Ruins and petroglyphs in Utah and Colorado

Highlight Photos

Highlights Map

For Thanksgiving we decide to go north through Utah to the border with Wyoming and then return via Colorado exploring the many ruins, petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks and skeletons along the way. All of them are impressive, there are some really special petroglyphs in this area and the ruins are well preserved and worthy to visit.

To learn more click on the Links below or Markers on the map above to go directly to a specific part of our trip and follow our visit to these special places in Utah and Colorado.

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  Exploring Cottonwood Trail ruinsNovember 18, 2012
  We start the day with an exploration of Cottonwood Wash a road littered with ancient ruins as well as more recent mining remains
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  Exploring side canyons and finding ruinsNovember 18, 2012
  Following some lonely caches we explore the canyons and ridges in the area with some great views and even a few ruins along the way
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  Main Mule Canyon RuinNovember 18, 2012
  Last stop today is at the well preserved main Mule canyon ruin which can be easily visited from SR 95
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  A great hike in North Fork Mule CanyonNovember 19, 2012
  Today we spend the day exploring the North Fork of the Mule Canyon finding ruins all along the trail and enjoying the colder weather
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  Exploring Four Toes and other interesting petroglyphsNovember 20, 2012
  Today we start with a series of petroglyph panels culminating with the Four Toes panel all of them quite interesting and easy to access
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  Onto the False Kiva to find petroglyphsNovember 20, 2012
  Second stop today is on the False Kiva to see a dinosaur footprint and even more interesting petroglyphs
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  Moab Brands trail system hikeNovember 20, 2012
  We end the day exploring the Moab Brands trails and finding caches in the falling darkness
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  The impressive views of Dead Horse Point SPNovember 21, 2012
  We start the day with a visit of Dead Horse Point SP exploring the canyonlands and enjoying the great views of the Colorado River and red rock formations
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  The special Copper Ridge Dinosaur TrackwayNovember 21, 2012
  On the way to Sego we stop to explore the Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackway that promises and delivers some very well defined dinosaur tracks worth seeing
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  The beautiful Sego Canyon petroglyphsNovember 21, 2012
  Last stop today is the impressive Sego Canyon with multiple types of petroglyphs and some interesting ruins
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  The special McConkie Ranch PetroglyphsNovember 22, 2012
  First major stop today are the McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs a series of panels with some beautifully detailed and interesting petroglyphs
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  Short visit of the Flaming GorgeNovember 22, 2012
  In the afternoon we do a side trip to Wyoming and Flaming Gorge NRA enjoying some nice views before retreating back to Vernal
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  The dinosaurs of Dinosaur NMNovember 23, 2012
  Today we spend the day exploring Dinosaur NM seeing the impressive dinosaur quarry, interesting petroglyphs and hiking through the park
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  Return visit to beautiful Colorado NMNovember 24, 2012
  Today we explore Colorado NM for the second time revisiting the beautiful places and vistas along the Rim
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  Short stop at Sand Canyon PuebloNovember 25, 2012
  Short stop at the lesser known and mostly unexcavated Sand Canyon Pueblo
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  The large ruined pueblo at Lowry PuebloNovember 25, 2012
  Lowry Pueblo Is an impressive ruined pueblo worth visiting with huge kivas and protected buildings that can be entered
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  A spectacular visit to Painted Hand PuebloNovember 25, 2012
  One of the most impressive sights here is the tower at Painted Hand Pueblo visible from a distance and protecting the small pictographs site
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  Ending the trip at the impressive Cutthroat CastleNovember 25, 2012
  We end the trip with the well preserved Cutthroat Castle with its impressive double walled house and protective towers