Hovenweep National Monument Visitor Center
Posted by: 
94RedRover
N 37° 23.232 W 109° 04.773
12S E 670012 N 4139557
Hovenweep National Monument is a collection of ancestral puebloan ruins scattered throughout southeast Utah and southwest Colorado, dating from 250 AD through 1300 AD.
Waymark Code: WM3R09
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 05/08/2008
Views: 9
"Hovenweep" is a Ute/Paiute word meaning "deserted valley." It was given this name by William Henry Jackson, a photographer who visited this area in 1874...aptly describing these sites.
Hovenweep National Monument consists of the ruins of six prehistoric "villages" spread out over 20 miles in the southwest corner of Colorado and the southeast of Utah. These ruins are amidst the Canyons of the Ancients (site of thousands of archeological sites maintained by the Bureau of Land Management or BLM) Most of the archeological sites in this area are difficult to get to, with difficult terrain and unmaintained roads.
We continued on Road 10 out of Cortez, Colorado, and followed the signs to Hovenweep Monument. At the coordinates above is the Visitor Center and Ranger Station. It is situated by the group of ruins called the "Square Tower Group" named for a tower that still stands that is more square in shape than other structures of the time...
Take the time to stop in and talk to a Ranger. They are so knowledgeable on the area and can provide you with information you can't get off the information plaques scattered around.
The Visitor Center has restrooms and AIR CONDITIONING! A great thing if you visit in the summer. They also have an extensive collection of books (for sale) on the surrounding areas and history.
Hours of Operation:
The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April through September, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Public Washrooms: Mens, Womens, Family and Handicapped
Snacks/Drinks at the facility: Yes - Vending Only
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