Friday, August 9, 2019

Butler Wash - West Fork - Travel Guide

Butler Wash – West Fork: Ballroom Cave, Target Ruin, Tower House



Ballroom Cave



Ballroom Cave was inhabited between A.D. 1150 and 1350; there is a main alcove plus two caves.  The climb up to the alcove and into the caves is quite steep.


 Target Ruin



The Alcove is filled with various rooms with a curtain wall fronting the alcove and rooms behind it at one end. The Target Ruin is named for a large target or bulls-eye design painted on the side of a wall inside the curtain wall.


Tower House



Tower House is a 1000 year-old cliff dwelling, also known as the "Waterfall Ruin" as during rainfall, a waterfall falls over the cave opening.

·          Location is 34.9 miles from Monticello, take Hwy. 191 south into and through Blanding, 24.6 miles, until the junction of State Hwy. 95, make a right onto Hwy. 95 and travel 10.3 miles.  There is roadside pullout on the right (northeast) side of the road near the sign for the “Butler Wash Ruins”, park in the pullout. If you reach the turnoff for the Butler Wash Ruins (Overlook) you have gone too far. Turn around and head back 3 - 10ths of a mile to the pullout.  There will be a fence to walk through with a BLM mylar marker.


  • Distance: 3.2 miles (round trip) to see three (3) Ruins along West Fork of Upper Butler Wash.
  • Elevation: 5,215-ft. at Trailhead, 5,315-ft. at West Fork of Upper Butler Wash
  • Elevation Gain: 100-ft.  
  • Difficulty: easy-moderate on well worn, dirt trail; steep climbing near ruin sites.
  • Admission: Free
  • Camping: Dispersed, no water or vault toilets.
  • Pets: Allowed, must be leashed, owners expected to clean up after pet (s).
 Bring lots of drinking water for this hike, and don't forget the picnic!

Mary Cokenour

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