Butler Wash Ruin

The Butler Wash Ruin is a widely visited ruin located off Highway 95 southwest of Blanding, UT. Although the ruin has not been restored, this is a semi-developed site in that it is well signed, on the highway, and has a well-maintained trail which terminates at a fenced observation point, complete with interpretive signs. The Butler Wash Ruin was once a small community and it’s a great place to see ruins in a natural setting. Access to the observation area is easy but accessing the ruin is much more difficult and not encouraged by officials.

Butler Wash Ruin as seen from overlook - Click to enlarge

The trailhead to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook is located just off Utah 95 near mile marker 111. There are large signs on the highway in both directions from the parking area which is on the north side of the road. There is a pit toilet in the parking area but no other facilities so, as always in Anasazi country, be sure to bring water with you.

Butler wash drains the eastern side of Comb Ridge and enters into the San Juan River a little west of Bluff, UT. The east side of Comb Ridge is a sloping swell of rock that rises up from the bottom of Butler Wash and climbs to the top of Comb Ridge. Water running off the rock has carved gullies, caves and other features into the rock slopes and there are many different Anasazi sites along the length of Butler Wash. Hwy 95 is near the north end of Comb Ridge and the Butler Wash Ruin is near the beginning of Butler Wash.

This concrete reinforced cairn helps to mark the trail to the overlook.

Hiking the trail to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook is very easy. The trail starts out as a nice walk through typical desert environment. Large prickly pear cacti are on both sides of the trail and provide wonderful colors of yellow and pink when they are in bloom. Many people think that desert is largely a lifeless place but hiking the trail to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook quickly shows how much life there is in the desert. Lizards frequently scurry across the trail, fascinating insects are in the air and the sounds of birds are everywhere. This section of the trail is a great introduction to the desert hiking environment.

The trail to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook is a little less than a half-mile one way. About two thirds of the way through the hike you will leave the sandy desert soils and hike on slickrock to the end of the trail. Anyone who spends much time hiking in Canyon country knows that hiking on bare, windblown slickrock is very common and this trail is a great introduction to what it is like to hike on nothing but rock.

Finding a trail across solid rock can be a challenge and is one of the skills you need to develop as you learn to hike in canyon country. In most places where there are developed trails, smaller sized rocks are carefully piled into a vertical tower to mark the trail. These rock piles are called cairns and you will find all shapes and sizes of them marking trails. The cairns found along this trail are hard to miss. They are large structures very solidly built out of rock, held together by concrete. This makes them quite easy to find and insurers that they will be durable – much different than in many remote areas where a cairn might be no more than two or three very small rocks stacked up.

Click to enlarge

Of the 4 kivas in Butler Wash Ruin only this square kiva is typical of the Kayenta Anasazi. The others are round Mesa Verde style

When the trail to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook reaches the bare rock follow the cairns along the rock slope until you soon spot the guard rail for the observation area. The overlook is directly across a small canyon from the Butler wash ruin. You will have great views right into the ruin and, with a pair of binoculars, you are able to see remarkable detail. If you can, try to time your visit so you view the Butler Wash Ruin overlook in the morning as you will get the best lighting then.

The Butler Wash Ruin is a Pueblo III ruin that was built late in the Anasazi occupation of the area. Constructed in the 1200’s, it is mostly Mesa Verde style construction and the pottery found in the site is Mesa Verde style. The inhabitants likely farmed the wash bottom below and in the broad open lands further down the wash. The site was quite secure in that the approaches could be easily defended

All three alcoves contain ruins but the largest alcove was the center of life for and was likely the only alcove that held sleeping rooms. This large deep alcove was laid out with 4 kivas in the front with a large flat plaza in front of them. These kivas are all built up from the ledge, not underground as typically found in Mesa Verde kivas. Three are round Mesa Verde Anasazi style while the fourth, located farthest to the north, is square and shows Kayenta Anasazi influence. It is not surprising to see both styles since Comb Ridge is generally considered to be a rough dividing line between the two.

