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2011 Map of Ruin Point

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Ruin Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Hovenweep National Monument anchors the southwest corner of this high desert landscape, preserving ancient masonry structures that define the region's human history. The terrain is characterized by deeply incised drainages like Hackberry Canyon and Cross Canyon that carve through Cajon Mesa, creating the isolated landforms of Squaw Point and Ruin Point. These geographic features provided natural defensible positions and resources for early inhabitants, as evidenced by named archaeological sites including Horseshoe House, Holly House, and the Round Tower.

Transportation in this borderland between Colorado and Utah follows the contours of the mesas, with Hovenweep Rd and County Hwy-10 providing access to these remote reaches. The presence of Cajon Lake and Little Cajon Lake highlights the precious nature of water in this arid environment, where life and settlement have historically clustered around the intermittent flows of Square Tower Canyon and the surrounding basins.