House on Fire, Utah Guide
Much of southeastern Utah's San Juan County is a trip back in time: Anasazi ruins from hundreds to over a thousand years old dot the landscape, many within the remote Bears Ears National Monument. The House on Fire is one of the most famous, named for the pattern in the overhanging rock that lights up in the mid-morning sun. While many of the ruins in the area can be difficult to reach, the House on Fire is easily accessible.
When to Visit
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San Juan County where the House on Fire is located is pretty much all desert, so expect extremely hot summers, and milder winters. While the hike to the House is only about two miles roundtrip, it's completely open with little shade, so be prepared for sun exposure. If hiking in the summer, it's best to start early before it gets too hot. Fall and spring are mild, while winters can get cold (snow is not uncommon). The best time to see the "fire" effect is mid-morning, around 10:00 - 11:00am, when the sunlight bounces off the slope below the house and illuminates the upper rock.
How to Get There
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Located closest to Blanding, Bluff, and Mexican Hat, Utah, you're going to find yourself a ways away from any major city, or airport for that matter, though you'll find plenty of lodging in any of the three locations listed. The House on Fire is a part of Mule Canyon, and is accessed via a dirt road off of Utah State Route 95, marked by a sign for "Mule Canyon Ruins". While relatively well-maintained, you don't need to go far down the road to reach the trailhead. Pay the $5.00 fee near the road's entrance, then continue down until the road goes over a ridge with a canyon on either side: park here to begin your trek.
Hiking to the House
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Time: 1 - 1.5 hours.
Distance: 2 miles roundtrip.
With your car parked at the top, make your way down into the canyon on the left, with the start of the trail marked by a metal pole labeled "wilderness study area." At the bottom you'll find a larger sign with information, and marking the official start of the main trail.
Park off to the side of the dirt road, and look for the metal pole on the left marking the trail's beginning in the canyon below.
The trail is easy and well-worn, though not explicitly marked. Following it past the sign until it comes to the wash; at this point, there will often appear to be multiple trails which can be confusing, but as long as you're still following the wash, you're going the right direction. Depending on recent rainfall though, traveling within the wash itself might be difficult.
Once into the canyon, follow the trail that starts at the sign, as it begins to follow a wash.
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It's an easy walk from this point on, staying relatively level the entire way, with the trail occasionally crossing into and over the wash itself. Colorful cliffs surround you in the canyon, and make from some terrific scenery along the way. If you lose the trail or become confused, just follow the wash.
The trail runs along the wash the entire way, occasionally through it, and sometimes crossing to the other side.
After around one mile of hiking, you'll come to a sharp bend to the right in the trail, and a short, but slightly steep climb to a cliff with an overhang: you've arrived! Underneath this cliff is the House on Fire itself. Climb the hill for a closer look, or check out a metal ammunition box nearby that contains more information on the ruins. If you're arriving mid-morning on a clear day, the sunlight bounces off the opposite canyon wall, causing the "fire" effect on the overhang.
The trail runs along the wash the entire way, occasionally through it, and sometimes crossing to the other side.
As tempting as it may be, don't go inside the house: it's a sensitive, archaeological site that's at least 700 years old, and is better left undisturbed. Also, it's full of rodents known to carry hantavirus, so unless damaging artifacts and hemorrhagic fever sound cool to you, best to enjoy it from the exterior.
A set of petroglyphs just around the corner from the House on Fire.
From here it's up to you where to go next: directly to the left of the House on Fire is a small, narrow canyon worth taking a quick look at, most notably for a set of hand-print petroglyphs on one of the outcroppings above it. If you're seeking more ruins and petroglyphs, you can continue down Mule Canyon for another four miles or so, where another five or so similar ruins can be found built under the cliff sides. If you've had your fill on ruins though, there's a wealth of amazing views, hikes, and adventure to be found right around the corner here in San Juan County.