Click to enlarge

In this photo you can see the small round hole in the middle of the floor. Called a "sippapu", this hole symbolizes the portal that the original Anasazi used to enter into this world. Also, note the smoke deflector standing upright in front of the entry door.

Behind the kivas are storage and sleeping rooms with the sleeping rooms generally to the front and storage to the back. Most of these room blocks were multi-stories with a lot of rooms in a rather small space. There are a lot of storage rooms compared to sleeping rooms which is not unusual in Pueblo III sites. The front plaza area and the kiva roofs were likely communal areas where all of the daily activities of life were carried out.

The exact use of the other two alcoves is unknown. It’s likely that the southernmost alcove was used only for storage. There is no sign that the center alcove was used for habitation but there is a possibility that it was used in a ceremonial fashion. Other small overhangs and alcoves in the immediate area also held small storage rooms. However, none of these other sites are visible from the observation point.

Most visitors are content to view the Butler Wash Ruin from the overlook. However, for those who wish to access the ruin itself, it is possible to get to the ruin from the observation area by heading down the wash until you find a place to scramble down to the bottom. However, it's a very difficult scramble down in some places, and most hikers find it easier to enter further upstream in Butler Wash.

Click to enlarge

This view looks toward the observation area and shows the natural bridge that is located just up the canyon. this view is not from the ruin but from a little ways down canyon along the access route.

There is no hiker or developed trail from the overlook to the bottom, so don't think you'll find a trail. If you wish to visit the ruin, you will need to find a way to get to the Butler Wash bottom. Again, it is much easier to access the wash bottom a good distance downstream from the ruin. It is impossible to go straight down from the overlook so don’t even consider it. You must head down canyon from the overlook to find any place to get down.

Once in the wash bottom you will find an indistinct hiker trail. Follow this looking for the place to make the climb up to the ledge which you will follow into the ruin. The climb is short but quite steep and you must begin the climb to the ledge the ruin is on a little ways down stream of the actual ruin. Look for a hikers trail leading up the sandy bank leading out of the wash to the rock ledge. - a short but steep climb. From here, it’s an easy walk to the ruin. As you climb, be sure to look back across Butler Wash at the natural bridge at the head of the canyon, just up from the observation area.

Click to enlarge

The view from the Butler Wash Ruin looking basically south. In the enlarged photo you can see Utah 95 in almost the center of the photo, suggesting a possible route for accessing the ruin.

If you visit the ruin, be sure to show it the utmost respect. Never lean on, sit on, climb on or even touch any of the structure walls. If you find artifacts, be sure to leave them where you find them. Don't leave any litter and if you happen to find some pack it out with you. Anasazi ruins are amazing treasures, and we all need to protect and cherish them. Be sure to do nothing that would ever harm or damage in any way.

The Butler wash ruin overlook is my number one rated short hike for people who only have a little time to get a first sense of what Anasazi country is like. The half-mile trail is suited to all hikers and gives a glimpse of what it's like hiking in both desert and slickrock parts of canyon country. The view of the Butler Wash Ruin provides a great example of the types of natural features where cliff dwellings were built and the interpretive signs do a good job of providing some basic information about the site In short, this hike is highly recommended for all but the most experienced.


