Defiance House Archeological Site

Restoration efforts have made Defiance House a place people can visit today.

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Forgotten Canyon, Lake Powell

Significance:

Archeological Site

Defiance House

Defiance House is one of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan dwellings in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Defiance House was discovered by archeologists in 1959. Surveying the area that would soon by flooded by the rising waters of Lake Powell, University of Utah archeologists followed a dangerous hand-and-toehold trail up the sandstone cliff and were delighted to find an Ancestral Puebloan site where "most of the roofs were still in place, and... two perfect red bowls still had scraps of food in them." They named the site "Defiance House" for the large pictograph panel painted in white pigment on the wall, which appears to show three defiant figures with shields.

Directions

This site is only accessible by private vessel. There are no roads, flights, or tours that go here. From Bullfrog or Halls Crossing Marina, boat north about 13 miles to Forgotton Canyon. Take the middle fork until the water runs out, beach your boat, and start walking. Follow the social trail up the canyon unitl you see the cliff trail up to Defiance House. You are permitted to enter the structures, do not eat food, use the area as a restroom, or take pets to the site. Take care of all of those needs before you go up there, or after you leave. Even with preservation treatments in place, the structures and rock art are very old and are fragile. Please do not sit, lean or stand on walls. Do not touch or deface rock art or carve graffiti.

A Special Place

Defiance House was occupied from about 1250 to 1285 AD. The site is protected from the elements in the winter and is shady and cool in the summer because it was built in a natural alcove. The conditions that made it an attractive place for its inhabitants to build are also what has kept it so well-preserved until it was found by archeologists. Because Defiance House is located above the full pool level of Lake Powell, it wasn’t destroyed when the lake filled like many other sites in the area. This makes Defiance House especially unique and irreplaceable. Please help us preserve Defiance House and any other cultural sites you visit by being respectful, leaving what you find, and practicing Leave No Trace.

DESTRUCTION OF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IS ILLEGAL. To report disturbances, notify the National Park Service at visitor centers, ranger stations or marinas.