The Pueblo side of Sand Canyon Trail has some beautiful scenery but the ruins are quite difficult to see.Since I was out during the late morning afternoon, temperatures ran over 100 degrees and the trail has little shade.Bring plenty of water and supplies and consider the other trail as a stater (I understand its more scenic).

This is an amazing, sacred place. Its the largest ancient ruin on Colorado and the signage is very informative. This is also a wonderful place to see birds, contemplate, and meditate. This is one of our favorite ancient sites. It is honestly awe inspiring.

I reccomend you visit Lowery or Mesa Verde first so you can see one still standing, but this was cool to visit due to how large it was.

If you want to explore a large unexcavated Ancestral Puebloan village, then this is a good place to go. The Juniper pinyon pine-forest has overgrown and mostly obscured the remnants of the ruin walls. If you do your homework and learn a bit about this site, then your visit will be more interesting and more meaningful. There are interpretive sign boards along the trail throughout the ruins. There is very limited parking at the head of the trail. Upon arrival if you want to visit the ruins take the trail to the right out of the parking lot. If you are hiking the Sand Canyon Trail take the left trail from the parking lot and follow the trail into the canyon.It goes 6.2 miles into the canyon ending at the South (or lower) Sand Canyon trailhead. This is a great place to go to lose the crowds and enjoy the beauty and solitude the landscape and ancestoral spirits offer you.

Not well marked to get there. Has placards along the trails explaining the history.

The geek in me understands the geek in youNothing to see. But sure is incredible to visit! Its huge!

Not as well kept as others in the area. Nice hike and some really beautiful scenery.

After visiting Mess Verde, this site really forced us to use our imagination as to what it may have looked like in ancient times. There isnt.much preservation and the information certainly is not as informative as that in a national park. It is a nice trail to the ruins and the long 6.5 mile trail is incredibly difficult trail running, which is what I used it for. It was fun, just lots of climbing and elevation change. Its on BLM land so there is ample free camping and you may even be lucky enough to see cowboys herding cattle down the street near the trailhead.

Unbelievable beauty.

Cool to see an unrestored site with full access

Not much to see. Everything is buried.

Not sure why the reburied what they found, it requires some imagination

Very interesting location well worth the trip

Went on a field trip with my little brothers class and this place didnt disappoint. Staff was very helpful and we had a great time.

Muddy this time of year. Beautiful historical site.

An unexcavated, unreconstructed Pueblo ruin that provides an idea of the amount of conservation and reconstruction required to prepare NPS sites for visitors. Although there are plaques and signage, you will need to use your imagination to understand the size and complexity of this dwelling in its hayday.

Amazing!

While on a trip through the Southwest Canyonlands, we stopped at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument to see some Sand Canyon huge kivas and towers. The reason our professor wanted us to see Pueblo III kivas and towers that were still in good condition. Some of the kivas we saw were restored, so less they were than authentic in our professor’s opinion.

Is just a trail now the Pueblo mainly ruins and Rubble