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| Hiking | 12.66 Miles |
1,083 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.66 Miles | 6 Hrs 13 Mns | | 2.29 mph |
| 1,083 ft AEG | 41 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | OK not really Atlantis, but to another city under the waves (at least sometimes).
The Mercer Ruin is said to be the most significant Hohokam-era site in the Lower Verde Valley. It has an interesting history and gets its name from its caretaker, Thomas Mercer who was hired by the archaeologist Byron Cummings to scare off pothunters in the 1930s. It was buried under the waves after Horseshoe Dam was built during WW2.
So this isn't one of those sensitive secret ruins; plus when water is low in Horseshoe Lake (usually) the ruin re-emerges. If you click on my GPS track, switch to satellite view, and zoom in to the NW corner, the ruin is as plain as day.
I wasn't sure the best way to get there but Topohiker's recent log showing the lake shore is walkable from the dam helped.
I parked at the dam "overlook" lot and took the path under the spillway. I contoured east on the sloped bank following game trails and flat areas where possible - I spooked a lot of ducks. No problems with this route and eventually I met up with a vehicle track which took me to the dirt road that goes between Horseshoe and Sheep Bridge.
I left the road to look around Mullen Mesa which I've read also has a ruin. I couldn't find one and continued down to the lake to angle over toward Mercer Ruin. I got lucky while walking along the lake flats and saw some straight walls - well not really walls, but an obvious man made foundation. This was pretty extensive and there was a lot of pottery there as well. My guess is that this is the Mullen Mesa Ruin.
Continuing toward my target the going got less pleasant - I had no choice but to plow through head high cockle burs for quite a ways. Approaching Mercer Ruin I could see a few mounds in the sea of cockle burs. The ruin itself is composed of flat slabs of limestone, mainly buried in dirt. I could see many walls and rooms but not well because of the overgrowth. When I departed to the east I passed a gravel bar about 100 yards from the main mound and it was loaded with pottery.
I took a different path back (avoiding cockle burs where possible) and saw a lot of javelina sign. The walking (away from the lake overgrowth) is very nice. And there is a beautiful crested saguaro along the jeep road. Saw two vehicles along the road and one bowhunter chasing pigs on Mullen Mesa.
Interesting trip - if I went back I'd pick a season when the lakeside vegetation is nicer. |
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