Hike to the Ancestral Puebloan Ruins in Forgotten Canyon
Details
Distance
4 miles
Elevation Gain
200 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by Jake Hougaard
Beautiful Cliff Walls. Amazing Ancient Ruins. Wonderful Place to go on a Family Adventure.
The Ancestral Puebloan Ruins found up Forgotten Canyon can only be described as awe inspiring and humbling. The small adobe brick homes are known as the Defiance House. It is believed that there were a couple of families (15-20 people) who dwelled in these homes circa 1200 A.D.
These ruins can only be reached by boat either from Halls Crossing or Bullfrog. Forgotten Canyon is located 12 miles upstream from Halls Crossing and 13 miles up from Bullfrog. The ruins are about a mile and a half up the canyon and at the first fork take a left, then at the second fork take a right to reach the trail. The trail up to the Defiance House will depend on the depth of the lake, if the lake is really low then the trail could be up to 2 miles each way, but if the lake is above 3650 feet then you can boat to the base of it. If the lake is low the elevation gain will be greater, but even from the base the elevation gain is a 150-200 feet because the Ruins are tucked up under an overhang.
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Details
Distance
4 miles
Elevation Gain
200 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
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