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Hovenweep National MonumentHovenweep House
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Hovenweep National Monument
Things To Know Before You Come
 
Accessibility

The visitor center and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The Square Tower Group trail is paved to the first overlook and may be negotiated by wheelchairs with assistance. All other trails are uneven and primitive.

Pets

Pets are allowed on trails and in the campground, but must be leashed at all times.

Services

Food, gas, lodging and similar services are not available at Hovenweep. These are available in nearby towns like Blanding, UT, Monticello, UT and Cortez, CO. Visit the San Juan County Travel Council for more information about southeast Utah, or Mesa Verde Country for information about southwest Colorado.

Weather and Climate

Southeast Utah is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April through May) and fall (mid-September through October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Late summer monsoon season brings violent storm cells which often cause flash floods. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F. Though large snowfalls are uncommon (except in nearby mountains), even small amounts of snow or ice can make local trails and roads impassable. Local weather conditions and forecasts are available from the National Weather Service.

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Did You Know?  

Did You Know?
Most of the structures at Hovenweep were built from A.D. 1230 to 1275, about the same time as the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park. Growth rings on a wooden beam in Hovenweep Castle show the log was cut in A.D. 1277, one of the latest dates in the region.

Last Updated: September 20, 2006 at 12:35 EST