Butler Wash Anasazi Ruins
Blanding Utah (December 2009)
Butler Wash Ruins
The Anasazi ruins at the northerly end of Butler Wash were surprising. A casual undulating hike led us to an amazing overlook that showed the huge bowl end of a canyon with multiple arched caves up in the air around its perimeter. Within the caves were extensive rooms, granaries, and the network of an ancient community.
Sheer drops below the homes made me wonder how parents taught their children to be safe in such an environment, where careless running or a game of tag could cause a foot to slide for anyone to fall over 100 feet to the canyon floor below. Definitely an easily defensible position, as long as the residents were careful themselves!
The canyon was filled with trees and may have had a good water supply, so it stood out as being otherwise hospitable compared to the rest of the countryside. It was well protected from the elements, and even included an arch that spanned a waterfall which came to life during rains.
Butler Wash Ancestral Puebloan / Anasazi ruins were visible in the upper left two caves, high above the canyon floor and accessed by thin downward-sloped ledges. The community continued further along the upper canyon walls to the left. An arch with the stains of flowing water could also be seen on the upper right.