Kaiparowits Plateau and Collet Top Arch Ruins

The Quest for Collet Top Arch Ruins

Researching the Kaiparowits Plateau for places to explore I came across the Collet Top Arch ruins. Now this looks interesting and I started researching it further. For once the internet had not yet cast it's web to the exact location of this interesting looking spot.

The best I could come up with was an area of about 20 acres in size that it was located in and my first search for it was hampered by impassable roads that lead to long delays in arriving in the area late in the day with my sister and brother-in-law.

We searched for a few hours in the late afternoon but facing the long and slow drive back to our camp we were unable to find it that day.

Fast forward a month and I am camped high on the Kaiparowits Plateau within a few miles of the suspected location of Collet Top Arch. With camp setup I start a fire. For me this is unusual as i rarely have fires while camping but it adds to the ambience of the location.






I spend a day driving the old prospecting roads looking for a parking spot nearest to my estimated spot for the arch. At one point I can even see what looks like the arch off in the distance from the road, but the binoculars are to small to tell for sure. Finding what looked as if it would a good starting point I head back to camp to prepare for tomorrows hike.

I am up and at my chosen parking spot early the next morning, spooking a small herd of deer that were foraging nearby. With the day pack full of water and food I start off. We no trail to follow, I head in the general direction, dropping down into washes only to climb back out again. Weaving through the Pinion and Juniper trees, avoiding the cactus all the while looking around for signs of ancient man.

One of the first things I see that is interesting is very ancient, nice size pieces of petrified wood, but other than a few pictures I leave them where they lay.

PETRIFIED WOOD




The next find is much more recent. I have no idea what it is. Some sort of weather device perhaps? Researching it after the trip reveals it is a radio relay device that is launched locally to extend smaller personal radios signals to cover an area of several hundred miles. They are used for many things including fire fighting, search and rescue, and military exercises.

RADIO RELAY and CORDS and BALLOONS








After hours of wandering I come across my first sign of ancient man.

RUINS



And then several more ruins.










[Edited on 2-17-2018 by Fatboy]

ANOTHER RUIN



Then I find a small spring under a cliff that man had partial walled off.

WALLED OFF SPRING UNDER CLIFF





After a quick lunch and no sign of my goal I continue onward. Rounding the bulge of the cliff face I am walking along there is Collet Top Arch. Amazing, it is quiet here, with expansive views of to the east and south. I explore the area and the ruins reflecting on the past.

COLLET TOP ARCH RUINS










In the mid afternoon warmth I head back to the Jeep, happy with the day and fortunate to have seen in person such a site as Collet Top Arch.


[Edited on 2-17-2018 by Fatboy]

looks like Bob Steinberger had been there!

Quote: Originally posted by Hook

Man, that looks like a great summer spot, if you are living off the land. Is it in the area that Trump is proposing de-listing as part of Grand Staircase-Escalante NM? I'm pretty liberal about protecting unique open space from commercial development, but after driving quite a bit of GSENM, much of it just isn't that unique. The core is, especially the areas along Glen Canyon NRA. What month were you there? Were the infamous cedar gnats a problem?

Quote: Originally posted by David K

So cool! Did you see my comment on your Facebook Baja photos? Great pics!!

Quote: Originally posted by del mar

looks like Bob Steinberger had been there!

Had to look that one up!

Yes, what a great place. 2016 we were there:










[Edited on 18-2-2018 by Elona]

Quote: Originally posted by Elona

Yes, what a great place. 2016 we were there: [Edited on 18-2-2018 by Elona]

Quote: Originally posted by Cliffy

We live in Page Quite familiar with the Kaiparowits Many, many early Indian ruins on the south facing side that can only be reached if you know how OR by helicopter to view up close

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

Wow...amazing photos! Can a sky get any bluer???

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy And that is one of the interesting things about researching this spot, I found almost as many post in German forums as one here in the US.[/rquote

I'm glad to read that. Many of us Germans are enthusiastic hikers. Exploring the Colorado Plateau is also our passion and we share it in various German USA forums. In 2 months we are back and look forward to many more beautiful landscapes. Just have a look at my website. The language is German, but the gps coordinates are international . Trails Utah A - D Trails Utah E - M Trails Utah N - Z Fatboy - 2-20-2018 at 10:10 AM That is a pretty impressive list of places! Google was able to translate most of the pages and I read almost all of them, some I have been to, some I have heard of but never been to, and some I have never heard of. Couple of things if you ever go back to them, or are in the area looking for more places... Willis Gulch, a few miles further up the Skutumpah road you will come to Bull Valley gorge which is neat short slot canyon, but it also has a treasure in the form of a old pickup wedged high above the floor from an accident back in the mid 1950's. Broken Bow arch, most of the thickets have bypass trails to avoid them, but even better is that it can be made into a fun loop that can be done in a day. Follow Willow gulch past the arch where it will soon slot up, to forty mile gulch coming in from the left and follow it back to Sooner rocks. On Hole in the Rock road go to Fifty mile gulch and hike it. You will find a nice eyebrow arch with a massive panel covered with rock art. Also if the lake is low enough, further down the canyon is a really cool slot section. Don't under estimate Dance Hall rock while on Hole in the Rock rd, it has some cool rock art from more modern folks in the canyons behind the main area. Another cool hike is No Mans Mesa, which could be done as a long day hike but over night would be better. Elona - 2-20-2018 at 12:11 PM Hi, Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy   That is a pretty impressive list of places! Google was able to translate most of the pages and I read almost all of them, some I have been to, some I have heard of but never been to, and some I have never heard of. Thank you. Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy   Couple of things if you ever go back to them, or are in the area looking for more places... Willis Gulch, a few miles further up the Skutumpah road you will come to Bull Valley gorge which is neat short slot canyon, but it also has a treasure in the form of a old pickup wedged high above the floor from an accident back in the mid 1950's. Broken Bow arch, most of the thickets have bypass trails to avoid them, but even better is that it can be made into a fun loop that can be done in a day. Follow Willow gulch past the arch where it will soon slot up, to forty mile gulch coming in from the left and follow it back to Sooner rocks. On Hole in the Rock road go to Fifty mile gulch and hike it. You will find a nice eyebrow arch with a massive panel covered with rock art. Also if the lake is low enough, further down the canyon is a really cool slot section. Don't under estimate Dance Hall rock while on Hole in the Rock rd, it has some cool rock art from more modern folks in the canyons behind the main area. Another cool hike is No Mans Mesa, which could be done as a long day hike but over night would be better. Thanks for the suggestions, but 1. in 2008 we hiked Willis Creek and have seen the pickup in the Bull Valley Gorge. 2. 2012 we had been at the Broken Bow Arch. But we did only the round trip. 3. the 50 Mile Gulch is still on the list . 4. we already did 2 stopps at the dance hall rock . 5. hmmm, No Mans Mesa - we only hiked Lick Wash. This year we will be around Moab and Kanab/Page to explore more canyons .