It’s no secret that Utah is home to magnificent natural architecture unlike anywhere else in the world. While snow-capped mountains fill the north half of the state, vibrant rock bridges, hoodoos, and sculptures of every size and shape imaginable dot the landscape of Southern Utah, carved and smoothed by ancient winds and waters into the stunning national parks and monuments that we know and love today.
But tucked away within these towering formations, stepped canyons, and stately mesas are the remnants of a completely different kind of architecture: ancient Native American cities and dwellings, miraculously preserved and impossibly carved into the landscape itself.
While not nearly as ancient as some of the ruins you might find in other countries, many of these structures date back over 1,000 years and offer an unrivaled glimpse into the past – as well as some spectacular hiking opportunities! For a truly unique weekend trip with photo-worthy rewards, grab a friend and check out this incredible ancient ruins hike in Southern Utah.
Positively glowing in sun-kissed desert hues of burnt orange and rust red, Southern Utah is literally just one mesmerizing vista after another.
Everywhere you turn, there’s a photo-worthy scene stretching as far as the eye can see!
What makes this scenery even more surreal is how its rugged beauty intertwines with the unique history of our state, and is filled with tangible remnants of ancient peoples, cultures, and their stories.
Centuries-old pottery, tool fragments, water wells, cliff drawings, and more can be found scattered throughout the area.
But while our state’s history comes in all shapes and sizes, the ancestral homes of the people who inhabited Utah’s desert landscape thousands of years ago are definitely some of the most spectacular sights!
These historic dwellings are meticulously carved right into the landscape – safely hidden inside caves and cliffside alcoves.
Southern Utah has a number of places to see these ancient structures, but the River House ruins – tucked along the San Juan River near Bluff, Utah – are some of the most well-preserved in the area.
Despite being lesser known than the famous Mule Canyon ruins farther north, the sheer complexity of this impressive ancient city is remarkable to say the least!
The one and two-story ruins here are known by many local names and are most easily recognized by their proximity to the San Juan. But they also offer something extra special when it comes to historical significance.
Ancestral Puebloans, formerly known as “Anasazi,” made their homes here and all throughout the Utahan desert, living off of the rich, mineral infused earth and its abundance.
What truly sets the River House ruins apart from others around the state is that they are the perfect trifecta of Utah history.
The structures and remnants at River House are a uniquely intricate piece of ancient Puebloan Indian culture. But the trail to the ruins also follows a section of the same trail that was used by original Mormon Pioneers on the Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition in 1880. It also paved the way up San Juan Hill and to the historic Barton Trading Post.
An easy, one-mile hike is all it takes to reach the ruins, but four-wheel drive is required to get to the trailhead.
You’ll find the parking lot up a steep, rocky hill about 8 miles out of Bluff and about 4 miles up San Juan County Road 235. An abundance of slickrock and sandy washes makes this ride a bumpy, high-clearance one. And while “all roads lead to Rome,” as they say, you’ll want to take the first left fork in the road for the quickest route to the main parking area. A series of sandy steps will lead straight to the ruins.
Once here, you can walk around and inside these unique historical dwellings, snap photos, and explore the nooks and crannies at your own pace – no permit or reservations needed.
Please respect these incredible historical dwellings, though! No climbing on, touching, removing items, or otherwise harming the site. “Leave no trace” principles definitely apply.
Like many of Utah’s thousands of archaeological sites, this area has a great deal of spiritual and cultural value.
Ceremonial kivas (underground meeting rooms), granaries (storage houses), and countless other artifacts provide a fascinating archaeological record here!
It’s amazing to see how every inch of the community is perfectly chiseled and artfully held together with the most primitive materials.
It’s estimated that these dwellings were occupied between 900 A.D. and the late 1200s. For context – that makes them not only pre-Columbus, but centuries before China’s imperial Ming Dynasty as well!
You’ll also find pictographs, petroglyphs, and centuries-old artwork everywhere you turn.
Literally thousands of unique carvings and paintings are housed at River House and nearby. Some even depict the worshiped fertility god, Kokopellis.
For the adventurous explorer – continue on this trail for another quarter mile or so and you’ll pass a number of other historical sites as well, including multiple granaries and another kiva.
We want to preserve this special historical site for years to come!
In the spring and summer, a hike to the River House ruins is definitely the perfect adventure after a long day spent floating the San Juan – or even as a great way to warm up beforehand!
As you continue the hike around the ruins, be sure to check out some of the amazing views and overlooks available. Looking out over the water, it’s easy to imagine the view from the ruins being much the same a millennium ago as it is today…And what a gorgeous view it is!
A special thanks to YouTube’s Dana Hollister for use of the video above! Here are all the details you’ll need to take this hike yourself:
Trailhead/Parking Lot Coordinates: 37.222713, -109.687764
Directions: From Bluff, UT: Drive west on Highway 191 for about 4 miles to the Highway 163 junction. Continue straight on Highway 163 for another 3 miles. You will cross Comb Ridge, then turn left onto San Juan County Road 235 to enter Comb Wash. Follow the wash for about 4 miles to where the road turns sharply left and climbs a steep, rocky hill. The first road to the left leads to San Juan Hill – which is where you’ll want to go. From this point it’s another half mile or so to the ruins and parking area.
Have you ever paid a visit to the River House, or any of Utah’s other ancient ruins? Share in the comments below! If you’re feeling adventurous, you’ll also want to check out Utah’s official Trail of the Ancients for more awesome historical sites and hikes.
