The paved trail is very short and features a well protected kiva. This circular kiva has the same features as the excellent ones visible at Mesa Verde. This appears to be one of the few mesa top pueblo sites in the Cedar Mesa area, at least that are easy to visit. There are many sites along trails in this area, but most seem to be associated with canyon rock alcoves.
There is also a tower with a tunnel connection to the kiva. We see similar tower and kiva connections at Mesa Verde. The Cedar Tree Tower and Kiva on Chapin Mesa and at Badger House on Wetherill Mesa there are similar connections.
The site at Mule Canyon has excellent views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The Blue Mountains near Monticello, Utah still snow covered in early March. Sleeping Ute Mountain is also easily visible to the east.
The pueblo structure has 12 rooms and there are supposedly crawl ways from the rooms to the kivas. The circular kivas are usually described as being for ceremonies, as present day Pueblo people use them that way. I see these as having environmental uses also as earth contact living areas for shelter in cold weather.
The kivas are equipped with fire pits and ventilation shafts and the underground location would provide moderated temperatures and insulation. The underground tunnels would have provided access to stored food and materials without having to go outside.
There is not much hiking to do here, but the scene is quiet and the views spectacular. This site was developed as a rest area as part of the highway project. This site represents the Ancestral Pueblo culture at its height, when it was penetrating across southern Utah. Hardly anyone lives in this area now, yet 750 years ago the area was thriving.
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