There is a human-made stone circle in Canyonlands National Park located in Utah called the False Kiva. It is believed to be of unknown origin and was built in a cave. As a result of vandalism, Canyonlands National Park rangers closed it in early August 2018. Several pictures on the internet have made the picturesque site famous, including photos taken at night and pictures taken during passing thunderstorms.
Despite their openness to the general public, Class II archaeological sites are typically not listed on park maps and their official trailheads are not marked. This is due to their fragile nature. There are special directions to find it or some hiking knowledge is required. There are many photographers who use it to capture the Southwest, offering a unique frame for the dramatic thunderstorms or clear skies beyond. While the circle of stones is naturally located in an alcove, False Kiva refers to the uncertainty surrounding its origins and purpose, whether it is genuinely a kiva or a religious building.
Due to False Kiva’s semi-protected status, there is debate over disclosing its exact location. Official maps of the park do not show the Class II site, even though park rangers must disclose its location. Vandalism is not prevented by the remote location of the site. Several painted hand pictographs and a few indistinguishable images are found on the back wall of the alcove.
The National Park Service forbids local guides from taking interested parties to the site, risking losing their permits. Trailheads to False Kiva are not marked or signposted from park roads, but the route itself is marked with cairns and is accessible without technical climbing equipment. A landscape was painted by Logan, Utah artist Keith Bond for the Utah State Capitol Senate Chamber in 2006.
The western end of the Senate floor is decorated with a mural of False Kiva titled Ancestral Home. A little over 1000 feet away from the False Kiva trail is the Alcove Spring trailhead and parking area. In the circle of rocks, it is illegal to enter, according to one of the Park Rangers. Visitors aren’t automatically aware of that since there’s no sign mentioning it.
On September 29, 2008, NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) featured a photograph of False Kiva by Wally Pacholka entitled “A True Image of False Kiva.”
