Cedar Mesa houses some fantastic and remote ruins from the time of the Ancestral Pueblo Peoples. Two of the ruins we visited out our last trip were Seven Kivas and the Citadel. Both ruins require a hike from the same trail head. We camped at the trail head for these hikes.

We started the day with 2 inches of new snow on the tent so we took our time getting ready for our hikes. Our morning destination was 7 Kivas. This hike is very typical of Utah hike,  starting at the head of a small canyon that is a tributary of Road Canon.

 

The trail follows a route down the sandstone and cliff bands. It is key to follow the cairns. Once at the canyon floor we hike down canyon to where we found the ruin on the north side of the canyon. The ruin consists of a number of Kivas (7) in different states of deterioration.

 

After checking out the ruins we headed back to the trail head and camp for lunch prior to hiking to the citadel.

Hiking to the Citadel follows a the mesa east out along a finger between two canyons. It is a wonderful hike with views of Road Canyon and a number of ruins that are high in the opposite canyon wall.

We arrived at cliff and what we thought was the end of the trail. We were looking down on a rock peninsula that headed out to a large point at the end. Backtracking we found the way to climb down and following the cairns and using a little trail finding we were on the rock causeway.

 

Crossing the causeway we encountered the remains of two rock wall that must have been built for defense. Once at the end of the causeway we climbed up to the next cliff band and walked around the south side of the point. Looking up the Citadel ruin revealed itself to us.

 

Getting to the ruin required a short climb. What a spot. Every thing about this ruin is about defense. The view is also fantastic of the canyons and surrounding mesa.

 

7 Kivas and Citadel Hikes