Revisiting Hovenweep

Hovenweep is one of those little-known national parks. We stopped there two years ago and for some reason were drawn back. It is 40+ miles from Cortez, Colorado, regardless of the route you chose. Both drives have there own personalities. The northern route takes you through farm land and the southern through the rocky McElmo Canyon. We went in by the northern and were greeted. . . .


The Hovenweep site is a bit different than others as the ruins are concentrated in a relatively small area and are in good condition, at least for ruins. The Twin Towers. (Not the Two Towers of Middle Earth, a future destination.)

Eroded Boulder House.

Hovenweep Castle.

Square Tower is in the Canyon. Speculation is it protected a spring.

There are living creatures at the site and park rangers too.

Rock Squirrel

Leopard Lizard