Hovenweep National Monument
A group of five well-preserved village ruins over a 20-mile radius of mesa tops and canyons.
Noted for its solitude and undeveloped, natural character, Hovenweep National Monument was once home to more than 2,500 people in 900 A.D. In 1923, Hovenweep was proclaimed by President Warren G. Harding a unit of the national park system. The name Hovenweep is Paiute/Ute word meaning "deserted valley." Read more...
PHOTO GALLERY
Featured Links
These ancient Pueblo ruins include towers that remind visitors of European castles. Straddling the Utah-Colorado border, the ruins were built about the same time as medieval fortresses.
The largest and most accessible of the six units of ruins is Square Tower, where several well-preserved structures are located. The area was home for several prehistoric farming villages. Throughout the ruins, visitors may find castles, towers, check dams (for irrigation), cliff dwellings, pueblos and houses. Petroglyphs (rock art) can also be found in the area.
Many outlying groups are available for visitation as well. They include Holly, Horseshoe, Hackberry, Cutthroat Castle and Cajon. The land surrounding the area is owned by the Navajo Nation, Bureau of Land Management, State of Utah and private landowners.
There is a system of three loop trails at the Square Tower Unit. The daily average temperature in the summer is 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 C). Hovenweep National Monument is 20 miles north of Aneth on a gravel and paved road. There is one campground. Closest accommodations are in Bluff or Blanding.
Please stay on trails and don't enter ruins.
THINGS TO DO
MONUMENT VALLEY
TOP THINGS TO DO
GENERAL INFORMATION
REQUEST INFORMATION
TRAVEL BUREAU INFORMATION
SAN JUAN COUNTY - UTAH'S CANYON COUNTRY
117 S Main St.
Monticello, UT 84535
800-574-4386
REQUEST INFO & BROCHURE
Hovenweep Map & Directions
Directionsmonument valley Weather
Latest Articles & Itineraries
Natural Bridges National Monument: A Hidden Gem, Not a Second Fiddle
If you were the little sibling in your family growing...
Plan a Guys Getaway in Vernal
It can be tough to figure out a destination for a guys...
Treat Yourself to a (San Rafael) Swell Winter
Come winter, Utah’s mountains offer some of the...
Plan a Triathlon of Fun in Greater Zion
Take part in some unforgettable events of your own in...
Color Me (Insert Emotion Here): Where to See Cedar City’s Feel-Good Fall Foliage
Calm? Optimistic? Grounded? Inspired? Excited? As the...
Play Outside and See a Play Outside in Cedar City
Explore the area’s staggering scenery before...
Mapping Out Utah’s Tastiest Cuisine
Take an epicurean trip across the state to try all of...
Get Your Peach Thrills in Box Elder County
Northwestern Utah is the perfect climate for fruit,...
Paving the Way for Everyone: All-Access Trails in Utah
Our six-sided state is full of diverse scenery, from...