The Mule Canyon Anasazi Ruin, also known as the Mule Canyon Indian Ruin, is a fully developed Anasazi ruin located right on Utah 95, southwest of Blanding, UT. Utah 95 is a primary route through SE Utah's Anasazi country and even the hurried traveler can get a better understanding of the area and its earliest inhabitants by visiting Mule Canyon Ruin.

     Mule Canyon Ruin is on the north side of UT 95 and the access is very well signed. The turn is at about mile 101 and the paved access road runs a short distance to a large parking area. The path to the ruin is paved - handicap accessible, and the well developed ruin is right off the end of the parking area. Although there is no water available, there are well maintained pit toilets.

     Mule Canyon Ruin was first stabilized and developed when Utah 95 was constructed and in 1973 archaeologists excavated the site and restored it to today’s condition. Mule Canyon Ruin is a good example of the “Unit Pueblo” type of village layout that was common among Pueblo II & III Anasazi. A “Unit Pueblo” consisted of an L-shaped block of rooms forming the north end of the compound with a kiva located to the south of the room block. At Mule Canyon Ruin this layout is obvious but differs in that there was also a tower located at this ruin.

     Sometime around A.D. 750 a pithouse was built on this site as part of a presumed Pueblo I occupation. However the site was abandoned for many years until it was reestablished in about 1000 and was actively occupied until about 1150. The 12 room block of rooms likely was home to 2 or 3 families. Some of the rooms had doorways but the main entrances were roof entrances. The single story rooms at the Mule Canyon Ruin likely shared a roof area that was an extended patio for the village.

     Although it is west of Comb Ridge and in the area where Kayenta influence is strong, Mule Canyon Ruin is Mesa Verdean in character. The kiva was connected to both the tower and the room block by tunnels. We will never know if these tunnels were for access, ceremony or other uses but tunnels are not too common in this particular area.

     The base of the tower is restored and is situated just south of the kiva. This was a two-story tower and its exact use is unknown. It could have simply been used for storage or defense and the tunnel connecting it to the kiva suggests it may have had ceremonial value. It is likely that at least part of its role was observation and communication as the tower’s location has a direct line-of-sight to the Cave Tower Ruins located about a mile to the south. The Cave Tower Ruin is a much larger site and these neighbors surely interacted closely.

     In summary, Mule Canyon Ruin is an interesting roadside attraction. It is handicap accessible and the trail can be walked by almost anyone. There is an interesting interpretive sign and it provides a great example of a "Unit Pueblo". Its well worth the time for a quick visit. If you are traveling Utah 95 this is a recommended stop.