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Hike Index Cedar Mesa Grand Gulch Kane Gulch Junction Ruin Turkey Pen Ruin Toadie Canyon Bullit Canyon Slickhorn Canyon Fish Canyon Owl Canyon Mule Canyon Cave Canyon Towers Mule Canyon Ruin N.Fork Mule S.Fork Mule Lime Canyon Road Canyon 7 Kiva Ruin N. Fork Road Arch Canyon Walnut Knob Comb Ridge Procession Panel Butler Wash Ruin Ballroom Cave Canyon of the Ancients Lowry Pueblo Ruin Canyon Montezuma Creek San Juan River 16 Room House Sand Island Panel Canyonlands N.P. Island In The Sky District Aztec Butte Hovenweep N.M. Other Cool Places Little Westwater Ruin Milk Ranch Point Whiskers Draw Camping Index Camping in Anasazi Country Anasazi Country Campgrounds Selecting a Campsite Selecting a Tent Site Selecting a Tent Sleeping Bags & Pads The Camp Kitchen Campfires Water Supplies Hike Index Cedar Mesa Grand Gulch Kane Gulch Toadie Canyon Bullit Canyon Slickhorn Canyon Fish Canyon Owl Canyon Mule Canyon N. Fork Mule Lime Canyon Road Canyon 7 Kiva Ruin N. Fork Road Arch Canyon Walnut Knob Canyon of the Ancients Lowry Pueblo Ruin Canyon Montezuma Creek Comb Ridge Procession Panel Butler Wash Ruin Ballroom Cave Canyonlands N.P. Island In The Sky District Aztec Butte Hovenweep N.M. Other Cool Places Little Westwater Ruin Milk Ranch Point Whiskers Draw Camping Index Camping in Anasazi Country Anasazi Country Campgrounds Selecting a Campsite Selecting a Tent Site Selecting a Tent Sleeping Bags & Pads The Camp Kitchen Campfires Water Supplies	Walnut Knob Petroglyphs - Comb Wash, SE Utah The Butler Wash Ruin is a widely visited ruin located off Highway 95 southwest of Blanding, UT. Although the ruin has not been restored, this is a semi-developed site in that it is well signed, on the highway, and has a well-maintained trail which terminates at a fenced observation point, complete with interpretive signs. The Butler Wash Ruin was once a small community and it’s a great place to see ruins in a natural setting. Access to the observation area is easy but accessing the ruin is much more difficult and not encouraged by officials. Butler Wash Ruin as seen from overlook - Click to enlarge The trailhead to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook is located just off Utah 95 near mile marker 111. There are large signs on the highway in both directions from the parking area which is on the north side of the road. There is a pit toilet in the parking area but no other facilities so, as always in Anasazi country, be sure to bring water with you. Butler wash drains the eastern side of Comb Ridge and enters into the San Juan River a little west of Bluff, UT. The east side of Comb Ridge is a sloping swell of rock that rises up from the bottom of Butler Wash and climbs to the top of Comb Ridge. Water running off the rock has carved gullies, caves and other features into the rock slopes and there are many different Anasazi sites along the length of Butler Wash. Hwy 95 is near the north end of Comb Ridge and the Butler Wash Ruin is near the beginning of Butler Wash. This concrete reinforced cairn helps to mark the trail to the overlook. Hiking the trail to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook is very easy. The trail starts out as a nice walk through typical desert environment. Large prickly pear cacti are on both sides of the trail and provide wonderful colors of yellow and pink when they are in bloom. Many people think that desert is largely a lifeless place but hiking the trail to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook quickly shows how much life there is in the desert. Lizards frequently scurry across the trail, fascinating insects are in the air and the sounds of birds are everywhere. This section of the trail is a great introduction to the desert hiking environment. The trail to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook is a little less than a half-mile one way. About two thirds of the way through the hike you will leave the sandy desert soils and hike on slickrock to the end of the trail. Anyone who spends much time hiking in Canyon country knows that hiking on bare, windblown slickrock is very common and this trail is a great introduction to what it is like to hike on nothing but rock. Finding a trail across solid rock can be a challenge and is one of the skills you need to develop as you learn to hike in canyon country. In most places where there are developed trails, smaller sized rocks are carefully piled into a vertical tower to mark the trail. These rock piles are called cairns and you will find all shapes and sizes of them marking trails. The cairns found along this trail are hard to miss. They are large structures very solidly built out of rock, held together by concrete. This makes them quite easy to find and insurers that they will be durable – much different than in many remote areas where a cairn might be no more than two or three very small rocks stacked up. Click to enlarge Of the 4 kivas in Butler Wash Ruin only this square kiva is typical of the Kayenta Anasazi. The others are round Mesa Verde style When the trail to the Butler Wash Ruin overlook reaches the bare rock follow the cairns along the rock slope until you soon spot the guard rail for the observation area. The overlook is directly across a small canyon from the Butler wash ruin. You will have great