Hovenweep National Monument straddles the border between Southwestern Colorado and Utah's Canyon Country in the Four Corners area of the United States of America.

Understand

Hovenweep means "deserted valley" in the Ute language, but it wasn't always that way. Between 1200 AD and 1300 AD this isolated area was a community of around 2,500 ancestors of the modern Pueblo people. The stone structures built during that time were abandoned around 1350 AD. Skillfully built, they still stand after centuries of neglect and exposure to the elements.

History

The native Ute and Navaho people have always known of these ruins. European settlers first encountered them in 1854. Hovenweep became part of the National Park System in 1923.

Landscape

High desert of the Colorado Plateau.

Flora and fauna

Eastern Collared Lizard, Crotaphytus collaris

Cryptobiotic soil in Hovenweep National Monument.

Climate

Hovenweep National Monument
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       1     42 18       0.9     48 23       1     57 29       0.9     66 35       0.7     77 44       0.3     88 53       0.9     93 61       1.2     90 60       1.3     82 50       1.2     68 38       1.1     53 27       0.8     42 19 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches    Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       25     6 −8       23     9 −5       25     14 −2       23     19 2       18     25 7       7.6     31 12       23     34 16       30     32 16       33     28 10       30     20 3       28     12 −3       20     6 −7 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Fees/Permits

A 7 day entry pass to the park costs $6 per private vehicle. Motorcyclists pay $3 per person. An annual local passport for Arches, Canyonlands, Hovenweep and Natural Bridges is available for $30.

There are several passes for groups traveling together in a private vehicle or individuals on foot/bike that provide free entry to Hovenweep National Monument and all national parks, as well as some national monuments, national wildlife refuges, and national forests:

• The $80 Annual Pass (valid for twelve months from date of issue) can be purchased by anyone. Military personnel can obtain a free pass by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID.
• The $80 Senior Pass (valid for the life of the holder) is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of citizenship and age. This pass also provides a 50% discount on some park amenities. Seniors can also obtain a $20 annual pass.
• The free Access Pass (valid for the life of the holder) is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Applicants must provide documentation of citizenship and permanent disability. This pass also provides a fifty percent discount on some park amenities.
• The free Volunteer Pass is available to individuals who have volunteered 250 or more hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program.
• The free Annual 4th Grade Pass (valid for September to August of the 4th grade school year) allows entry to the bearer and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle. Registration at the Every Kid Outdoors website is required.

The National Park Service offers free admission to all national parks on five days every year:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January); next observance is January 20, 2025
• The first day of National Park Week (third Saturday in April); next observance is April 20, 2024
• The National Park Service Birthday (August 25)
• National Public Lands Day (fourth Saturday in September); next observance is September 28, 2024
• Veterans Day (November 11)

Do

Hike the 2 mile Square Tower loop trail near the visitor center.

Visit outlying sites by car. A high clearance four wheel drive vehicle may be required and trails are primitive. Park rangers at the visitor center have maps and information about current road conditions.

Take advantage of being in the middle of nowhere. The dark skies at Hovenweep make it a great place for stargazing.

Buy

The visitor center has books and souvenirs. Gas and other supplies must be purchased in nearby communities.

Sleep

Lodging

Closest lodging is in Cortez.

Camping

31 site campground near visitors center open year round. Designed for tent camping, but a few sites will handle a small RV. Fee is $10 per night.