Hiking To The House On Fire Ruins Near Blanding, Utah

The House On Fire is a popular Ancestral Puebloan site featuring five granaries built into the alcoves of a canyon near Blanding, Utah. The ruins are believed to be between 700 and 1,000 years old and were settled by the Anasazi people.

Granaries were used to store food including corn and other grains.

The site gets its name, because in the early morning light the streaked patterns featured in the Cedar Mesa Sandstone resemble flames.

To reach the ruins turn onto CR-263/Texas Flat Road off of Hwy 95 (around mile marker 102). Depending on what map you’re looking at it may also be called Arch Canyon Road.

The trailhead is a quarter of a mile up this road on the left. I believe it’s generally referred to as Mule Canyon Trailhead. There is no sign from the road, but you will see a couple pull-offs near the trailhead and there’s usually cars there.

There is a cost for hiking the canyon which is $5 per person for a day pass. At the beginning of the road you turn onto you will find information and a kiosk to pay.

After parking find the small trail that climbs down into the wash and you will see an information kiosk for the trailhead as well as a sign-in station. The trail follows a creek bed through the south fork of Mule Canyon and is a pretty easy hike.

If it has rained recently you may get your feet wet.

About one mile in you will reach the House On Fire Ruins.

A side trail through some bushes and over some slickrock will get you to the base of the ruins. You will see the granaries on your right cut into the Cedar Mesa sandstone. They are positioned underneath a giant natural overhang in the canyon wall.

A metal ammo can can be found near the base of the ruins. Inside there is a visitor log and a information booklet on the ruins and history of the area.

When we visited a large bird had made a nest in the alcove near the ruins and we saw multiple babies inside. They were very vocal during our visit, lol.

Now this trail goes on for a while and features around seven other smaller ruins along the way. Many people make this hike a day trip or overnight excursion. Get more info on these trails, overnight backpacking and permits here.

You can also boondock for free on Arch Canyon Road, because it is BLM land. We ended up staying here for two weeks (post here) exploring the area and loved it.

Butler Wash Ruins, Cave Towers Ruins, and the Mule Canyon Interpretive Site are all off of HWY 95 within minutes of each other (just in case you’re interested in checking out some other ruins nearby).

This is a popular hike and the House On Fire ruins are one of the most photographed places in the area. The hike to the ruins is easy and fun and the ruins themselves are something that you should make the trek to if visiting the area.

You must hike the floor of the canyon to reach the ruins and so be aware that during the spring or fall perennial streams may form water throughout the canyon. This may cause muddy conditions and flash floods.

Please refrain from touching, leaning, standing or climbing on any of the historical archeological structures.

Pets are allowed on this trail, but don’t allow them access to the historical structures and please pick up after them.