Ice Cream Cone Ruins
Named for a distinctive rock formation at the base of Maroon Mountain, the social trail leading to this 3-room Sinagua cliff dwelling (the largest cliff dwelling in Long Canyon) is rated as difficult.
It has been significantly rebuilt, including the doorways. Original plaster (shown below) can still be seen on some of the walls near the back of the ruin, distinguishing them from those that have been reconstructed.
There is also a small rock art panel (shown below) located under the same huge alcove as the dwellings.
The people who lived here enjoyed one of the most idyllic settings imaginable, their homes tucked away in a private hanging valley high in the cliffs.
FINDING THE SOCIAL TRAIL
Ice Cream Cone Rock, the Three Sisters, and the large alcove that contains the cliff dwellings are all easy to spot from the system trail. Though they are easy to see, the routes to reach them are steep and a little tricky to follow.
There are multiple social trails up to the cliff dwellings, and all involve steep, 600 ft climbs, as well as the ability to follow a faint footpath across rocky surfaces. For this reason we have rated this location as difficult.
The photo below was captured from down the canyon. It shows Ice Cream Cone Rock and the route both social trails take to get behind the Three Sisters Rock.
One route branches off to the right from “butt rock” - a rather distinctive rock embedded into the official trail that looks just like the name implies. Both routes merge at the base of the Three Sisters, which are the rock spires guarding the entrance to this lovely little "hanging valley" high in the cliffs.
The entrance into this hanging valley is to the left of the Three Sisters. Here the cliffs get narrow and the social trail gets even steeper.
The crux of the route (shown above) is just below the cliff dwellings. Looted of anything valuable decades ago, there are only a few small pieces of pottery and ancient corn cobbs left. Leave anything you find for others to ponder.
HIKE DETAILS
RATED
Difficult due to the steep climb and some route finding. There is an established social trail, but it can be difficult to follow when it crosses sections of slickrock. It's a lot easier to follow if you know where it's going. So keeping in mind that the trail passes between the Three Sisters and the Ice Cream Cone really helps (see photo above).
Difficult due to the steep climb and some route finding. There is an established social trail, but it can be difficult to follow when it crosses sections of slickrock. It's a lot easier to follow if you know where it's going. So keeping in mind that the trail passes between the Three Sisters and the Ice Cream Cone really helps (see photo above).
TRAILHEAD GPS
34.926944 -111.837453
34.926944 -111.837453
GPS FOR RUINS
34.932039 -111.837231
TOTAL DISTANCE
0.5 miles off the system trail, 2.1 miles from parking area
34.932039 -111.837231
TOTAL DISTANCE
0.5 miles off the system trail, 2.1 miles from parking area
ELEVATION GAIN
750 ft
750 ft
EST. HIKING TIME
3 hours round trip
3 hours round trip
BEST TIME TO GO
All year
All year
PET FRIENDLY
No. Please do not visit ruins with your pet.
No. Please do not visit ruins with your pet.