House on Fire Ruins, Ancient granary ruins in San Juan County, US
House on Fire Ruins consists of five granaries built directly into the Cedar Mesa sandstone cliffs, with distinctive dark burn-like patterns marking the rock face above. The structures sit high within the cliff wall, showing how skillfully the ancient builders used the available stone.
Ancestral Puebloans built these storage chambers around 700 to 2,500 years ago as part of their agricultural communities in the region. They were part of a larger network of Puebloan settlements that flourished across the Colorado Plateaus.
The granaries reveal how Ancestral Puebloans managed their harvests—corn and wild grasses were stored here, protected from heat and moisture. Visitors can still see the thoughtful construction that made survival possible in this dry landscape.
The trail to the ruins is about 4 miles long with moderate elevation gain, so bring sturdy shoes and plenty of water. A permit from the Bureau of Land Management is required, so plan to obtain this before visiting.
The rock above the granaries creates an optical effect in morning sunlight that resembles rising flames, which is how the site got its name. This striking appearance happens naturally when light hits the rust-colored stone at certain angles.
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