The trail to the left leads to a beautiful pair of ruins on the northwest side of the smaller butte. Aztec Butte Trail From the parking area the sandy trail heads northeast on easy grades through desert scrub, passing to the right (south) of the first sandstone dome. Show more photos The hike is more about the views than the ancestral Puebloan granaries that you’ll see along the way. Most visitors hike the smaller hill which has two very nice granaries. This trail is not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights. $25 per vehicle fee required to enter Canyonlands National Park. However, these ancient dwellings do add a nice historical element to the trail. The trail is short but steep. After a third of a mile the trail splits. Once back on top of Aztec Butte, the trail loops back to where it first accessed the butte on the southeast side. Book your tickets online for Aztec Butte Trail, Canyonlands National Park: See 36 reviews, articles, and 26 photos of Aztec Butte Trail, ranked No.15 on Tripadvisor … Pictures of the Aztec Butte Trail, Canyonlands National Park, Utah: Horsethief Point and the upper end of Trail Canyon - view north from the edge of Aztec Butte 0.3mi Jun 18, 2018 Kevin Barger. May 6, 2018 Brian L. 0.3mi Mar 11, 2018 Spencer Swift. Drive approximately 20 miles, following signs to the Island in the Sky entrance station. Some of the ruins in the area have been partially rebuilt to fix damage done by time and careless visitors. It would have provided an excellent strategic viewpoint for its ancient inhabitants. This trail is less popular than some of the … The Aztec Butte Trailhead (38.393450, -109.882033) is located in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. I recommend the hike to the ruins on top of Aztec Butte. Aztec Butte - 1.4 Miles Round-Trip The Aztec Butte Trailhead is located 7.3 miles from the Island in the Sky visitor center in Canyonlands National Park. The trail ascends Aztec Butte, which is located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. There are a number of shorter trails on Island in the Sky that can be combined for a wonderful day of hiking in Canyonlands National Park. From the Butte you have outstanding views of … The trail is single track and easy to follow. From here the route is quite steep as it climbs to a break in the rim on the southwest side, allowing access to the top. One of the best ruins is tucked into a cave complete with small arches and a window-like opening in the rock that leads into the adjacent ruin. One of a handful of short and unique hikes in the area, the Aztec Butte Trail is estimated to be a two mile roundtrip up the south face, over the top, and down to the first ledge. This is a very basic and straight-forward trail. There are no other ruins beyond the arch ruin. The hike begins heading east on a mostly flat, sandy trail that winds through sagebrush and juniper trees on its way to Aztec Butte. The total distance of this trail is 3.2 km and you will find the first part of the trail to be sandy. Continue approximately 7.4 miles past the entrance station and turn right onto Upheaval Dome Road. The trail to Aztec Butte begins at an elevation of 6,100 feet in Willow Flat. Most of the Ancestral Puebloan ruins found in Canyonlands are not easily accessed but Aztec Butte provides an exception. Anyone who may have struggled with the initial climb up the butte should turn back here. Photos of Aztec Butte Trail Aztec Butte Trail. The slickrock trail leads to this fascinating arches view, one of the park's many natural wonders. Located in the heart of Canyonlands National Park the Aztec Butte trail offers fantastic views and the unique opportunity to visit ancient ruins. Alcoves along the rim of the butte house Puebloan granaries, which early inhabitants used for storage. It ascends slowly at first, then more steeply over the slickrock, as it climbs Aztec Butte a slickrock dome at the head of Trail Canyon. Aztec Butte, the larger of the two buttes, requires some steep climbing with exposure making it unsuitable for children or anyone uncomfortable with high ledges and steep drops. Elevation change: 250 feet. Trailhead GPS: 38.393502, -109.882051 This is a great hike, but it can be deceptively difficult. This trail is less popular than some of the … Once on the other side of this smaller butte, the summit of Aztec Butte is immediately in front of you and only .25 mile and 200 vertical feet away. It’s a mile-long trail to the top of the butte where there are great views of the area. Aztec Butte Trail The Aztec Butte Trail is definitely my favorite in the Island of the Sky District of Canyonlands. Your email address will not be published. To reach the Island in the Sky from Moab, head north on Highway 191 to the signed junction on the left for Canyonlands National Park. Aztec Butte – Canyonlands National Park. Once on the ledge below, the trail leads to some excellent ruins on the northwest side of the butte. It's easy and flat to the fork, and starts climbing across the rock thereafter. Highlights of our hike to Aztec Butte and Lower Butte in Canyonlands (Island In The Sky). Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based, not-for-profit system of 24 hospitals (includes "virtual" hospital), a Medical Group with more than 2,400 physicians and advanced practice clinicians at about 160 clinics, a health plans division called SelectHealth, and other health services. Site includes detailed information on the Wilhite Trail and other great hiking trails and jeep roads leading to natural arches, Indian ruins, redrock canyons, and more. The trail traverses the south side of the smaller butte before arriving at a signed junction. Continue on the trail past the ruin to the north edge of the butte where a cairn indicates a break in the cliff line that provides access to the ledge below. Copyright ©2021, Intermountain Healthcare, All rights reserved. SOTA summit: Aztec Butte, Canyonlands NP, Utah W7U/SU-058 Activation Date: March 21st, 2019 Unique: Yes, number 158 Call sign used: W6PNG Portable operation: Yes Radio: KX3 Antenna: EndFed Band/Modes used: 40mSSB Hike: ~0.6 miles and ~150ft ascent. Instead, return the way you came. It can be particularly windy on the butte so an extra layer is advised. Aztec Butte is the larger hill that sets a little further from the trailhead and it has quite a few more granaries and other ruins. The trail is mostly excellent but there is a section of scrambling on steep rock at the top. Aztec Butte Trail. Round trip distance to only the lower butte is approximately 1 mile. Hikers should be comfortable ascending steep slickrock pitches and scrambling up and down ledges with some exposure. The narrow, exposed ledge that leads to the ruins on the northwest side of Aztec Butte. Go another 0.8 mile and turn right (north) into the Aztec Butte Parking Area. There are two buttes to choose from on this hike, both of which have ruin sites. Children and anyone uncomfortable with heights should not attempt it. The Aztec Butte hike is short (about 3 km), but some of the route is slow going with some light scrambling. The hike to Aztec Butte involves steep climbing and exposed ledges. It ascends slowly at first then more steeply as it climbs Aztec Butte a slickrock dome at the head of Trail Canyon. Aztec Butte … It resembles the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico, which was built by the Aztecs. Exercise caution as it may be slippery going up the butte. Annual and regional passes are also available. To reach the ruins at the lower butte, follow the trail to where cairns mark the short route to the top of the butte. The smaller butte is closer to the trailhead and is a great hike for children and adults of all skill levels. Aztec Butte Trail (Island in the Sky) Short trail that leads to the top of the butte to see panoramic views of the Island in the Sky area. From the car parking area the Aztec Butte trail goes east across the sandy desert for 0.6 mile to the base of the butte. The first half-mile or so is nothing more than a sandy walk around the base of the smaller unnamed butte. The trail to the top of Aztec Butte is steep and includes some difficult sections. Aztec Butte is composed of white cross-bedded Navajo Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 170 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. Soon the trail arrives at the foot of Aztec Butte near its west end. If this is an emergency please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. Also, loads of color photos. The Aztec Butte Trail heads just over one mile to the northeast of Upheaval Dome Road. The Aztec Butte Trailhead (38.393450, -109.882033) is located in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. The top is about 400 meters around. A section of the steep slickrock climb up Aztec Butte. The Aztec Butte Trail is a two pronged out and back trail for a total of two miles. Closeup of a granary door at the lower butte. Aztec Butte – western trail As you hike you’ll see the the first butte….which really just looks like an over-sized rock the size of an office building. Never touch them or attempt to enter them. These ruins were originally built by an ancient civilization that lived in the Canyonlands region more than 800 years ago. Drive approximately 20 miles, following signs to the Island in the Sky entrance station. The parking area for Aztec Butte is right on the main Park road making this is a very popular trail. This trail guide is provided by Backcountry Post. The trail to the top of the Butte is only about a mile long (2 miles round trip). The ledge below is very narrow with significant exposure. The Aztec Butte trail leads to granaries that are on two separate hills. The