Grand Gulch 2013

Rena and I spent 5 days backpacking in Grand Gulch in May 2013. In this area, you can walk around inside of many Anasazi ruins and do not have to stay behind fences and ropes as is customary in most National Parks and other heavily visited places. Grand Gulch is located on Cedar Mesa in Southern Utah. Our hike covered about 22 miles, so 5 days allowed us lots of time to explore. Some of the ruins are marked on the maps and literature, but others are not marked and are hidden up side canyons. Our Itinerary was as follows:
Day 1 - Checked in at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station. Hiked from the trailhead to Junction Ruin and camped in a cottonwood grove. (4 miles)
Day 2 - Hiked along a dry stream bed to a camp near a big pour over pool. Saw Turkey Pen Ruins in route along with some others. (3.6 miles)
Day 3 - Camped at Sheiks Canyon and saw the spectacular petroglyphs located there. (5.4 miles)
Day 4 - Visited Wall Ruins and an unmarked ruin that we found while exploring off the main route. Camped at Jailhouse Ruins. (3.8 miles)
Day 5 - Hiked to the Bullet Trailhead and got a ride back to our car at Kane Gulch Ranger Station. (4.8 miles)

We started walking at the trailhead located at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station on Route 261. The sign says it is 4 miles to Grand Gulch. In addition to needing a permit, you are required to watch a movie and attend a briefing.
This map shows Kane Gulch entering from the upper right. After Sheik's Canyon, we made a sharp left and hiked up Bullet Canyon to a trailhead several miles from Route 261.
Beautiful sandstone walls.
Most of Kane Gulch was open and there was an abundance of water in the creek. Quite a contrast from later in the hike when finding water was difficult.
We camped at the junction of Kane Gulch and Grand Gulch. Cottonwood trees make a great campsite.
This small pothole provided our water at our first camp. It was located a few hundred feet up Grand Gulch on the East side, hidden behind some huge boulders.
The birds also liked the water.
Junction Ruin, located on an inaccessible cliff, was visible from our camp.
Pictographs at Junction Ruin.
Turkey Pen Ruin was the highlight of Day 2.
Turkey Pen Ruin.
These sticks are still around after 1000 years and give the ruin its name.
Petroglyphs at Turkey Pen Ruin.
Turkey Pen Ruin.
More pictographs at a ruin further down canyon.
Later on Day 2, we did a short day hike up Todie Canyon and saw these granaries high on a wall.
More granaries in Todie Canyon.
Lots of flowering cactus in Grand Gulch.
More cactus.
On the morning of Day 3, we passed these ruins just a few minutes from our camp.
A short distance further we reached Split Level Ruins. This photo shows the upper and lower levels.
We could walk through the lower level, but the upper level was inaccessible.
A rock formation called The Thumb, is located just before Sheik's Canyon.
Night 3 at Sheik's Canyon was our best camping place.
Pictographs at Sheik's Canyon.
Pictograph called the "Green Mask" at Sheik's Canyon.
Playful lizards at Sheik's Canyon.
After dinner on Night 3 at Sheik's Canyon, we walked downstream to this pool and reflection.
On Day 4, we explored up a side canyon and found some great scenery.
We also found these small ruins or graineries at the end of the canyon.
They were extremely well preserved.
Later we visited Wall Ruin. Some 3rd class scrambling was required to climb up.
Pictographs at Wall Ruin.
Night 4 was spent in Bullet Canyon near Jailhouse Ruin. Here Rena is checking out the walls and paintings.
Pictographs at Jailhouse Ruin.
Here you see how Jailhouse Ruin got its name.
It is amazing how long corn cobs survive in the desert.
Jailhouse Ruin.
Rich exploring the upper part of Jailhouse Ruin.
Our water source at Jailhouse Ruin. Rena didn't like the smell, but there was plenty of water.
On the morning of Day 5, our last day in the canyon, we checked out Perfect Kiva Ruin.
It was a perfect Kiva.
Very well preserved inside.
Perfect Kiva was under a huge overhanging cliff so it stayed dry all the time.
These indentations in the rock are grinding stones, called metates.
Walking up Bullet Canyon on Day 5.
There were some steep sections.
This map shows the entire Grand Gulch complex. Note that our hike covered only a small portion of it.