West Fork of the Upper Butler Wash

The West Fork of the Upper Butler Wash is a fairly shallow wash with lots of trees and shade. We visited the 3 main ruins and did some exploring for a 5.5 mile round trip hike with some scrambling. We didn't see any other hikers on this popular trail this morning. 

Each one of the washes/canyons we have visited on this trip is different. All have lovely sandstone walls.

A short side trail/scramble led up to the area with Target Ruins.

Another view of Target Ruins

There were some small ruins across the area.

grinding holes

Scrambling down to the main trial

Continuing down the wash, the trail would go up on the left side,

leading directly to Ballroom Cave Ruins

There is a big cave behind the ruins

ruins in the cave

view through the door of the ruins













View from behind the ruins looking out over the wash

smaller ruins along the side

Further along the trail we scrambled up to an alcove, there were no ruins here, but it was a wonderfully cool place to take a break










The next set of ruins were once accessible via a rickety ladder, which is no longer there. It was difficult to see into this shaded alcove.

zoom into the corner of the alcove from a hill across the way

With the ladder gone, there was no safe way up into the alcove

Further down the wash, we scrambled up to another alcove,

and found another set of ruins.














View along the way

Continuing down the wash

We explored a few more alcoves without any ruins in them

These might be collapsed ruins

View from the back of an alcove

We hiked down to the end of the wash, a nice shady place for a lunch break.

collapsed ruins or rock fall? I do not know

lots of places to explore

small ruins

rock art

view from another alcove

two of the many wildflowers we saw on the trail today: