Aztec Butte Granaries

Aztec Butte Granaries are two ancestral stone structures in a sheltered alcove beneath the rim of the smaller butte, reached by the west branch of Aztec Butte Trail. They are about 900 years old. If you're interested in the people who lived and traveled through Canyonlands, this is a worthwhile short detour; it gives you a close look at built structures, not just another canyon view.

The trail follows a sandy wash to a split: left/west climbs the smaller butte, then drops below its rim; right/east climbs the main summit. For the granaries, take the left fork and keep left under the rim after the gap. They're just beyond it, easy to miss if you turn around too soon. The granary branch is about 0.9 mile round trip; the whole hike, including the separate summit branch, is 1.4 miles and about 1.5 hours. Expect slickrock scrambling, uneven steps and ledges. The route isn't wheelchair accessible, and dogs aren't allowed.

The overhang shields the low stone walls. Their use may have changed over time: archaeologists call them granaries, but they may also have held medicines or ceremonial supplies. Openings were covered with stone slabs, then mud and clay camouflaged them against the cliff. Despite the name, the builders weren't part of the Aztec civilization. Stay outside: don't touch, enter or climb on the structures. For a photo, include the overhang with an opening so you can see how the rooms were tucked into the rock.