Painted Hand Pueblo Trail,
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
The Painted Hand Pueblo Trail is a short, primitive and rocky trail with several ruins to explore. The area is very hot during the summer months and offers little shade. The main ruin in the area is known as the "Painted Hand Pueblo", a large sandstone tower perched on a large boulder surrounded by rocks and boulders. Please respect the ruins and do not remove or damage any of the artifacts — the area is strewn with broken pottery shards that have been lying on the ground for several hundred years.
Elevation
The Painted Hand Pueblo Trail has a maximum elevation of 6,079 ft., a minimum elevation of 5,964 ft. and an elevation range of 115 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 0.4 mi | 5,964 ft | 6,079 ft | 115 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 13 min | 9.2 | 110 ft | 105 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 13 min | 8.8 | 105 ft | 110 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Painted Hand Pueblo Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Papoose Canyon, UT
- North Topo Map: Ruin Canyon, CO
- Northeast Topo Map: Pleasant View, CO
- West Topo Map: Ruin Point, UT
- Topo Map: Negro Canyon, CO
- East Topo Map: Woods Canyon, CO
- Southwest Topo Map: Wickiup Canyon, UT
- South Topo Map: Bowdish Canyon, CO
- Southeast Topo Map: Battle Rock, CO
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Painted Hand Pueblo Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Painted Hand Pueblo Trail?
The length of the trail is 0.4 miles (0.7 km) or 958 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Painted Hand Pueblo Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 13 minutes in one direction and in 13 minutes in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) may be present in this area. The American dog tick transmits Tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) may be present in this area. The Rocky Mountain wood tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, and Tularemia.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.