House of Many Windows Trail

The House of Many Windows Trail is a segment of paved road along the Cliff Palace Loop that visits three overlooks and has a continuous cross canyon view. Most visitors pass these view points after visiting Cliff Palace or heading to Balcony House. The first viewpoint is the Cliff Canyon Overlook. This point is across the canyon from Sun Point which is one of the best ruins view points in the region, with up to 12 sites visible. To the right on the same side of this canyon rim is a side view of Sunset House.

Looking across the canyon, there are three ruins sites visible. Sun Point Dwelling, to the right has only three rooms along a narrow ledge. Site 634 in the middle, has 16 rooms and two kivas. Way to the left is the House of Many Windows.

The second lookout point gives a more direct view of the House of Many Windows. The multiple openings are actually doors. The site is thought to have 11 rooms and maybe a kiva. From this point there is a view up the canyon toward the Sun Temple and a glimpse of Oak Tree House.

Following the road further, the scene shifts from Cliff Canyon to Soda Canyon. There is a lookout point for Hemenway House, named for Mary Hemenway, a Massachusetts woman who financially supported the early archaeological research in the southwest. The site named for her is spread out in a very large alcove.

These three lookout points will be mostly visited by moving your vehicle, but when the park isn’t crowded this would make a nice walk.