top is about 400 meters around. Aztec Butte is one of the more unique hikes in the Island in the Sky region of Canyonlands National Park. After about 100 yards, the trail passes by a large ruin near the east side of the butte. If you do not feel comfortable, do not attempt it. A lesser-populated hike, but still worthy of its spot on this list of the best hikes in … Drive 0.8 miles to the signed trailhead and parking area on the right. Trail Map | Photo Gallery. Aztec Butte Trail is a 1.7 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Moab, Utah that offers scenic views and is rated as moderate. To … View wait times and save your place in line at an. The two highlights of the one mile Aztec Butte Trail are a collection of Anasazi granaries, built in alcoves below the rim of a steep-sided mesa, and the view from the top, which overlooks the middle part of the Island in the Sky, including the deep ravine of upper Trail Canyon to the north. The trail crosses level grasslands and climbs a steep slope to a dome-shaped butte rising above the mesa. Return to the trailhead the way you came. (<--click left for GaiaPro track etc) Hike and AZ profile: Easy trail but last part is slick rock. Mesa Top (Moderate Trails) Neck Spring 5.8mi / 9.3km 3 - 4 hours 300ft / 91m springs, evidence of ranching Aztec Butte 2.0mi / 3.2km 1.5 hours 225ft / 69m steep slickrock to top, grainaries Whale Rock 1.0mi / 1.6km 1 hour 100ft / 30m bare slickrock, good views Upheaval Dome © Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument, April 17 Moab UT – Coast to coast RV Trip 2017. After walking just over 0.3 miles the trail reaches a “Y” intersection. It then heads up the west side of the hill, climbing steeply over the slickrock in a few places, and finally reaches the flat top of Aztec Butte after an elevation gain of 200 feet. Continue on the well-worn path along the north edge of the butte until cairns indicate an easy place to climb down to the ruins, which are located just below the rim of the butte on its northwest side. Great hike and easy What a wonderful hike to both the butte top and the granaries. It is about 2 miles round trip if … The trail is marked with cairns, and requires some rock scrambling up a steeper slope as you get closer to the top. Aztec Butte Trail, Canyonlands National Park But also to check out 2 ancestral Puebloan granaries. The trail to Aztec Butte begins at an elevation of 6,100 feet in Willow Flat. Along this route hikers will find some ancient granaries built by Ancestral Pueblo Peoples and excellent views northward into Trail Canyon. Aztec Butte Trail Reports no reports have been added for Aztec Butte yet, add a trail report . Beautiful views of Trail Canyon from the top of Aztec Butte. Total round trip mileage including a stop at the lower butte is approximately 2 miles. There is an extremely narrow spot that requires a quick step that may be intimidating to some. The lower butte is much easier and is suitable for most children and adults. Aztec Butte seen from the trail as it passes through the field below. A trip or fall could be fatal. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in clinical quality improvement and efficient healthcare delivery. Aztec Butte Trail takes about 1.5-2 hours of … The trail is marked with cairns, and requires some rock scrambling up a steeper slope as you get closer to the top. Get care for low-level urgent conditions through a video chat with a provider, 24/7, on your computer or mobile device. After visiting the lower butte, return to the trail junction and continue north. This colorful sandstone butte rises prominently over expansive brush flats with exceptional views across the Island Mesa, adjacent buttes and Spring Canyon.. Once on top of Aztec Butte, follow the trail heading east. 437 Reviews. The route continues past the arch ruin and immediately climbs back to the top of Aztec Butte. To reach the Island in the Sky from Moab, head north on Highway 191 to the signed junction on the left for Canyonlands National Park. trail to ancient granary which is accessible from the Aztec Butte trail. After a while, the sandy terrain gives way to Puebloan granaries and the right junction at this point leads to panoramic views. Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail. It can be particularly windy on the butte so an extra layer is advised. Looking down at the steep route up Aztec Butte. the trail to the right leads to Aztec Butte. Aztec Butte Trail Ancient Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) people lived in this area and some of their rock structures can be seen on this hike. Climb to the top and over the sides for cool views. Appreciate the ruins from a safe distance. This ruin, constructed of loosely stacked rocks, has likely been rebuilt but is still quite interesting. 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