Comb Ridge is a monocline that runs for about 50 miles on the north side of the San Juan River. While it served as a barrier for the early white settlers of the area, the Anasazi made it their home 800 years before and left an abundance of petroglyphs and cliff dwellings. There are no trails or signs showing the way to them and they see few visitors, so this is an opportunity to see these ruins in a natural, undisturbed state. I used one of Michael Kelsy’s great guidebooks to find some.
Comb Ridge’s scalloped west wall, this gives you an idea of the strange structure of this ridge:
The east side has a more gradual slope but is incised by dozens of short canyons that make perfect locations for cliff dwellings. Look carefully for the petroglyph panel here:
Closeups:
This small building was a thrill to access, you have to creep along the slanted ledge in the background while the overhanging cliff wall tries to push you off.
Artifacts are all over the ground at some locations. This looks like a broken mano:
This majestic cliff dwelling perched under the end of a box canyon and had a large pool at its foot
I only spent a few hours exploring this 20 mile stretch of Comb Ridge, a weekend would make a good visit with many short, off trail hikes.
Comb Ridge’s scalloped west wall, this gives you an idea of the strange structure of this ridge:
The east side has a more gradual slope but is incised by dozens of short canyons that make perfect locations for cliff dwellings. Look carefully for the petroglyph panel here:
Closeups:
This small building was a thrill to access, you have to creep along the slanted ledge in the background while the overhanging cliff wall tries to push you off.
Artifacts are all over the ground at some locations. This looks like a broken mano:
This majestic cliff dwelling perched under the end of a box canyon and had a large pool at its foot
I only spent a few hours exploring this 20 mile stretch of Comb Ridge, a weekend would make a good visit with many short, off trail hikes.
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