Hovenweep National Monument — Attraction in Cortez

Great area to see and learn about the lives of Ancient Pueblans. The staff at the Visitor Center is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. She made great recommendations for our hike and provided the park map and site bulletins for specific areas. The museum is also very good. Plan to spend some time in the Visitor Center before you head out.

Hints: use the water station to fill up. You are walking on top of a mesa with very little shade, and it gets very warm out there.

The park also provides loaner walking sticks. A great idea for those who need a bit of added stability on their walk.

Only negative: The park allows dogs in the walking trails. Dogs are to be kept on leashes, and humans are to pick up and properly dispose of dog waste. Can you tell where this is going? The vast majority of dogs were running free, obviously off trail, and pooping wherever. Of course nobody was picking it up. The park emphasizes "Don't Bust the Crust" to keep people off the delicate biosoils. Dogs are running all over it.

On behalf of people who realize it is a privilege and not a right to take your dog on a trail in a national park, please follow the rules. You are going to lose this privilege and have nobody to blame...

Location location location. The ruins here are interesting and unique. We have visited almost all the Ancesteral Puebloan sites. None of then have towers like these and pearched on rock edges. There are no Kivas. Nor are the tower living spaces. There has been no restoration work here. You see them as time has left them. That is maybe good or bad. Our problem is with the National Park Service. Either they don't want the public to visit the parks or they think they are keeping us healthy and fit like those 20-30 rangers. They revel in long walks. Parking lots a block or two from the visitors venters. Long walks to the items of interest. This is a brand new visitors center bought with my over 50 years of taxes. There is nothing there!all of the archeology is in the canyon or on the rim. Why then have a half mile walk down hill and back up. Why. There was plenty of room next to the site. And they paved the walk with concrete. Obviously these nitwits have never used a wheel chair or cane. Most of us come from low altitude and are elderly. They...

This place is nothing short of magical - the spirits of those who occupied this valley are uniquely present here if you listen closely. Unlike most of the native dwellings in the four corners area - the structures at Hovenweep are scattered throughout a small canyon - some on the bottom, others protruding from the valley ledges and some even right on the canyon rim. Each structure seems unique - as if truly designed for its place. It’s as if a actual architect took on individual projects over many years - sloped walls meet rounded vaults - all made of finely honed stones - the forms make architectural sense - not just a product of primitive materials and defensive needs. (It’s my personal theory that Hovenweep was the product of one incredible mind - a great architect - perhaps later reincarnated as Frank Lloyd Wright or Louis Kahn.)

Yep - it’s WAY out of the way - if you like deserted roads - this drive is for you. Plus - the only way to experience Hovenweep is to take the full circle rim trail - about 2 1/2 miles. But it’s...