The Anasazi Heritage Center, which had recently been renamed the Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum, had a large display about how archeologists surveyed and excavated the ancient sites. There were also displays detailing the Anasazi civilization, communities of European settlers and the McPhee Dam and Reservoir.
The volunteer at the entrance gave us a map of sites in the canyon that included Lower Circular Pueblo and Hovenweep National Monument. Seeing any of the meant that we would need to drop to a lower elevation and higher temperatures. We decided that waiting until after summer might be a better time to see these sites.
A short hike to the hill top above the welcome center gave us an over view of the valley. McPhee Reservoir was below us and the Sleeping Ute Mountain was in the distance.
With such a commanding view it’s no surprise that Escalante Pueblo was built there in 1129. Despite its excellent view, by 1200 the site was abandoned.
Sadly we both forgot to take pictures of Sleeping Ute Mountain.