Unrecorded and unprotected cultural sites abound in the wild canyons surrounding these better known attractions. The proposed Squaw-Cross canyons wilderness, located a short distance north of the scattered units of Hovenweep National Monument, would protect these remnants of Anasazi culture. Hikes Among the Ruins Cross, Squaw, and Papoose canyons provide uncommon opportunities for extended hikes in a setting with abundant, undisturbed cultural sites. Photography and birdwatching are frequent uses of the area, as is hunting for mule deer in the fall. Campsites are plentiful, both on the canyon rims and on the canyon floor.
Natural overlooks provide excellent vantage points for observation and photography.
The canyons generally parallel each other, trending northeast to southwest as they cross the Colorado-Utah border. Squaw and Papoose canyons join near the southern boundary of that unit, running for 15 miles in all. The canyons begin as rocky arroyos but cut rapidly into the Dakota Sandstone and Morrison Formation to form rugged, steep canyon walls of exposed rock outcrops, boulders, and talus slopes. Road spurs lead to a number of jumping-off points into the canyons. The lower end of the canyon crosses the Utah-Colorado state line about 25 miles northwest of Cortez, Colorado.