South Fork Mule Canyon

This Cedar Mesa classic is easy to get to and features many accessible archaeological sites.

Trail description

One of the joys of hiking in Cedar Mesa is that of discovery—scanning alcoves and ledges to spot traces of the Southwest’s early Puebloan people. This well-trodden trail into Mule Canyon gives you the opportunity to hone your archaeological eye, with the possibility of seeing  at least eight sites along the way.

Start near the BLM trail sign at the bottom of the shallow canyon, and hike generally northwest along the bottom of the wash. Around 1 mile, you get to the first site known as “House of Fire.” You can easily climb up to this cluster of granaries named for the streaked ceiling, which in the morning light, appears to be on flames. Its relative proximity to the highway makes this site one of the most photographed in the area.

Remember: Cedar Mesa is an outdoor museum—please look at these sites but do not touch structures or rock art. It is illegal to remove any artifacts or damage sites in any way.

Continue upcanyon, searching for the seven other sites that are spread out over the course of the next 3 miles. While some are inaccessible, you can scramble up to others. Just be careful that you don’t go up a slickrock pitch that you will feel uncomfortable coming back down.

A major pouroff around 3.15 miles forces you to backtrack a few feet to a bypass route on the left (south) side of the canyon. Expect to encounter a few smaller pouroffs past this, but for the most part navigation is easy. As you work your way farther upcanyon, ponderosa pines and shrubs start to fill the canyon.

While you can turn around at any point, the last archaeological site is located about 4 miles from the trailhead.

Return the way you came.

Directions

Drive south out of Blanding, UT, on Hwy 191. Turn right at the junction with Hwy 95, and head west towards Natural Bridges National Monument and Hanksville. Continue on this road for 19.5 miles, turning right onto Texas Flat Road. You pass a Cedar Mesa hiking information and permit kiosk, followed quickly by a parking area. Leave your vehicle here, and walk a short ways to where the road crosses Mule Canyon. Drop into the canyon, on the west side of the road.