views right into the ruin and, with a pair of binoculars, you are able to see remarkable detail. If you can, try to time your visit so you view the Butler Wash Ruin overlook in the morning as you will get the best lighting then. The Butler Wash Ruin is a Pueblo III ruin that was built late in the Anasazi occupation of the area. Constructed in the 1200’s, it is mostly Mesa Verde style construction and the pottery found in the site is Mesa Verde style. The inhabitants likely farmed the wash bottom below and in the broad open lands further down the wash. The site was quite secure in that the approaches could be easily defended All three alcoves contain ruins but the largest alcove was the center of life for and was likely the only alcove that held sleeping rooms. This large deep alcove was laid out with 4 kivas in the front with a large flat plaza in front of them. These kivas are all built up from the ledge, not underground as typically found in Mesa Verde kivas. Three are round Mesa Verde Anasazi style while the fourth, located farthest to the north, is square and shows Kayenta Anasazi influence. It is not surprising to see both styles since Comb Ridge is generally considered to be a rough dividing line between the two. Click to enlarge In this photo you can see the small round hole in the middle of the floor. Called a "sippapu", this hole symbolizes the portal that the original Anasazi used to enter into this world. Also, note the smoke deflector standing upright in front of the entry door. Behind the kivas are storage and sleeping rooms with the sleeping rooms generally to the front and storage to the back. Most of these room blocks were multi-stories with a lot of rooms in a rather small space. There are a lot of storage rooms compared to sleeping rooms which is not unusual in Pueblo III sites. The front plaza area and the kiva roofs were likely communal areas where all of the daily activities of life were carried out. The exact use of the other two alcoves is unknown. It’s likely that the southernmost alcove was used only for storage. There is no sign that the center alcove was used for habitation but there is a possibility that it was used in a ceremonial fashion. Other small overhangs and alcoves in the immediate area also held small storage rooms. However, none of these other sites are visible from the observation point. Most visitors are content to view the Butler Wash Ruin from the overlook. However, for those who wish to access the ruin itself, it is possible to get to the ruin from the observation area by heading down the wash until you find a place to scramble down to the bottom. However, it's a very difficult scramble down in some places, and most hikers find it easier to enter further upstream in Butler Wash. Click to enlarge This view looks toward the observation area and shows the natural bridge that is located just up the canyon. this view is not from the ruin but from a little ways down canyon along the access route. There is no hiker or developed trail from the overlook to the bottom, so don't think you'll find a trail. If you wish to visit the ruin, you will need to find a way to get to the Butler Wash bottom. Again, it is much easier to access the wash bottom a good distance downstream from the ruin. It is impossible to go straight down from the overlook so don’t even consider it. You must head down canyon from the overlook to find any place to get down. Once in the wash bottom you will find an indistinct hiker trail. Follow this looking for the place to make the climb up to the ledge which you will follow into the ruin. The climb is short but quite steep and you must begin the climb to the ledge the ruin is on a little ways down stream of the actual ruin. Look for a hikers trail leading up the sandy bank leading out of the wash to the rock ledge. - a short but steep climb. From here, it’s an easy walk to the ruin. As you climb, be sure to look back across Butler Wash at the natural bridge at the head of the canyon, just up from the observation area. Click to enlarge The view from the Butler Wash Ruin looking basically south. In the enlarged photo you can see Utah 95 in almost the center of the photo, suggesting a possible route for accessing the ruin. If you visit the ruin, be sure to show it the utmost respect. Never lean on, sit on, climb on or even touch any of the structure walls. If you find artifacts, be sure to leave them where you find them. Don't leave any litter and if you happen to find some pack it out with you. Anasazi ruins are amazing treasures, and we all need to protect and cherish them. Be sure to do nothing that would ever harm or damage in any way. The Butler wash ruin overlook is my number one rated short hike for people who only have a little time to get a first sense of what Anasazi country is like. The half-mile trail is suited to all hikers and gives a glimpse of what it's like hiking in both desert and slickrock parts of canyon country. The view of the Butler Wash Ruin provides a great example of the types of natural features where cliff dwellings were built and the interpretive signs do a good job of providing some basic information about the site In short, this hike is highly recommended for all but the most experienced.

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Walnut Knob Petroglyphs - Comb Wash, SE Utah