This formation is in a canyon Monkey knows of. He won't tell you the canyon's name because it is full of prehistoric rock art and ruins and needs protection from people who don't deserve to know it's location.

But now that you're here without knowing where you are, lets go!

Do you see a face in profile? Opice does. He thinks it looks like Treebeard, the Ent in the Lord of the Rings movie. But that's no reason to name it after a fictitious being. No way! This is Monkey's discovery and he's gonna call the rock formation "My Arch--I Found It!"

So said, let's keep hiking. We want to get around it to see what it looks like on the sunlit side.

South side Monkey looking north at south side arch.

" Wow," Opice says. "Anything else to see out here? It's getting hot. Can we find some shade, please?"

Monkey turns around and sees a huge, shady, alcove which would be perfect to house puebloan dwellings.

"Let's go up there!" he declares scampering up the scree. I bet there's stuff inside."

NOTE: if there had been "cliff dwellings" inside the cave, Monkey would not have been allowed to enter it. Never disturb archaeologic sites. Even walking beside structures can damage them.

Opice can damage modern structures. Imagine what would happen if he got near an ancient ruin! But there ain't none, so it's okay to chase after him cuz he's already halfway there. Must be nice to be young, plush, and animated.

After drinking half a liter of water, Opice is more himself (as in chattering).
"Why are there no cliff dwellings in here? This alcove is huge; it should house an entire cliff-city. What a great view. If I lived back then, I'd build my ruin in here. Why didn't they?..."

Monkey's guide allows him to prattle on without notice. There are no answers to these questions. Instead, the hike leader takes refuge atop a pile of exfoliated rock for a moment of Opiceless solitude.

It is this debris, and the huge quantity of rubble comprising the cave floor that may hint as to why there are no prehistoric ruins here. The overhang is classic. Everything about the location fits the pattern of occupied sites. So maybe buildings are here. Maybe they are crushed beneath these rocks. Sandstone ceilings had to collapse occasionally. If this is an example of such, hopefully the residents were long gone beforehand.

Believe it or see it.

As steep 'n hard a climb as it is to get up into this rock recess, the floor proves sheep and even cattle visit all the time.

"And it smells like they haven't left." Opice complains. "Don't they know about 'leave nothing but footprints'?

"I'm embarrassed for them."