This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Hovenweep National Monument is one of those out-of-the-way destinations that are easy to miss, especially in the midst of southeastern Utah where national parks such as Canyonlands and Arches, Monument Valley, the San Juan River and Cedar Mesa offer many recreational options.
Partly in Utah and partially in Colorado, the monument preserves wonderful ancient ruins in an out-of-the-way beautiful place.
Its small campground is seldom crowded, and the monument is so far from any civilization that night skies are amazing. Don't be surprised if you camp there and hear a coyote in the distance.
The hiking trail, including walking near a rare circular ruin, is both easy and interesting.
The National Park Service has named Hovenweep as this month's National Park Getaway. More than 250 sites have been featured since the series started in 2009.
According to a news release, the monument preserves six villages once inhabited by the ancestors of today's Pueblo people. Many of the villages were built at the heads of canyons near seep springs and shade.
The ruins are generally found near the canyon rim, often in natural alcoves.
Hovenweep's Sierra Coon wrote that the towers and rooms at Hovenweep are unique in the style and quality of their masonry. Look for carefully shaped stones in the structures.
For information on Hovenweep, go to the National Park Service website at http://www.nps.gov.