From the Kane Gulch Ranger Station on HWY 261, drive 9.3 miles south. Turn left at the brown, signed Cigarette Springs Road. Reset your odometer. Drive 6 miles, then turn left at a brown post with Wilderness Area marked on it. Drive 1 more mile to the very end of the road that ends in a big loop with plenty of parking. The last 3 miles are very rough, and small cars will not be able to make it. 4WD is recommended. This road will be impassable after storms, as it is all sand and slick rock. Call the ranger station to check road conditions before driving here.
Here is a driving map.
Distance: 4 miles RT
Elevation gain: 265 ft descent
Time: 1-3 hours
Dog friendly? Yes, technically on leash
Kid friendly? Yes
Fees/Permits? $2 per person per day fee. No permit needed.
The hike begins.
The first mile is very flat, and you can easily look down into Road Canyon to the North.
About 1/2 mile into the hike, look down into the canyon when you see the alcove with an obvious trail leading to it. This is Seven Kivas, which I highly recommend hiking to before or after hiking to the Citadel. You'll be able to see it better from this trail if you have binoculars. If you decide to hike both in one day like my friend and I did, it's only 7 miles total.
Eventually you'll hike across slick rock, following cairns.
The first big step down. Mama-dog needed a little help but Charlie was able to jump down on his own.
Continue following cairns as you should now be on the south facing wall. You'll walk along this ledge for a few minutes.
Wow! Ok, this hike just turned pretty amazing with this view!
Most of the time Charlie can jump up himself, but his legs were a little too short here. A boost from his mama was just what he needed.
Continue walking along the peninsula, and you'll make your way up a few short ledges, still on the south facing wall.
And there it it! The Citadel high up and squeezed into a ledge. Climb those rocks to get up to them.
Wow, this place is so cool!
What a view they had.
The Citadel in late-evening light. Just amazing, I really loved this hike and ruin site.
The best part was because we started hiking kind of late in the day, after Seven Kivas, everyone else who hiked here that day was hiking back to their cars. We must've passed 30 people. When we got here we had it all to ourselves!
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