Thenaturalmedic Adventures
Hello there, and thanks so much for joining us here! You are probably wondering what this podcast is all about? In this podcast, we will talk about all sorts of outdoor adventures, but primarily, for now, we will focus on hiking and backpacking. No other outdoor adventure is so accessible to so many people! So please join us as we talk about how to hike/backpack and learn how to hike any length trail from your local neighborhood parks to those long trails such as the Appalachian and others worldwide! Remember... "in every walk with nature; one receives far more than he seeks... - John Muir " See you on the trail!
Thenaturalmedic Adventures
Ancient Towers on the Utah-Colorado Border: Exploring Hovenweep National Monument
Note: Audio Only, please see YouTube for Video Version.
Step back in time with me as we explore the hidden archaeological wonders of Hovenweep National Monument, straddling the Utah-Colorado border. Few travelers discover this remote treasure, home to remarkable stone towers built by Ancestral Puebloans nearly 1,000 years ago.
My two-hour journey around the canyon rim revealed architectural marvels that continue to defy both gravity and time. Hovenweep Castle stands proudly at the canyon edge, its multi-story structure a testament to ancient engineering prowess. The Square Tower rises dramatically from the canyon floor, while the Twin Towers perch precariously on a rock ledge, somehow surviving centuries of harsh desert conditions. Each ruin tells its story: Stronghold House, Rimrock House, Tower Point - all positioned strategically across the landscape for purposes we can only theorize about today.
What struck me most was the sophisticated construction techniques employed by people without modern tools. These weren't simple rock piles but carefully designed buildings with specific functions – possibly homes, storage facilities, defensive structures, and ceremonial spaces. Conservation efforts have evolved significantly since the 1930s, when concrete was used for repairs; today's preservationists use acrylic-modified soil that better matches original materials, maintaining both stability and historical integrity.
The two-mile loop trail provides constantly changing perspectives of these ancient dwellings, each view more impressive than the last. For anyone fascinated by human ingenuity, archaeological mysteries, or simply beautiful desert landscapes, Hovenweep offers a contemplative journey through a truly deserted valley where the achievements of ancient peoples stand in silent testimony to their remarkable civilization. Have you explored ancient ruins that left you similarly awestruck? I'd love to hear about your experiences with archaeological wonders!
Good morning. I'm at Hovenweep National Monument, located just across the border from Colorado and Utah. It's a multi-unit park spread over about a 20 mile radius. We're going to go hike to the different ruins in the area of the visitor center. Here's the visitor center marker and I'm going to go check that out. Come follow me. I made it to the paved path, the canyon overlook. You have several ruins here, which is pretty interesting to look at. This is the Stronghold House. Then you have a number of ruins spread out through the canyon here, which is really interesting. Number of ruins spread out through the canyon here, which is really interesting, and they're all shown and named on the panel here. The one across the way is called the twin towers because it's two similarly looking towers. Right behind it is the rim rock house. Below that is the eroded boulder house. I guess this one right here is not named and there's one out there on the outcropping or the point. It's called Tower Point. Hovenweep Castle is this way, so we're gonna continue down the path. This is the famous Hovenweep Castle and this is a pretty interesting ruin.
Speaker 1:Some repair work was done. There was a picture over here in 1935 when they first were investigating this area after it had been designated as a national monument. They were trying to repair or shore up some of these buildings that were falling down, and back then they used concrete. Now they use an acrylic modified soil to form the mortar to put those bricks in, and back then they used concrete. Now they use an acrylic modified soil to form the mortar to put those bricks in. Pretty interesting.
Speaker 1:Another view of Hovenweep Castle, ute Mountain over there in the background, and this is Hovenweep House. That's what it's called. Pretty neat Square Tower is right below the castle. You can't really see it very well from that side, but from this side you can definitely see it. That's one of the more famous ruins out here. It's mind-blowing how they could build something that intricate and tall. This is known as the Rimrock House. It's diagonally across from Tower Point and back there is Hovenweep Castle and Hovenweep House. Right here is the Twin Towers. It's perched on top of this rock ledge or boulder area and it hasn't fallen over. It was probably built almost 1,000 years ago. I don't think they know how tall it was in the past, but it definitely was pretty impressive for the time, especially considering what technology they had available and just the construction of it in general.
Speaker 1:You're directly across from some other ruins over there. That one is the unit type house. A little bit to the right you have the stronghold house on the end of the paved walkway to the overlook and then over here you have you found in the distance, crazy alrighty. So I've come full circle here to Canyon Overlook, which is behind me. A nice little trip took about two hours. Take a two mile trip around the canyon rim. There saw lots of interesting ruins. What did you think about this video? Did you like it? Give it a thumbs up if you did. If you have any questions or comments, leave those below until next time I'll see you on the trail. Thanks for watching.
