Hovenweep National Monument
Hovenweep National Monument
Hovenweep National Monument protects six prehistoric, Puebloan-era villages sprawling over a twenty-mile expanse along the Utah-Colorado border. Multi-leveled and strategically positioned towers lead visitors to marvel at the skill and motivation of their builders.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: Corky HaysPhone Number: 970-562-4282
Entrance Fees: Individual Pass (valid for 7 days): $3 (motorcycles, bicycles, walk-ins); Vehicle Pass (valid for 7 days): $6; Local Passport (valid for Arches, Canyonlands, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges): $25; Commercial Tours: $25-$100 (varies depending on seating capacity of vehicle)
Sights: Square Tower Group; Cajon; Cutthroat Castle; Goodman Point; Holly; Horsehoe/Hackberry
Important Dates
Established as Park: March 2, 1923By The Numbers
Acres: 785.00Annual Visitation: 26,348 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :37.385720 / -109.075550 (map it)
State: CO
Nearby Big City: Cortez, CO
Gateway Communities: Aneth, UT; Montezuma Creek, UT; Pleasant View, CO; Yellow Jacket, CO; Cahone, CO; Lewis, CO; Bluff, UT
Nearby Airports: Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ); Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT); Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC); Canyonlands Fiels (CNY); Albuquerque Interntaional Sunport (ABQ)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
Park Photos
Hovenweep Castle Ruins
Robert Fullerton
Ruins and Ravin
Alex Neauville
Hovenweep Ruins
Alex Neauville
View More Hovenweep Photos
In Detail
Activities & Programs Plan Your Visit Visitors to Hovenweep enjoy short hikes, natural quiet and some of the finest examples of ancestral Puebloan architecture in the southwest. The trail system provides access to each o ... read more.
History Human History Human Prehistory Human habitation at Hovenweep dates to over 10,000 years ago when nomadic Paleoindians visited the Cajon Mesa to gather food and hunt game. These people used the area f ... read more.
Just For Kids Park Fun The archeology of Hovenweep delights kids as much as adults. The Square Tower Group Trail is fun for all ages. Be sure to pick up a trail guide at the visitor center and plan on spending at ... read more.
Planning Your Visit Things To Know Before You Come Accessibility The visitor center and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The Square Tower Group trail is paved to the first overlook and may be negotiated by wheelchai ... read more.
Sights to See Places To Go Hovenweep National Monument protects six prehistoric, Puebloan-era villages spread over a 20-mile expanse of mesa tops and canyons along the Utah-Colorado border. Multi-storied towers pe ... read more.
Who's Who at the Park Bookstore Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) is a nonprofit organization assisting the National Park Service in its educational, interpretive and scientific programs throughout southeast ... read more.
Hovenweep In Depth
News from the Parks
Park Service Employee Earns a Lifetime of Stories
August 18, 2008 - 4:49pm
Regina Jones-Brake remembers the day she met Lady Bird Johnson. Jones-Brake was 22 and setting type at the Benjamin Franklin print shop in Philadelphia's historic district. "I was called a printer's devil," said Jones-Brake. "I wore a mop cap and 18th century attire. I set type, I inked the ink balls, I wet the paper and I ran it through. I was so excited about the job that I worked on Sundays; nobody else wanted to work on Sundays."
August 18, 2008 - 4:49pm
Regina Jones-Brake remembers the day she met Lady Bird Johnson. Jones-Brake was 22 and setting type at the Benjamin Franklin print shop in Philadelphia's historic district. "I was called a printer's devil," said Jones-Brake. "I wore a mop cap and 18th century attire. I set type, I inked the ink balls, I wet the paper and I ran it through. I was so excited about the job that I worked on Sundays; nobody else wanted to work on Sundays."
Maplewood Boy Scouts Are Evacuated near Grand Canyon
August 18, 2008 - 4:29pm
A group of Boy Scouts from Maplewood on a backpacking and rafting trip near the Grand Canyon were evacuated by helicopter Sunday after an earthen dam failed and flood waters threatened their campsite. The six boys and three adult leaders were among scores of people rescued from campgrounds and tribal lands after days of heavy rains caused flooding along two creeks that flow into the Colorado River. "Some boys had enough time to grab their backpacks and some did not," said Bridget Lai, whose husband Michael and son Kyle, 13, are on the trip. "There's not a whole lot you can do about a dam breaking. There's not a lot you can prepare for."
August 18, 2008 - 4:29pm
A group of Boy Scouts from Maplewood on a backpacking and rafting trip near the Grand Canyon were evacuated by helicopter Sunday after an earthen dam failed and flood waters threatened their campsite. The six boys and three adult leaders were among scores of people rescued from campgrounds and tribal lands after days of heavy rains caused flooding along two creeks that flow into the Colorado River. "Some boys had enough time to grab their backpacks and some did not," said Bridget Lai, whose husband Michael and son Kyle, 13, are on the trip. "There's not a whole lot you can do about a dam breaking. There's not a lot you can prepare for."
National Parks Are Offering Podcasts
August 18, 2008 - 4:26pm
Why go to a national park if you can experience one via an Internet podcast? Park officials across the country are hopeful the podcasts themselves will make people want to visit their parks. But if a trip just isn't possible, podcasts are seen as the next best thing.
August 18, 2008 - 4:26pm
Why go to a national park if you can experience one via an Internet podcast? Park officials across the country are hopeful the podcasts themselves will make people want to visit their parks. But if a trip just isn't possible, podcasts are seen as the next best thing.
Pot Farm Found in Park
August 18, 2008 - 4:21pm
A park service pilot on a routine flight over the North Cascades National Park service area helped discover a large marijuana farm worth nearly $48 million -- the first such grow operation found in a national park site in the state. Officials said the farm, which law enforcement officials raided this week, contained more than 16,700 plants. It was well established and resembled the elaborate grow sites run by Mexican drug traffickers plaguing national parks in California, authorities said.
August 18, 2008 - 4:21pm
A park service pilot on a routine flight over the North Cascades National Park service area helped discover a large marijuana farm worth nearly $48 million -- the first such grow operation found in a national park site in the state. Officials said the farm, which law enforcement officials raided this week, contained more than 16,700 plants. It was well established and resembled the elaborate grow sites run by Mexican drug traffickers plaguing national parks in California, authorities said.
Celebrate Zion Wonders
August 18, 2008 - 4:16pm
Next year will be a big celebration for Zion National Park and all who value the majestic views that can be seen within this natural landmark. Zion didn't receive national park status until 1919, but it was recognized for its beauty in 1909, when it was designated as Mukuntuweap National Monument. According to "A History of Washington County: From Isolation to Destination," by Doug Alder and Karl Brooks, The monument designation came after a survey report by St. George resident Leo A. Snow shared the secret of what has become a place of sanctuary befitting its name.
August 18, 2008 - 4:16pm
Next year will be a big celebration for Zion National Park and all who value the majestic views that can be seen within this natural landmark. Zion didn't receive national park status until 1919, but it was recognized for its beauty in 1909, when it was designated as Mukuntuweap National Monument. According to "A History of Washington County: From Isolation to Destination," by Doug Alder and Karl Brooks, The monument designation came after a survey report by St. George resident Leo A. Snow shared the secret of what has become a place of sanctuary befitting its name.
