Off-road and Hike to Cutthroat Castle Group, Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado

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Trailheads are down an unimproved dirt road that is 8.5 miles from the visitor center. Stop by the visitor center for directions and road conditions. From the upper trailhead, the trail to Cutthroat Castle winds through a hip-height slot in boulders, then opens up to regular primitive trail. The trail descends through open country, down part of a sandy wash, and along a slickrock edge, where it ends among the structures at Cutthroat Castle. Most of the trail provides sweeping views of neighboring Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. At the site, the trail winds around and through a cluster of structures (but not into them), giving you the chance to see Cutthroat Castle from many angles. Cutthroat Castle is also accessible from a Lower Trailhead. Cutthroat Castle Group is part of Hovenweep National Monument in Colorado. It's located in an offshoot of Hovenweep Canyon. Cutthroat Castle, the largest of the remains, is on the north side of the stream. Cutthroat is unique among the units due to the lack of a spring, the numerous kivas and the fact that much of the architecture sits below the rim.

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