Visiting the Canyons of the Ancients and Hovenweep National Monument

Today, Wednesday 4/20, also the birth of our first grandson Justin, we decided to visit the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.  We visited the Lowry Pueblo which had 40 rooms and one of the largest Kivas. Then on to Painted Hand Pueblo which was a nice hike down to see the tower perched on a boulder. The site gets its name from the hands painted on a boulder. The hands were not visible to Suzanne and I and we even took the hike down twice to find them. We never did find the hands:(  It was a nice hike and the views were great.
We also visited the Hovenweep National Monument, which had numerous round, square and D-shaped towers. They were grouped around the canyon rim and some of the structers were built around boulders. There was a trail of 2 miles which took you around the rim of the canyon with an 80 foot drop into the canyon and a trail back up at the end of your hike. A strenuous way to end the hike. This is a wonderful place to visit and see the beautiful pueblos. The brochure tells you to be aware where you put your feet and hands as rattlesnakes are in the area!! Your so busy looking at all the neat structures that I may have stepped on one:)