients.

Cajun

This guy is telling you to go left. I might have gone right. Cajun was the trickiest to find.

Another gate means you're close.

"Cajun" group.

Master builders used all cliff overhangs.

Cajun group.

The Cajun group is located the most southerly in Utah. It’s not super well marked, so keep your eyes peeled for it.

Activities

Camping: Yes, 31 sites, open year round, $10/night, first-come first-serve. They offer great views of Sleeping Ute Mountain and are located next to Rim Rock Trail.

Hiking: Rim Rock Trail near the Visitor Center is a remarkable hike 2-mile trek around the Square Tower ruins. It circles around the top of the canyon, passing by many ruins like Hovenweep Castle. There is an option to take a trail into the canyon as well. The trail takes 1.5-2 hours.

Tips:

It gets hot out here and there’s not much around. Bring a full tank of gas, water and snacks.
One of the ruins takes you by “Paint Hand”, part of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. It’s best to combine the two sites into one trip.

Hovenweep Visitor Center.