Hovenweep National Monument
McElmo Route
Cortez, CO 81321-8901
970-562-4282
www.nps.gov/hove
E-mail - Art_Hutchinson@NPS.GOV
Hovenweep National Monument, established in 1923, consists of six units of ruins located on 784
acres. These prehistoric sites represent the cultural climax of Pueblo farming villages over 700
years ago.
The Hovenweep People
The inhabitants of Hovenweep were part of the large group of prehistoric Pueblo Indians
who occupied the Four Corners region of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico
until almost A.D. 1300. Their culture was similar to that of the people who lived in
what is now Mesa Verde National Park, Colo. Their descendants are probably the
present-day Pueblo Indians of New Mexico and Arizona.
It may have been 2,000 years ago when the people in the San Juan region first began to
farm. They took shelter in shallow caves, but before long they built pithouses in the
valleys and on mesa tops. Later they constructed surface rooms in contiguous rows. In
the 900's they adopted stone masonry. From the late 1000's to the present, Pueblo
Indians have built multistoried dwellings.
Like their descendants, the prehistoric Pueblos raised corn, beans, and squash in small
fields. They also used many wild plant foods, hunted and trapped animals, including
birds, and domesticated the turkey. These people were expert artists and craftsmen who
produced a variety of tools, utensils, ceremonial objects, jewelry, and articles of dress.
Their social and religious organization was apparently well developed.
For centuries the Pueblos lived in peace and security in small, scattered villages. But by
the early 1100's, they had left many of their small villages in favor of larger, compact
pueblos. By 1200, they had moved from the open valleys and mesa tops to the heads of
the Hovenweep canyons, which contain permanent springs. They constructed their
pueblos and towers here in order to protect their precious sources of water.
The long draws draining into the canyons offered an advantage in that they could be
terraced to hold back the soil and provide sheet-water irrigation for crops. The canyon
heads, at somewhat higher elevations, also afforded the Pueblos unobstructed views of
the countryside.
In the late 1200's a long period of drought began in the San Juan area. The people, now
concentrated in restricted places, were unable to cope with such prolonged hardship.
Failing crops, diminishing water supplies, and perhaps warfare forced them to abandon
their homes before 1300. They drifted south to the Rio Grande and Little Colorado
drainages and never returned.
The Ruins Today
The presence, today, of tumbled piles of masonry, the remains of many-roomed pueblos,
small cliff dwellings, and towers, and the quantities of refuse scattered over the canyon
slopes leave little doubt that a sizable population once lived in this now desolate
country.
Pueblo and tower walls are constructed of excellent coursed-stone masonry. Most of the
mortar has long since disappeared, though some walls stand more than 20 feet high.
Ports at strategic points in these walls command the approaches to buildings, trails, and
springs.
Visiting Hovenweep
The monument includes a ranger station, campground, and trails, all of which are located at the
Square Tower unit. While the ranger station and campground are accessible to the handicapped,
the trails are not. Pets must be kept on leash at all times. Firearms are prohibited.
The ranger station, open daily 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year round, provides interpretive services to
orient visitors to the area. A restroom and drinking water are available. In addition, books and
convenience items are sold here. The station may be closed when the ranger is on patrol. There
is no entrance fee.
The 31-site campground, has restrooms and drinking water. Each site
has a table and fire grate. Fires are allowed only in the grates. Wood gathering is not
permitted. While most sites can accommodate small trailers, there are no hookups. Camping is
on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations taken. The camping fee of $10.00 per
night, per site is collected from approximately April thur October.
The Square Tower self-guiding trail consists of three loops totaling two miles. This primitive
trail, which takes approximately two hours to walk, is marked with rock cairns. A trail guide
can be purchased at the ranger station for 35 cents. Information about other trails can also be
obtained here. Please remember to always carry water.
Access to the monument includes graded dirt, gravel, and paved roads. Dirt roads become
muddy and sometimes impassable during and after storms. Inquire locally about current
conditions. Air service is available in Cortez, Colorado.
The climate in this high desert environment is dry, with an average of 12 inches of precipitation
per year. Winter low temperatures average from -10 degrees to 10 degrees. Summer highs
average 90 degrees to 100 degrees. Spring and fall are generally mild.
Wildlife consists of reptiles, birds, and small and large mammals, . Mammals include deer,
coyotes, foxes, rabbits, rodents, and bats. Reptiles include snakes and lizards. Birds include
ravens, hawks, and a variety of small species. During the late spring and early summer, biting
gnats are plentiful.
Gasoline, supplies, meals, rooms, and telephone are not available. The nearest services are:
Gasoline and Supplies: CO: Ismay Trading Post (14 miles); UT: Hatch Trading Post (16
miles), supplies only; Aneth (20 miles).
Meals/Rooms: CO: Cortez (43 miles), UT: Bluff (40 miles), and Blending (45 miles).
Telephone: CO: Pleasant View (26 miles), UT: Aneth (20 miles), and Montezuma Creek
(34 miles).
For more information about the area contact:
Cortez Chamber of Commerce,
808 East Main,
Cortez, Colorado, 81321,
(800) 346-5628,
(970) 565-3414
Towns and Attractions Nearby
Mesa Verde National Park is located 75 miles east of the monument. This World Heritage Site contains a large number of Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and other interesting archeological sites. A world renowned archeological museum is also located at Mesa Verde NP.
Anasazi Heritage Center is located near Dolores Colorado. This site houses a very extensive collection of archeological related materials and exhibits, which focus on the full history of the Montezuma Valley.
Edge of the Cedars Museum is located 40 miles west of Hovenweep at Blanding, Utah. This site contains an modern museum and associated excavated archeological site.
Natural Bridges NM. Located 80 miles west of Hovenweep on the road between Blanding and Lake Powell (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area).
Canyonlands and Arches National Parks are located about two hours northwest of the monument and offer visitors a wide variety of canyon country experiences.
Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Durango is an historic railroad town and is located 90 miles east of Hovenweep. One of its main attractions is a historic steam powered railroad, which offers visitors with a high mountain rail trip to the historic mining town of Silverton. (Durango also is the home of Fort Lewis College, a four year college with an excellent academic program, including archaeology!).
Telluride Colorado. The historic mining town of Telluride has become well known for its spectacular mountain scenery, excellent skiing and summer music and art festivals.
Books & Maps
Browse through the Adventurous Traveler Bookstore's database to find an extensive collection of books and maps on the Four Corners Region.
Other Internet Resources
Hovenweep National Monument - Site from Kansas State University.
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from Away.com
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