Moon House Ruins

If you are willing to brave the long, rough road in to the trailhead, you will be richly rewarded with a great hike and the incredible experience of exploring the Moon House ruins.

You won’t need to walk or hike for long before you come to the edge of the canyon. This is one of those hikes where you have a beautiful view in addition to the reward of a particular end goal. You will come to a pour over ledge, that will require you to down climb about five feet. When we went, there was no rope to assist, so be aware that you will need to have some physical coordination and strength for this section. Hikers behind us placed a new rope, so we had one for coming back up and this was definitely helpful.

You will descend all the way to the base of the canyon, then ascend the other side. Here you will find Moon House, nestled along the ledge of the canyon wall. What a view all around! The ruins themselves are a marvel. You can carefully enter into the ruins and see the multiple rooms that exist. Take your time and you will see the small details that make the Ancestral Puebloan construction so impressive.There are pictographs and painted patterns, decorative masonry, and even pieces of pottery. Keep walking along the ledge in either direction to find more ruins. When facing Moon House, head to the right and around the bend and you will see evidence of many more structures.  

This is an area you can spend a lot of time at. Be respectful, be careful, and be curious, there is much to appreciate and learn at this wonderful cultural site.

Difficulty: Moderate with some short strenuous sections.

Trail Stats: 2.6 miles, out and back, 712 feet elevation gain. These were our personal stats, you could do more or less depending on how much you are wandering around while you are at the ruins.

Trail Finding: Fairly straightforward.

Conditions: Sandstone, rocks. 

Would I Repeat This: Yes, what a special experience!

Parking: Parking present.

Timing: Caution if rain forecasted. 

Downloaded Map: There is not one to download on AllTrails, though there is a trail you can follow if you have Navigate section open and look for McLoyd Canyon Moon House Recreation Management Zone. 

Fees: $5 per person for advance permits through recreation.gov, plus associated booking fees. 

Trails: The Citadel, Moki Dugway, House on Fire, Mule Canyon and Cave Towers trails, many trails down Butler Wash Road, and more!