Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument, located on the border of Colorado and Utah, was established in 1923 by President Warren Harding, to preserve the prehistoric villages in the area. It was the home of Ancestral Puebloans who settled here around 900 AD to hunt and grow crops. They built multi-storied structures that were expertly crafted. These structures are well preserved and completely amazing to see.

We arrived around lunch time and found the perfect spot for a picnic before exploring the area.

After lunch, theTravelsketcher found a trail and a place to sketch, while I wandered and took photos of the ruins.

The people who settled here were quite advanced and even built a type of reservoir as a holding place for rain water. Examination of the ancient structures and tools show a connection between the residents of Hovenweep and Mesa Verde in Colorado.

Hovenweep has six distinct villages, unfortunately, we were not able to see all of them since there was a nasty storm and loud thunder brewing in the distance. Thankfully, we didn’t see any lightening.

There is one campground in the park with 31 spaces. Other accommodations can be found in Blanding and Bluff, both in Utah.

Although the ruins at Hovenweep are not as dramatic as those located in Mesa Verde, they are still astonishing to see. The park is far less crowded than Mesa Verde, which is always an advantage.

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Stay safe and healthy,

Tricia