Cedar Mesa, Polly's Canyon 11-14,15

[gnwatts]

Hello all,
I am new to the site, have been lurking around, checking out trip reports etc. Great site.
I live in Carbondale, Co, and am 5 or 6 hours away from Cedar Mesa. In desperate need of a recharge, I decided to visit a ruin I had been to 7 or 8 years ago, in the rincon behind Polly's Island, opposite the Government trail in Grand Gulch.
I arrived at my car park a little early, maybe 8pm, it was windy and cold. Not looking forward to spending windy time in my tent, I decided to start my hike, down the road to Government trail (I could not get to the trailhead, I have a low clearance vehicle). Made it to the trailhead and then promptly got lost, so I camped on the slickrock and continued in the morning....


View from the Government Trail



The ruin is located at the far end of the rincon, and is not visible until you are right on top of it. It is behind the large stone slabs



Granaries tucked in behind the stone wall out of the sun with larger rooms out in the sun (makes sense).



Cool hand prints on the right wall, with some pencil inscriptions from 1891 below.







There is a great little bench about 200 feet away along the ledge, big enough for my tent. Low impact camping is a must here, it's a must everywhere but here especially. Enough room for 1 small tent, maybe a small 2 person tent.





View at sunset, with Polly's Island in the foreground, the Gulch in the distance. This is an amazing spot, quiet and secluded, surrounded by sage, maybe 3 hours from my car.



Sandstone dome before you get to Moab.

[ibenick]

Very cool ruin and nice pictures. Thanks for sharing it.

[PolarXJ]

Nice pics and report!
Thanks for sharing!

[oldno7]

Thanks for sharing, what a great area.

[asdf]

nice shots
great first post

[gnwatts]

I think the Government trail hike is the most beautiful on Cedar Mesa.

The first 2 shots show Polly's Canyon in the foreground







My exit was Up Polly's Canyon and out the right (LUC) fork, ending up at the Government trailhead.

[bobb169]

If you went up and out Polly's did you visit the really good site a couple miles up the canyon.......one of the better ones!

[gnwatts]

I didn't. I was trying to out run a storm. Is it up the left (LUC) fork? I was up there a few years ago and found several nice sites.

[abirken]

Great photos! I've been wanting to get down this way and your photos/ TR moved this up a notch on my list. And hello from Glenwood Springs!

[bobb169]

As you are going up Pollys from Grand Gulch it is just before the major canyon fork on the north side. Has sticks, mud walls, defensive wall, cooking, hand and footprints in the mud. We actually cairned a way up the S rim just across from the ruin and a compass route (before GPS) to get back to the government TH cross country. Been about 15 years since I was there...a ranger actually gave me the info on it back then! The site is on the climbutah members area. I know of about 6 decent sites up Pollys.

[gnwatts]

Bobb169
I spent a couple of days camping in an alcove just down from the fork. I remember a number of sites in both forks. Polly's Canyon has a nice scale to it.

abirken
Thanks for your comments. There are many things to see from the Government Trail. Big Man Panel is up Grand Gulch, maybe 1.5 miles?
These 2 ruins are within a mile or so of Polly's canyon, down Grand Gulch.





the round structure is pretty unique:

[accadacca]

Nice pix.

[gnwatts]

Thanks.