Hovenweep National Monument - Colorado/Utah

The name “Hovenweep” is a Ute word for “deserted valley,” a suiting description of the landscape of southeastern Utah. Once home to more than 2,500 indigenous people, these Ancestral Puebloan ruins are believed by archaeologists to have been part of an agricultural community in 900 A.D.

Explore Square Tower Trail is a 2-mile trail visiting multiple houses.  

Stronghold House was built with two distinct features...Stronghold House and Stronghold Tower. Stronghold Tower was built over a crevice in a cliff. A log bridged the crevice and supported part of the tower. When the log rotted away, most of the tower collapsed in to the canyon.

Eroded Boulder House is the one centered in this photo.  You can see exactly what time has done to this once prominent house.

Unit Type House is a basic building plan, a few living and storage rooms and one kiva, possibly home to a clan.  

Most larger pueblos expanded by simply expanding the idea.

Near the head of Little Ruin Canyon is Square Tower with Hovenweep Castle behind it. Square and circular towers, D-shaped dwellings and many kivas were built in this area. In Hovenweep Castle is a log tree-ring dated at 1277. 

Hovenweep is known for its towers.  Hovenweep's Square Tower is located nearby the spring at the head of the canyon, below Hovenweep Castle.  Square Tower may have been used to guard the spring.  Hundreds of people depended on this spring.

Hovenweep House was the center of one of the largest Pueblos villages in the Square Tower group.  

Despite its name, Rimrock House may have not been a place people live, for it lacks any apparent rooms.  The structure is rectangular in shape and stands two stories.  Many small openings were placed in the walls, at unusual angles. Peepholes for seeing who might be coming for a visit.

Twin Towers was built on the bedrock with the two towers almost touching. One of the towers is oval, the other is horseshoe shaped. The two towers contained sixteen rooms. The Hovenweep Twin Towers are among the finest constructed towers in the Southwest.

We were informed that we wold have to hike down into the canyon and back out to complete the loop.

 This is the view from the bottom of the valley. Although the national monument is a considerable drive from Mesa Verde it is well worth the visit.