This trail starts from the area of Spruce House Cliff Dwelling and loops about 3 miles below the canyon rim and returns at the top of the mesa. This gives a feeling for the area as the ancients might have seen it. If one takes their time and some drinking water, it is a very easy and enjoyable hike.
I emerge from a narrow spot in the trail. Although well maintained and well marked, there were some spots along the trail requiring some extra exertion and cautious manuvering. The trail is interesting but extra caution should be taken to make sure a misstep doesn't occur.
One of the many smaller overhangs, about 4' high, along the trail. These overhangs are formed by the same processes forming the large overhangs occupied by cliff dwellings. I can attest to the value of these overhangs as shelters. I ducked into one for shelter from a brief yet hard rainstorm. I easily imagined, as an ancient hunter, taking quick shelter and spending a very warm and sheltered night with a small but cheery fire.
A view of the canyon below, stretching to the west. At the head of this canyon is Spruce House Cliff Dwelling.
Some views from the trail into the canyon below.
Some wildflowers growing along the trail. Flowers grow any where they have a chance. They are very refreshing and inspiring along the trails as they struggle to live and grow and reproduce. It's inspiring and sometimes easy to associate courage with their growth but they are just doing what they need to do.
HOORAY! Here are some petroglyphs! FINALLY!
Petorglyphs are carved in the face of the rock, unlike pictographs which are painted on the surface of the rock. Some of these drawings may be clan symbols. Although there are translations for some symbols, it is still to discern the meanings clearly. Do the meanings of glyphs depend on context? Are some of the translations misleading or misunderstood? It's difficult to believe the artists who drew these pictographs didn't have a sense of proportion of the many figures they drew.
