Spruce Tree House is another amazing example of the alcove dwellings. The great hike to Petroglyph Point leads to a wide area of canyon wall covered in petroglyphs of people, animals and abstract designs.
Cedar Tree Tower, Far View Sites, Park Point Overlook
Cliff Palace, Cliff Palace Loop
Mesa Top Loop, Square Tower House
Soda Canyon Overlook Trail, Balcony House
Spruce Tree House, Petroglyph Point
Spruce Tree House can be seen well from the overlook, and some great views are to be had on the Petroglyph Point trail which begins at the overlook, especially at the end of the hike coming over the bare rocks to the side of the cliff dwelling. Due to recent rock falls Spruce Tree House is no longer open to the public, though this may change in the future.
Spruce Tree House has many multi-storeyed buildings, up to three floors, and 8 kivas.
As well as the communal dwelling there are a number of storage rooms. These were used to store food for the winter, the squash, beans and corn the people grew on the mesa top, as well as wild foods such as berries, onions and pinion nuts which grow naturally in the area. They used hand-and-toe holds carved into the rock face to reach the store rooms.
The trail leading is 2.4 km round trip, beginning at Spruce Tree House Overlook.
The first half is below the rim of the canyon and is described as "adventurous" in the guide, involving narrow passages between huge boulders, narrow steps both ascending and descending, and some scrambles, especially at the end up steep stone steps to reach the relatively easy second half which returns over the forested mesa top.
We really enjoyed this hike, not finding it difficult at all, even the final steep steps weren't too bad.
Hiking in the early morning meant we were in shade for much of the more strenuous half of the trail.
We came across evidence of more than one ancient cliff dwelling, tucked into alcoves in the rock face of the canyon. No more than foundations and the remains of low walls these are, nevertheless, evocative of lives once lived here.
In one quite well-preserved site there were may footprints within the dwelling, despite the "Do Not Enter" sign. So disrespectful. I don't understand why people do this kind of thing, you can see it perfectly well from the edge, there's just no need to go inside.
The petroglyph wall is impressive with a wide variety of designs from a mountain lion to human figures and a lot of handprints.
The petroglyph panel was probably created some time between 550 and 1300 AD.
Today's tribal communities recognise many of the symbols incised on the wall. Spirals may represent movement or migration. Different clans may be represented by different animals.
High up on the cliff face is another series of petroglyphs, quite difficult to see.
