Cave Tower Ruins Part 2 - Bears Ears National Monument

Cave Tower Ruins (aka Mule Canyon Towers)

In "Part 2" we hike back from the ruins on the 4-Wheel drive road to the parking lot. We always like to show as much of the "Off-Road" road as we can to show to the viewer what they may encounter on the trail. We obviously didn't drive the road but for those of you that are "Overlanders" we decided to show you the road just in case you wanted to take the Cave Towers Road to set up camp in the area. Be aware, this is now part of Bears Ears National Monument so please check out the rules and regulations for camping in this area before you go. As always, please show respect for the land and the ruins.

There are seven towers in various states of decay located on the left (east) and right (west) sides of the rim. Much of the first story of one of the towers on the east rim is in very good shape. On the west rim a partial wall with a doorway remains. The other towers are basically piles of rubble.

Be sure to walk around to the west rim for view of additional ruins tucked in alcoves and located beneath overhangs along the cliffs on the east/northeast canyon wall. A pair of binoculars or a zoom lens on a camera is helpful to see the details of the structures and spot some of the ruins further down the canyon. One of the ruins is of good size, with the partial remains of several structures and walls.

The Cave Canyon towers were once multi-storied and in the line of sight with the towers at Mule Canyon Archaeological Ruin. The Mule Canyon Ruins, well-preserved Pueblo surface ruins that are thought to be over 700 years old, are located less than a mile West from the Cave Towers trailhead. This ruin complex includes above-ground and underground dwellings. Structures at the site include a Kiva and tower which have been excavated and stabilized as well as a block of twelve rooms. The site includes interpretive signs and toilets. To reach the site when leaving the Cave Towers, turn left (northwest) on Highway 95 and drive 0.8 miles. Turn right on the signed paved access road.