Jailhouse Ruin- Green Canyon -Sheiks Canyon loop

[gnwatts]

I thought I would share one of my favorite loop hikes on Cedar Mesa. It can be done as a day hike, or as a multi-day as we did. We did this in late may, it was very hot. It is a strenuous route with some exposure. You must be comfortable hiking exposed cliff faces, along with some bouldering and rock hopping with a pack on.
The hike starts at the Sheiks Canyon "trailhead". Drive to the Bullett Canyon trailhead, then continue past the trailhead (head right). Follow the road to the head of Sheiks Canyon. There is a beautiful campsite here:



You want to hike SW to the rim of Bullett Canyon (maybe an hour or so). At the edge of the canyon, you should be overlooking Perfect Kiva ruin. There are several ways down to the floor of Bullett canyon. I ended up going down a fallen juniper, the first drop from the rim is only 10 or 15'. Once at the canyon bottom, you should be in the alcove that holds Perfect Kiva

It is perfect:




After visiting Perfect Kiva, you can hike down canyon towards Jailhouse ruin. Standing in front of Jailhouse, look to your right and follow the cliff band to where it disappears into a huge alcove. It is a spectacular cave, big and deep, with custom rock furniture to boot. I have been here when all of the good camp spots were taken, and this was empty. There is also a s mall spring below, that was running in March one year.




View towards Jailhouse



Jailhouse

[gnwatts]

Hike to the confluence with Grand Gulch. There are some interesting ruins on the way:






Hike down the gulch to the first canyon on the right, Green Canyon. A short way up this canyon is an unusual ruin with green paint on a facing wall:







Continuing up canyon is a big overhang with great camping, plenty of water.



And a little further up canyon is what we came up here for in this heat:

[denaliguide]

nice photos. that is one of my favorite day loops as well. you can also descend into bullet by some very exposed moki steps. this puts you into the canyon that comes into bullet at jailhouse spring.

looking down on the steps


looking back up. the route follows the left trending ramp. moki steps are right at the top.

[ibenick]

Very nice! Can't wait for spring...

[gnwatts]

Thanks.
On one trip we reversed the loop and exited the cave (near Jailhouse) at the rear and headed up and to the right towards a notch, and then a ramp. It was years ago but your photo looks familiar.

[burtonridr]

I love the water pool in the pocket of rock, that would be awesome!