Exploring Butler Wash Ruins Near Blanding, Utah

Butler Wash Ruins can be found off Utah State Route 95 about 15 miles outside of the city of Blanding. This is just one of many ancestral ruins in the area worth checking out.

This one mile out and back hike will take you to an overlook to view cliff houses built approximately 750 years ago by Ancestral Puebloans. Multiple habitation, storage and ceremonial structures can be found at this particular location.

The site was abandoned by the Ancestral Puebloans before 1300 AD and the reason why they left is unknown.

The main alcove features four kivas. These underground chambers are where ceremonial activities took place and occasionally meetings for the group were held.

A number of living areas and storage rooms are located behind the kivas. This is where food such as corn, beans and squash they grew were stored. A number of additional storage rooms are scattered throughout the canyon as well. Another living area is visible in the cave next to the largest kiva.

This dirt and slickrock trail guides you across the mesa top. Along the way you will find identification signs for various native plants including Big Sage, Utah Juniper and Pinyon Pine. The overlook is fenced and there are several interpretive kiosks providing more history on the ruins.

The hike is fairly easy with only about 100 feet of elevation gain and the trail is well maintained. It is also well marked with stone cairns so getting lost shouldn’t be an issue.

On July 11, 1981 this site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Butler Wash Archeological District.

The large parking lot has vault toilets, but no trash cans so Pack it in and Pack it out. Pets are allowed on trail as long as they are leashed and remember to pick up after them. Butler Wash is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.