Rhonda and I have spent countless days wandering the hidden canyons carved into the eastern flank of Comb Ridge—a towering, 80-mile-long ridge (monocline) that slices through the wild heart of southeastern Utah and northeastern Arizona. These canyons, sculpted by time and natural drainage patterns, are loaded with stunning geological beauty and deep human history. Along the base of the ridge runs Butler Wash, a life-giving stream that once sustained generations of Ancestral Puebloans who made their homes in this rugged landscape between 1150 and 1350 A.D.
Every canyon we’ve explored feels like a passage into the past. It’s not uncommon to find yourself surrounded by the quiet echo of history—walls etched with ancient petroglyphs, cliff dwellings tucked into stone alcoves, and so many pottery shards underfoot that you have to tread with care. It’s as if the very earth whispers stories of those who walked it centuries ago.
One of the most fascinating sites we’ve visited is Monarch Cave, a well-preserved ruin tucked into a high alcove. Despite its significance, its remote location keeps it wonderfully secluded—we’ve never encountered another soul on the trail. Each journey into this canyon has felt like a private communion with the past, a magical escape into silence, sandstone, and the sacred echoes of ancient lives.
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| Can you find Rhonda in this photo? |
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| Pottery shard from the trail to Monarch Cave. |
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| Another shard from the trail. |
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| Very cool, and small, handprints! |
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| Mano and metate - grinding stones used mostly for corn. |
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| Corn - only a couple of inches long. Even at 12/$1.00 you'd still be hungry... 😉 |
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| I can never resist taking a lizard photo. |
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| The wind started to kick in after our hike. It was good timing on our part since dust and sand can spell disaster for photography equipment. |
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