The Cedar Mesa country in southeast Utah is a land of convoluted cliffs with arches, natural bridges, hoodoos, spires, hat rocks, ledges, and alcoves. It is a land of flash floods and extreme temperatures that demands much from those who would explore it. It is also an unparalleled museum of geological features and ancestral Puebloan culture. This fascinating culture flowered for more than a millennium and visitors to southeast Utah are treated to a sampling of archaeological wonders. A Hiking Guide to Cedar Mesa describes sixty-three routes, ranging from quarter-mile walks to fifteen-mile day hikes, loops, and multi-day backpack trips. There is essential information on permits, weather, gear, road, trailhead access, geology, human history in the region, and leave-no-trace camping. Care is given to name only those well-known archaeological sites that are visible or immediately accessible from roads. Throughout, the author emphasizes proper visitation protocol for fragile archaeological sites. He states, "I have been touched by this landscape and would prefer to keep its teachings and secrets to myself, but I cannot. The experience of the desert should be available to everyone with the motivation to encounter it."
Peter Francis Tassoni has worked as a river guide and BLM ranger. His articles on adventure and the environment have appeared in regional and national periodicals.
List of Maps Preface Introduction Ancestral Puebloan Culture Early Archaeological Expeditions Settlement History Conservation Geology Wilderness Stewardship and Desert Travel Equipment and Trip Preparation Permits and Regulations How to Use This Guide Hike Summaries Hike Descriptions 1. Natural Bridges National Monument NBNM Loop Road Upper White Canyon Upper Armstrong Canyon NBNM Bridges Loop 2. Utah State Highway 95 Section Step-Pine Canyon Loop Grand Gulch Rim Salvation Knoll Mule Canyon Indian Ruin Dry Wash Canyon Overlook South Fork Mule Canyon Mule Canyon Loop North Fork Mule Canyon Arch Canyon Overlook Mule Canyon Towers Ruin Butler Wash Ruin Overlook Ballroom Cave 3. Butler Wash Section Fish Mouth Cave Cold Springs Cave Monarch Cave Procession Petroglyph Panel Double Stack Ruin Loop Sand Island Petroglyph Panel Wolfman Petroglyph Panel River Petroglyph Panel 4. Comb Wash Section Comb Wash Cave Arch Canyon Arch Canyon Ruin Walnut Knob Petroglyph Panel Lower Mule Canyon Lower Fish Canyon 5. Utah State Highway 261 North Section Kane Gulch Owl Canyon Todie Canyon Sheiks Canyon McCloyd Canyon Bullet Canyon Government Trail-Big Man Panel Government Trail-Pollys Canyon Loop Slickhorn Canyon Access #1-Access #2 Loop Slickhorn Canyon Access #4-Access #6 Loop Road Canyon Lime Creek Canyon Upper Johns Canyon Loop West Fork Johns Canyon Loop Muley Point Overlook 6. Utah State Highway 261 South Section Honaker Trail Johns Canyon Rim Middle Johns Canyon Lower Johns Canyon Goosenecks Overlook State park Valley of the Gods Driving Loop 7. Utah State Highway 276 Section Cow Tank Canyon Collins Spring-Banister Ruin 8. Backpack Routes Step Canyon Arch-Texas-Butts Canyons Kane Gulch-Bullet Canyon Kane Gulch-Government Trail Kane Gulch-Collins Spring Owl-McCloyd-Fish Canyons Loo[ Slickhorn Canyon Access #1-Access #2 Loop Slickhorn Canyon Access #1-Johns Canyon Loop Collins Spring Canyon-San Juan River San Juan River-Kane Gulch Suggested Reading Acknowledgments
