Hike to the Ancestral Puebloan Ruins in Forgotten Canyon

Lake Powell, Utah

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Details

Distance

4 miles

Elevation Gain

200 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

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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Features

Chillin

Fishing

Photography

Swimming

Hiking

Beach

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Lake

Scenic

Wildflowers

Cliff Jumping

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