Cliff Ruins Expedition – 08/20/2018

Lanny and I had seen a video by Jeff Gilkey flying over Pueblo ruins atop a small mesa, specifically Mesa Pueblo. We located them using GoogleEarth, and headed that way. 

The Drive In

Driving route from Grants to Cliff Ruins.

As you can see from the red track above, we missed a turn or two, found ourselves wandering among the diggings of the nearby coal mine operations, and when the tracks we were following with the GPS and USTopo became -terribly- rough, we aborted the attempt to get to Mesa Pueblo Ruins.

However,  Lanny had a backup – Cliff Ruins.  We located ourselves, and a label on USTopo for “Cliff House”, and judged that we were reasonably close. USTopo also indicated what appeared to be serviceable two-tracks from our position among the mine diggings towards Cliff Ruins.  Along the way Nearing the site, it appeared P1000349that we needed to turn off of the “good two-track”, onto one we could barely follow.  That brought us to a point adjacent to the site as indicated on USTopo; a short walk to the west and we were at the edge of White Mesa, looking into Cliff Dwelling Canyon. 

The Walkabout

Walkabout on the mesa overlooking Cliff Ruins.

P1000352Walking around the edge of this canyon brought into view the Cliff Ruins, perched on a large ledge under a ceiling midway up the cliff face. We noted that the House appeared to be in excellent condition, walls almost all intact and the corners square; some fine workmanship.  We could not see any reasonable path to ascend from the canyon floor to the House. 

Returning the Lanny’s Jeep, we were impressed wiP1000368th the view across the Rio Miguel to Chivato Mesa and Cabezon.  Heading back towards Grants, Lanny chose an alternate two-track which P1000372to our surprise brought us to what appeared to be an old ranch-stead.  We found a corral with stables (rock walls still standing) and what may have been an abode, with the fireplace still standing.   

GPS Track Files for Download
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I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References:

Google Maps: Cliff Dwelling Canyon

FOLLOWUP NOTES:

From a set of comments regarding my posting of photos, “Ranch House and Stables, Rio Puerco Valley“, on Facebook’s group “Abandoned in New Mexico“, March 17, 2019:

“John Cortesy – That looks like one of the old stage coach stops on the route from Milan to Cuba. If you followed the road through the ranches, you passed a dry arroyo with a rock outcropping on the right that was a place where they watered the horses when it was flowing. The passengers would get out of the coach and carve their names and dates into the rocks above. We had taggers back in 1905 and 1897 if I remember the dates correctly. Can’t trust no one to not deface a property these days!”
“George Young – Thanks, John, for adding that information. Your suggestion would certainly make sense to me; the stable (building and fencing) appears to be more than one would use for a ranch. And I see on GoogleEarth that it is on a line from Milan to Cuba. I see also on a topo map that “El Dado Springs” is very close by. It might be worth another trip for us. From which direction did you describe the location of the “tagging”? Do you know of any more features, etc. of that stage line?”
 
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3 Responses to Cliff Ruins Expedition – 08/20/2018

  1. Mark R says:

    George, the taggings referenced by John are no more than a half mile north of the corral on the same road. They are in both Spanish and English and are incredibly amazing. As for the ruins, I went today but approached from the canyon below. Thanks for sharing this amazing location!

    • George Young says:

      Mark, thanks very much for the feedback. And thanks for the information that we can use to find the taggings next time we head that way.
      Do you have photos of the ruins from below? I would be happy to add them and any comments you might have to the post for others to enjoy. And any other destinations?

      • Mark R says:

        George, I do have some photos and details that I would be happy to share. Please feel free to email me at my provided email address and I will get them to you.

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