Cross Canyon WSA

Values

Cross Canyon, the namesake of the WSA, is a scenic canyon with many smaller tributary canyons including the equally scenic Ruin Canyon and Cow Cove Canyon.  Rock outcrops, ledges, and cliffs create scenic panoramas cutting 300 to 800 feet deep through the uplifted Dakota Sandstone and Morrison Formation of the Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous geological periods.  Located in both Colorado and Utah, this area is an important undisturbed refuge for native plants and animals in a region otherwise greatly modified by human activity. The largely flat plateau through which these canyons cut is within the semidesert shrubland and pinon juniper woodland life zones.  Vegetation is thick pinyon pine and Utah juniper with sage and rabbit brush and cottonwood galleries in canyon bottoms.  Deer, black bear, mountain lion, coyote, and lizards are a few of the animals that call this area home.  Cross Canyon contains numerous archeological sites, including ancestral Puebloan structures.  Activities include hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting, horseback riding, and photography.

Visitation Information

From the Hovenweep National Monument visitor center, take County Road 213 north to County Road 2031 and turn left.  Follow County Road 2031 to County Road 214, and turn right.  Follow this road to the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument sign and park.  A trail can be hiked into Cross Canyon from here.

Visitor Advisory

Visitors should come prepared for backcountry conditions and adequately prepare for their trip. Knowledge of weather, terrain, and physical conditions can help ensure safety.