False Kiva is a Class 2 archeological site high near the rim on top of Island in the Sky, Canyonlands (Utah).  The ceremonial site (kiva) is in a large alcove located under the rim.   There is no official trail, so it helps to know where to park and the approximate location of the site.   There were a number of faint tracks and no way to know where each track goes to.   From a pullout area on the Upheaval Dome Road there are a number or parallel tracks across the desert hills.  We followed one of the tracks until we were just above the alcove then guessed which way to go, and so we ended up looking into the kiva site from the west with no way down.

The actual trail swings south near the rim and then works its way down a rockfall to the mouth of the alcove.   The best time to do this is in the late afternoon when the setting sun shines into the alcove.

We scrambled across the slickrock to the west of the main trail enjoying the views to the southwest.

The 2.6 mile trail is an easy one, though the route down to the alcove is a bit rough.   Most viewpoints off of Island in the Sky are spectacular and this one did not disappoint.   We enjoyed this hike then we went over to Upheaval Dome for another shorter hike, one day of two in this District of Canyonlands National Park.

More information:

• start of the trail – N38° 25.258′ W109° 54.502′
• False Kiva – N38° 25.123′  W109° 55.117′
• Upheaval Dome