False Kiva

In ancient Puebloan culture, kivas are circular spaces used for spiritual ceremonies and political meetings. In a small cliffside cave in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, sits the astonishing False Kiva, named after uncertainty about whether it was ever an actual kiva or not. Either way, the fact remains that it is a stone circle created by human hands about a thousand — maybe even thousands — of years ago.

Not only that, but the False Kiva is known to frame a grandiose view of the sky, from massive thunderclouds forming in the distance to the ever-shifting glimmer of the Milky Way. It's been a go-to spot among photographers capturing the landscape of the American Southwest, but a visit to the site can be fairly challenging.

For one, the False Kiva cannot be found on any map, and the trailhead leading to it is unmarked. Park rangers are technically required to disclose the location of the Class II archaeological site when requested, but some argue that the exact whereabouts should be kept secret for better conservation.

Sadly, the remoteness of the location makes the False Kiva quite prone to vandalism. Popularized through social media, stunning photographs on the internet attracted more and more tourists to the site over the years, some infuriatingly disrespectful. In 2018, a visitor started a fire within the kiva and used the ashes to leave handprints at the once-sacred site, and another disrupted the area even more in a poor attempt to clean it up.

These incidents resulted in the indefinite closure of the site, and it remains to be seen whether or not it will reopen, but perhaps it is best for the kiva to be left alone in tranquility for a while, until it finds a better means of protection.