Francis Canyon Ruin

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.25 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6796 - 6825 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 45 mins.
Trailhead: Francis Canyon Ruin
Fee: none
Attractions: pueblo ruin

The Francis Canyon Ruin is located on the edge of a mesa in the Dinetah area east of Broomfield, New Mexico. With 40 surface rooms Francis Canyon is one of the largest sites in the area. According to the kiosk at the site it was constructed by the Navajo between 1716 and 1742.

For turn-by-turn directions enter Francis Canyon Ruin Trailhead into your driving app. While there are multiple routes that will get you there the one with the least amount of dirt roads is to drive east on US-64 to NM 527. Continue for 11 miles and turn left onto the dirt road in this photo. The turnoff is very near the 11 mile marker on NM 527. After turning off of the highway the dirt road climbs a moderately steep set of switchbacks to get up on top of Francis Mesa.

As you get closer to the site there will be signs pointing out the rest of the way to the trailhead.

From the parking area there is a well worn path leading to the ruin which is less than 720 feet away.

Originally there were 4 main room blocks.

The dominant feature of the ruins is a multi story triangular shaped tower.

A large number of the original 40 surface rooms have eroded away. The sage and other brush in this photo grows at an extremely slow rate but given hundreds of years of unchecked growth even it does some damage eventually. Be sure not to climb or lean upon the walls to help preserve what remains.

This is a peek inside one of the covered rooms next to the tower. It isn't often that you see shelfs that are still remaining.

This is another partially covered room nearby.

It has an interesting storage area in the corner of the room that was made from wood and then plastered over with mortar of which little bits still remain. The plaster was probably meant to keep out rodents.

This covered room with a very low ceiling is right next to the triangle tower. We were wondering whether it may have been deeper at one time and that this is what 300 years of blowing dust accomplishes. Of course, sometimes after excavating a site archeologists will backfill the rooms to help better preserve them.

There is a big network of sometimes confusing dirt roads in the area that service the numerous oil and gas wells. While the roads are well maintained they are probably still considered 4WD routes. When they are muddy they should be avoided by all types of vehicles.

If you would like to see the Francis Canyon Ruin for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.