The Park Service opened Square Tower on 1 September 2011 to limited visits of 10 people a day, three days a week, for six weeks, after being closed to the public for 75 years. We were in the first group to visit the site. After this limited opportunity, it will once again be closed to the public. It was an exceptional opportunity, and a trip we'll remember forever... After the Square Tower hike, we went on the Petroglyph Trail to see the only petroglyphs in the park - a 3 mile round trip loop. The elevation change was pretty steep, with lots of up and down sections, lots of rocks and tree roots trying to trip you, and some very narrow passages through split boulders until you arrived at the site. This image of the petroglyphs, darkened in editing so it's easier to see, is etched into the rock, rather than painted on. This image is a composite of three photographs, illustrating the petroglyphs in their entirety. Petroglyph Interpretation [Note - the following information is from the Petroglyph Trail Guide, Mesa Verde Museum Association, and credit is given for the copyrighted material] In 1942, four Hopi men from northeastern Arizona visited Pictograph Point and interpreted some of the glyphs. The following text gives their interpretation. See drawing. a. "Sipapu", the place at which the Pueblo people emerged from the earth (Grand Canyon). b. Eagle Clan symbol indicating a separation of that clan from the other people and settlement near their point of origin. c. Mountain Sheep Clan symbol denoting that clan's separation from other migrating people and their settlement some dis- tance from the others' travel route. Tradition says this clan "dropped off" in the vicinity of Shiprock, New Mexico. d. Parrot Clan symbol telling of that group taking up residence at some distance from the Mountain Sheep Clan. e. Two interpretations: 1) Horned Toad Clan symbol denoting the locations of their split from the migrating Pueblos. 2) "Lizard spirit" (specifically the green collared lizard) symbol whose influence upon the people led them into a period of wandering without direction — almost approaching lunacy. f. The "whipping kachinas" who "straightened out" the people and gave direction to their later travels. g. Two interpretations: 1) The actual end of migration - Mesa Verde. 2) The "prophesied" end of the migration - modern Hopi villages. h. Two interpretations: 1) Mountain Lion Clan symbol. 2) Representation of an "all-powerful" animal spirit watching over the people in their travels. i. Whipping kachinas "influencing" the people as represented by the figures marked "j". j. Representations of the Pueblo People. k. Kachina Clan symbol. These are modern day Hopi interpretations and may or may not have been the interpretations given them by the "rock artists" who produced them. After seeing the petroglyphs, the trail eventually brings you to the surface of the canyon, and from here, the trail is relatively flat as it takes you back to the Ranger Headquarters. Deb had to check out the canyon below her. Debbie kept telling me to take a few steps back..... Time to convert the hiking pants to hiking shorts by zipping off the legs. The temperature had risen to the low 80s as we finished our 2 hour, 3 mile hike...well worth the effort!