Coon Creek Ruins 2.0

​The ancient Coon Creek Ruins cliff dwellings are not as large or as well preserved as many of the protected ruins throughout the West, but they are interesting and they are available to be explored at any time.

PLEASE be very careful not to cause any further damage to these delicate structures.  This photo shows how fragile they are.

This is an easy road to drive and a hike under a quarter mile in length.

There are cliff dwellings located in several of the rugged canyons in and near the Sierra Ancha Wilderness.  They were built between 1280 and 1350 by the Salado people.  The ones near here are collectively called the Cherry Creek Ruins.

​There is a GPS - gpx track at the bottom of the page.

VERY fragile

The cliff containing the ruins is visible down in Coon Creek as you approach.  They are on the northeast face of the left cliff.

Park just off the road and follow the creek downstream toward the ruins.  The gpx track extends all the way to the ruins, but the path is quite obvious.  There is a slight scramble from the creek up to the ruins.

Ruins are in cliffs

Slight scramble up to ruins

This overview photo shows there are 2 individual walls and one main structure remaining.

The main structure has 2 rooms.  The upper room has no roof.  The lower room likely had a second story.

View from across creek

Top of main structure

It appears the Salado built walls then coated them with adobe.

The lower room is the best preserved area.  Note the second floor rafters protruding from the walls.

Second wall

Lower room of main structure

Part of the second story floor still remains.

Brilliant color in the upper room.

Lower room of main structure

Color in upper room of main structure

Page updated 2019.

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coon_creek_ruins_2.0.gpx
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