MQC001
Location: 37.4568214416504, -110.58479309082
From the road, hike northeast and cross-country about 1 mile to the lip of Moqui Canyon
MQC002
Location: 37.4636459350586, -110.580017089844
Look for a 500-foot sand slide below the canyon rim; this is a lot more fun to go down than to come up, but it's the best way in and out. (Try to hike this hot section in the morning or evening.) Occasional cairns mark the way down sandstone benches to the top of the slide
MQC003
Location: 37.46728515625, -110.580680847168
Reach sand slide and enter canyon bottom; you reach the streambed, there are miles of exploration up- and downcanyon; hike west to basecamp and then head upcanyon
MQC004
Location: 37.4696846008301, -110.582336425781
Primitive campsite: ideal place to basecamp; fire ring still in use. Nearby, a precarious set "Moki Steps" leads 200 ft. from the canyon floor to an intact set of ruins in the alcove above. Only confident scramblers should endeavor on these exposed climbs up sheer sandstone. Marvel at the ability of the Anasazi to live in such conditions, but do not disturb the surroundings.
MQC006
Location: 37.4668159484863, -110.578948974609
Watch out for quicksand in the creek bed.
MQC007
Location: 37.4646987915039, -110.568733215332
View of ruins in alcove above
MQC008
Location: 37.4639015197754, -110.567581176758
Scramble up sandy, grass-lined banks
MQC009
Location: 37.4641151428223, -110.567085266113
Halfway up from canyon floor, a large bank juts out providing a perfect lunch spot and access to ruins on high
MQC010
Location: 37.4614181518555, -110.565200805664
Grove of wildflowers overtakes the canyon banks.
MQC011
Location: 37.4630661010742, -110.563568115234
Spot ruins on south canyon wall
MQC012
Location: 37.4598503112793, -110.562309265137
Unclimbable, defaced Moki steps to third set of ruins
View west from the ruins perched high above the canyon floor.
Location: 37.4646911621094, -110.566627502441
©Andrew Matranga
Entrance to a small dwelling
Location: 37.4646110534668, -110.566551208496
©Andrew Matranga
Mocqui Canyon Video Clip
Location: 37.4648857116699, -110.566749572754
A set of ruins high above the canyon. ©Dale Diulus and Andrew Matranga
Climbing Moki Steps
Location: 37.4603576660156, -110.562103271484
These steps, chiseled centuries ago, led up a sheer cliff face. Someone had chipped away the handholds to discourage climbing. ©Dale Diulus
Close up of Moki Steps
Location: 37.4604759216309, -110.562614440918
©Andrew Matranga
Ruins in the alcove above
Location: 37.4704780578613, -110.581665039062
©Andrew Matranga
Quicksand
Location: 37.4666976928711, -110.578559875488
©Andrew Matranga
Sandslide entrance to canyon
Location: 37.4663848876953, -110.580932617188
©Andrew Matranga
ADD A COMMENT