The best and easiest way to view the ruins and to explore the rugged terrain is on the Sand Canyon Trail. There are a few iterations of the Sand Canyon Trail but I have only done one, probably the easiest of them. The longest and most arduous trail (12 miles roundtrip) takes you from the trailhead, through some sandstone alcoves with at least seven of them containing ruins, including the awesome Saddlehorn Ruin, before ascending some 1,390 feet of elevation on 30 switchbacks. At the top, you’ll get to explore the Sand Canyon Pueblo.

The Sand Canyon to East Rock Creek Loop is only 4 miles, you get to see tons of ruins, and you avoid the massive up and down that exploration of the Pueblo Ruins brings you. I did a mixture of both, truthfully, and I walked to the switchbacks before turning around and going through the East Rock Creek Loop. This allowed me to see Corncob House, Double Cliff House, and others.

From the Trailhead you’ll immediately be treated to the Castle Rock Pueblo which was lived in for 30 years starting in the 1250s. You’ll then follow the trail and the gorge of Navajo Sandstone for one mile before reaching Saddlehorn Pueblo, probably the most photographed ruins on the trail. A kiva was excavated here, as well as a lookout tower above the ruins. Occupied at the same time as Castle Rock and many others you will see.

A little over a half mile later is the left spur that will take you .7 miles until you link up with East Rock Creek Loop. I say keep going straight for a bit to see Double Cliff and Corncob Houses at mile 2.

Just before mile 3, you get to Sunny Alcove, a beautiful ruin that melds with the sandstone.

At mile 3 are the Tucked Away Two Story House and Wall Curvs with Bedrock House.

House with Standing Curved Wall is really the last feature on this section of the trail. From here you can either keep going until the switchbacks and then up them, or you can turn around and head back to the spur. Once on East Rock Creek you’ll wind your way through sandstone pinnacles above the East Rock Creek and all the while you’ll view glimpses of the haunting but beautiful Sleeping Ute Mountain. Towards the end of the trail there are more ruins of which I do not know the name of before reaching the Trailhead again.