JPFreek - Index

JPFreek - magazine - Index

Spring is a perfect time for southeast Utah. With cool W109.63985). This ancient dwelling was approximately 100 yards
mornings and warm afternoons, the weather was perfect for
across and contained excellent examples of ancient Native
spending time outdoors and exploring the area. Upon arriving American construction and culture. We observed pictographs
in Blanding, we were greeted by blue bird skies and snow-
and places where the Indians had used rocks to sharpen stones
capped peaks. The air was so clear we could see the San Juan
and grind corn. Afterward, we scaled the canyon walls and
mountains of Colorado, still blanketed in winter snow, almost
headed north to explore another dwelling and found some
100 miles away. After getting set up, the first thing that caught amazing petroglyphs (N37.36794 W109.64083) which are
our eye was the Comb Ridge and the ancient cliff dwellings that drawings etched into the rock. We took great care not to disturb
dotted the eastern side. So we packed up the Jeep Rubicon and or touch anything we discovered so that the beauty, history, and
headed down the Butler Wash road. After a 13 mile bumpy ride, spirit of the dwellings and art would be undamaged for others to
we spotted some ruins, parked, and headed off to explore. This follow.
first day, we would be directionally challenged and ultimately
failed to find the ruins. However, it was a great hike and we
returned the next day with renewed enthusiasm and better
planning.
The next day was spent driving a few Jeep roads in the Cedar
Mesa area. We drove about 50 miles. This allowed us to scope
out a nice canyon for us to hike where we could explore more
cliff dwellings. This entire area of Southeastern Utah is filled with
Getting to the trailhead (N37.36658 W109.63107) was fun and
great Jeep roads of all levels. We recommend picking up a Jeep
luckily we had the jeep to negotiate the one tricky section of the road guidebook of the area on the internet or in the local
trail which had earlier thwarted a 4WD Toyota Tacoma. We drove outdoor shops. There are so many roads available for
through the section easily and began our hike with a close eye
off-roading, that a guidebook is a necessity to fully enjoy the
on our target in the distance. The hike involved a scenic trek up area and pick out the best spots to drive...especially if you only
over the bedrock of Comb Ridge, through a spectacular canyon,
and ended at the base of a magnificent cliff dwelling (N37.36587
have a few days to explore.