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Mule Canyon Ruin

BLM – Monticello Field Office
365 North Main Street
Monticello, Utah 84535
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MULE CANYON RUIN IS A ROADSIDE RUIN, ABOUT 7 MI. WEST OF BUTLER WASH RUINS ALONG HWY 95. THESE RUINS CAN BE SEEN IN 15 MINUTES OR SERVE AS A BASE FOR HIKING SEVERAL OTHER TRAILS.

• Mule Canyon Ruins trail – 11 mi.
• Cave Tower trail – 1 mi.
• Mule Canyon North Fork trail – 5 mi.
• Lower Mule Canyon trail – 1 mi.

Mule Canyon Ruin Overview

Free entry

Free dispersed camping

Approx. 20 mi. southwest of Blanding on the north side of Hwy 95

Photos at Mule Canyon Ruin

Mule Canyon Ruins Trail

A SERIES OF DWELLINGS AND STORAGE AREAS TUCKED AWAY IN THIS CANYON. MAIN ATTRACTION IS ‘HOUSE ON FIRE’.

11 mi. round trip.

Strenuous

Go 0.5 mi. to the east, then 0.25 mi. north to the parking area

Backcountry Permit at the trailhead

Google trail map

Trail Details:
Hike west into the canyon on a well-worn trail. ‘House on Fire’ is located at 1.25 mi. Photographing the ‘House on Fire” while it’s ‘on fire’, should be done early morning, before the sunlight hits the ruins directly.
From here, you can walk at least another 3 mi. to find multiple, smaller ruins. Most are high up on the canyon walls, but you can hike up to a few fairly easily.

Cave Tower Trail

AT THE HEAD OF THE LOWER MULE CANYON, SEVEN UNIQUE ROUND TOWERS SURROUND A CAVE WITH A SPRING. SEVERAL SMALL RUINS ARE TUCKED AWAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CANYON.

1 mi. round trip.

Easy

From the Mule Canyon Roadside Ruins go east 0.8 mi., park off the south side of the highway and walk south 0.5 mi.

Backcountry Permit at the Mule Canyon trailhead (needed if you enter the canyon)

Google trail map

Mule Canyon North Fork Trail

5 mi. round trip.

Easy

Continue 0.5 mi. beyond the Mule Canyon trailhead and park on the right

Backcountry Permit at the Mule Canyon trailhead

Google trail map

Trail Details:
This North Fork trail follows the creek bed and several structures can be found along the canyon walls.
At a certain point a granary can be seen under an overhang high above; here, at creek level, a small ruin is hidden in a small alcove with several petroglyphs on the walls. After a few miles, turn around and return to the trailhead. Max. roundtrip distance approx. 9 mi.

Lower Mule Canyon Trail

1 mi. round trip.

Easy

Available at the trailhead

From Hwy 95 south 1 mi. on Comb Wash Road, turn right 0.3 mi. to the trailhead

Google trail map

Trail Details:
Follow the trail north-west 0.5 mi.

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