- Locale: Cedar Mesa
- Time: Full Day
- Fee: User Fee
This hike leads to a multi-level Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling site located at the intersection of Kane Gulch and Grand Gulch, the longest canyon in Cedar Mesa. Grand Gulch and its tributary canyons were occupied by the Ancestral Puebloans from 800 CE – 1200 CE, and earlier by Basketmaker and Archaic cultures. The hike to Junction Ruin is an 8-mile, advanced roundtrip hike. As you walk the site, you’ll see rock imagery from various ages, grinding slicks, and surface rooms and subsurface kivas. There are no facilities or water available in Kane Gulch.
Special Considerations
There is a day-use fee for visitors. For overnight backpackers, please obtain a permit at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station or self-register at the trailhead during the off-season. Please be prepared to pack in extra water and pack out trash. Be prepared for extreme temperatures and, in the event of localized rain, flash floods in the canyon. If rain should occur, take caution by climbing to higher ground or exiting the canyon.
- Tips For Visiting Here with Respect
Dogs & Archaeology Don’t Mix
To prevent erosion and degradation, dogs are not allowed in or near archeological sites. Always check beforehand if dogs are permitted in an area or region. Remember that many of these sites are culturally significant, so please make sure to leash pets, keep them away from cultural sites, and don’t let them dig.
Use Rubber-Tipped Poles
A rubber tip prevents your hiking pole from scratching and scarring subtle rock images on the ground.
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.
- Maps and Directions
- Coordinates: 37.512402, -109.937979
- Directions:
From Blanding: Travel south on Hwy 191 for three miles and take a right onto UT-95 N. After 28 miles, turn left onto UT-261 S. The Ranger Station will be on your left in 4 miles. The Kane Gulch Trailhead starts in the parking lot.
From Bluff: Travel north on Hwy 191 for 21 miles. Turn left onto UT-95 N. After 28 miles, turn left onto UT-261 S. The Ranger Station will be on your left in 4 miles. The Kane Gulch Trailhead starts in the parking lot.