Hovenweep National Monument - Cajon Group (4 Corners Region)

Cajon (pronounced Cah-hone) is Hovenweep’s most southern and lowest elevation outlier site of the Hovenweep National Monument. Perched on the canyon rim at the southern edge of Cajon Mesa, Cajon has spectacular views of prominent natural landmarks. The trip is well-worth the effort to take in the dramatic views and remarkably preserved structures.
The stunning and wonderful views of the landscape is perhaps the most striking feature of Cajon. On a clear day, visible in a sweeping arc from east to west are: Sleeping Ute Mountain, Shiprock, the Carrizo Mountains, Monument Valley, Bears’ Ears, and the Abajo Mountains. People may have settled here, in part, because of this view. But, the main reason people built their homes here is probably the spring at the head of the drainage. The structures at Cajon cluster around this vital water source. People built structures here in Pueblo I, but the area was most used during Pueblo II - III periods, about AD 900 - 1300. The structures include two-story buildings on top of the canyon and the remains of several more huddled around the spring below. The ancestral Puebloans living at Cajon grew maize (corn), squash, and beans in terraced plots down the drainage slope and in dry-farming plots on the mesa top. They supplemented farming with hunting game and gathering wild plants, seeds, and pinyon nuts.
The people of Cajon pueblo were probably part of the larger migration that took place around 1300 AD. Most, if not all, people in the Mesa Verde and Upper San Juan region traveled south and found new homes there. Today, the modern Pueblo tribes continue to live to the south.
Cajon was named after Cajon Mesa, the large mesa that all of the Hovenweep National Monument sits on. Cajon Mesa is tilted downward toward the south, which is why Cajon sits lower in elevation that Hovenweep's other units. Cajon was part of the original land designated as Hovenweep National Monument in 1923 through Presidential Proclamation #1654.
Cajon is located off of a Navajo Nation dirt road called "Old Aneth Road" and is 9 miles south of the Hovenweep Visitor Center. Most of the journey is paved. The last 2.9 miles are on a maintained dirt road, and the last 1/2 mile stretch is unmaintained two-track. A high clearance vehicle is recommended.
Visit with respect...Hovenweep protects significant cultural sites. These places continue to be an important part of the Pueblo peoples' culture. When you visit, do so with respect and in regard to the regulations set in place to help protect this special landscape.
• Stay on defined trails at all times.
• Do not touch or enter any structure or archeological site.
• Leave everything where you found it.
And remember "You won't know if you don't go!"
UPDATE: 01/27/24
Music "New Age Tribal" was purchased from melodyloops.com on 05/09/22.
Here is the receipt for this purchase:
www.melodyloop...

[@Scrambler85]

Nice information, thanks for posting this 👍

[@cactushill]

Thanks J.G....Visiting the Cajon Ruins was a great experience as was the Hovenweep National Monument. I highly recommend visiting the area.