One group of Natives spent many, many years there before leaving. As you can imagine, not many people dropped by for a visit after that - so the signs of the civilization were left intact.
That makes it an interesting place to visit today.
Some of the population lived near the river, and much of the work was done down there. But the living quarters eventually moved up the small hill to rocks located on one side of the canyon. When the residents discovered that the rock was relatively soft, they chiseled out homes. The cave dwellings are still around for our inspection. Sometimes the Natives used the caves for storage, as they built living space directly in front of it. Visitors can enter a couple of the spaces, as long as they don't mind climbing up some ladders.
Most people walk through the canyon on the Main Loop Paved Trail. It's a little more than a mile, and covers the highlights of the area. But it's a big area, with plenty of hiking trails (70 miles) throughout the region. You can see petroglyphs, interesting plant varieties, waterfalls and wildlife if you wander off the most beaten path.
It's a rule in National Parks - guided tours are the way to see the area if the schedule permits. Our guide certainly knew a lot about the area and its history.
Some basic information: the park is closed off to passenger cars in the summer. Shuttle buses go from White Rock to the main visitors center whenever the park is open. There is a snack bar on the grounds, which is helpful.
Much more to see, of course, than what I can show you here:
The place reminded me of Mesa Verde in Colorado, which isn't that far away as these things go. In fact, they may share some members of family trees - those in Mesa Verde moved out due to drought. The canyon itself is beautiful, so it is worth a visit just for the scenery. But you might learn a few things during your walk.
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