Free Topo Maps of Hovenweep National Monument

Download free topo maps of Hovenweep National Monument. Use the adjoining 7.5 minute quadrangle legend to locate the Utah maps you need.

Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend

Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument was established to protect six prehistoric Native American Puebloan villages, located over the border of two states, with four units in Colorado and two units located in Utah. The villages are dispersed over a twenty mile area, amidst canyons and mesas with only rough trails between the units. Square Tower has a paved road leading to the Visitor Center near Pleasant View, Colorado, and is the largest units, with numerous types of building to view. Square Tower exhibits expert engineering and structural skills at Hovenweep, evident in the foundations of the pueblos. These multi-storied towers were decimated by many people, homesteaders, traveling merchants, soldiers, collectors and others, causing collapse of many structures until it became evident to preservationists in the early 1900s that the villages needed to be protected. This region was home to Native American nomads 10,000 to 14,000 years ago. In the 10th century they remained at Hovenweep all year round. By the 12th century they built structures, small dams for irrigation of their terraced fields, living quarters and kivas. Kivas are thought to have been ceremonial structures, but this is uncertain; however many structures are believed to be solar calendars judging by the manner in which light filters through slots and doors, varying to show the summer and winter solstice, as well as spring and fall equinox. At the Holly Ruin unit there is rock art suggesting a summer solstice marker; while Horseshoe Rim had a dam that created a reservoir. Each of the units varies in size, structures and extent of farming. Abandonment of the pueblos came at the end 13th century; presumably an extensive drought forced the Hovenweep people to abandon their homes. It is also speculated that they migrated to the Little Colorado and Rio Grande Rivers with the Pueblo, Zuni and Hopi becoming their descendants. Hovenweep, or "deserted valley" in Piute-Ute language, reverted to its desolate, arid and uninhabited status until the Dine, or Navajo as the Spaniards called them, settled the region in the 17th century, where they still live in the surrounding region. The Square Tower Visiting Center is not only the most accessible, it has a small campground and interpretive trail. Here you can find information regarding a visit to the other units, the trails available, listen to interpretive talks and stay for stargazing with stories relating to the Hovenweep celestial rock art and more.