River House

River House

  • Locale: San Juan River
  • Time: 0.5-2 Days
  • Fee: None

This Ancestral Puebloan multi-room home is best visited from the San Juan River through a guided or private trip. About 5 miles downstream of Sand Island, multiple trails will allow you to visit this alcove where generations of Ancestral Puebloans lived. The standing walls and kiva structures date to the 1200s CE. The site was also briefly inhabited in the 900s CE. Above the multistory structures are striking rock art designs, including a rare painted snake. This site has been stabilized to prevent wall erosion. There are no facilities or water available at River House.

Special Considerations

River House has been stabilized over the years to prevent erosion of the structures. Please do your part to protect it by steering clear of walls. There are no facilities at the site so be prepared to pack in water and pack out trash. BLM regulations require that you travel in groups of 12 or less. If driving, be aware that the road is for high-clearance, 4WD vehicles only, and often impassable with rain or recent precipitation. It involves many stream crossings and the one-lane road is narrow and offers few turn arounds and multiple blind spots.

  • Archaeology
  • Multiple Days
  • Tips For Visiting Here with Respect
    Leave Cultural Belongings Where They Are

    Leave Cultural Belongings Where They Are

    Cultural belongings such as pottery pieces, flakes and stone tools, corn cobs, and textiles left by early Indigenous peoples are still sacred to Tribes and Pueblos. Ancestral items and historic artifacts help researchers learn about the past. It's illegal to remove such items from public lands.

    Pack Out Your Poop

    Pack Out Your Poop

    Human and pet waste threatens fragile ecosystems and drinking water for hikers and wildlife alike. Poop near cultural sites is disrespectful to the Tribes and Pueblos that revere this sacred cultural landscape. When facilities are not available, please pack out your waste.

    Steer Clear of Ancestral Structures

    Steer Clear of Ancestral Structures

    Structures are spiritually alive and still hold cultural significance to Tribal peoples. When recreating, visitors should refrain from leaning on walls, no matter how solid they look and avoid touching, standing on, or climbing in structures as they can be easily damaged.
  • Maps and Directions
  • Coordinates: 37.222924, -109.687913
  • Directions:

    River Access: Launching from Sand Island Campground and boat ramp, pull over at River Mile 6 on the right and follow trails north to the first sandstone bluff.

    Vehicle Access: With a high clearance vehicle or OHV, travel west from Bluff along Hwy 191 and continue onto Hwy 163 for a total of 7.5 miles. Turn left at the bottom of the hill onto Comb Wash Road (SJC RD 235). Travel for 4.8 miles along a 4WD road to River House.