House on Fire Ruins Photo Guide and Tips: 2023 Update

I can’t remember when I saw my first image of the Anasazi ruins called “House on Fire” (HOF).  Maybe it was in the near-legendary “Photographing the Southwest” books by Laurent Martres or perhaps the famous David Muensch photo…but no matter what the source, what I do remember is being awestruck by the image of an ancient cliff dwelling seemingly being engulfed by fire.   Well, a few weeks ago I had the chance to visit this iconic site and I’d like to share with you my House on Fire Ruins Photo Guide and Tips.

My first impression, when I stood before the ruin, was that, yes, by God…it really does look like the ruin has fire roaring out of its roof! 

I had to take a few moments and ponder about the ancient Anasazi who choose this spot to build…was it simply because this was a south-facing alcove that would be cool in the summer and warmed by the sun in winter?  Or did that builder appreciate the incredible way the light reflected off the roof of the alcove and decided that this would be his home?  How many generations lived here over the centuries…how many hours did they spend gazing at the ceiling enjoying the spectacle?

After a few minutes of contemplation, I tried to concentrate on photography. 

Once I did so, it didn’t take me long to realize why all the shots I’d seen before of House on Fire are so darn similar.  It’s because the perception of fire shooting out of the roof of the house is only apparent from a very limited location…even moving a couple of feet from the ‘sweet spot’ degrades the illusion.  I took hundreds of shots from different locations around the site but after reviewing them, there are only a few that I thought were outstanding…and yes, every one of them turned out to be taken from that same specific spot…like the shot above.

So as a photographer, well… this location is a ‘one-trick-pony’.   Don’t get me wrong, you can get an incredible shot here…you would swear that the stone ruins are blazing when the reflective light hits it just right.  However, you will be hard-pressed to come up with a stunning image that is significantly different …but don’t let that stop you, the ‘classic shot’ is amazing and what photographer wouldn’t want it in their portfolio?!

House on Fire Photo Guide

Best Time:

1. The most important thing is to be here at the right time. The perception of ‘fire’ is the result of sunlight reflecting off of the wall on the opposite side of the wash.  This reflected light only occurs in the late morning.  If you get there too early, the light won’t yet be on the opposite wall and if you are too late the site will be in direct sunlight, which will ‘wash out’ the fire effect.
   • The best time changes slightly with the seasons but in July, for example, the light is perfect at about 11 am and it lasts about an hour.
2. The second prerequisite is that the weather has to be clear.  If clouds are obstructing the sun, you will lose the reflected light which is critical for the shot.

How to Find the Fire:

1. The closest town is Blanding which has a couple of hotels.  The next nearest town is Mexican Hat, about 40 miles away.
2. House on Fire is located just off of UT 95 about halfway between Blanding and Natural Bridges National Monument on County Road 263. 

• CR 263 is also known as Texas Flat Road but is labeled as Arch Cyn Road on Google Maps

1. Starting in Blanding, drive 19.9 miles west on UT 95, look for mile marker 102.  Turn right (north) on the next dirt road.  This is CR 263/Texas Flat/Arch Cyn.
   • About 800′ past CR 263 is a pull-in on the right (north) known as ‘Mule Canyon Ruins‘ (Mule Canyon Kiva on Google Maps)- this is NOT the right spot (although it does have a pit toilet).
2. Once you turn off on CR 293 you should immediately see a BLM sign and kiosk on your left.
   • Stop and get a day hiking pass.  You can pay at this kiosk or you can get it online here. Passes are $5/day  (as of July 2023).
3. Then drive about 2/10ths of a mile and carefully look for a couple dark brown plastic sign posts (about 48″ tall x 4″wide) off the side of the road to your left.  They are easy to miss so drive slow and look carefully.
   • When you find them, pull off the side of the road where you can (there is no official parking area)
   • Geographic coordinates for the trailhead: N37.53739 – W109.73203
   • Here is a link to the trailhead on Google Maps.   
   • If you have the AllTrails app, use this link to download the trail.
4. Start your hike by descending into the wash (on the left/west side of the road) and walk west along the stream bed.  The trail meanders to the west/northwest. You will jump back and forth across the stream a number of times (the wash could we wet or dry depending on recent rainfall).
   • The trail is not well marked.  Just follow the wash/stream.  
   • As you near the 1 mile mark (about 35 minutes) start looking up and to your right and search for the ruins (they are easy to miss so pay attention).
   • HOF is located on a ledge to your right (north) about 60 feet above the floor of the wash. The last 30′ or so is a bit of a scramble but take your time and you should be fine.
   • If you reach a point where the trail turns north after a mile, you’ve passed the ruins.

Photo Tips

1. One you are standing there, the best spot should be obvious.  There are a number of structures wedged under the ledge but just look at the roof.  There is a specific area of the roof that has the ‘flames.’  Set your tripod as low as you can and shoot upward to maximize the effect 
2. A portrait orientation works well here.
3. Lenses:  You need a wide angle.  On a full frame camera, I needed 20mm to do the job.
4. Exposure bracketing/HDR is useful here to fully capture the highlights and shadows.  Especially if you try to include the sky in your shot but I think the shot is best with it excluded.
5. Since you will be set up close to the ground, getting sharp focus from front to back can be a challenge.  Focus bracketing is a good option.
6. There are some hand-prints painted on the wall in a small alcove to the left of the ruins…worth a look.
7. There is also an old green ammo case at the site.  Open it up and read the notes left by previous visitors.
8. If you have time after photographing HOF, there are at least 5 more ruins I know of within the next 3 miles further down the wash.  None of them are necessarily photogenic, but they are interesting nonetheless.
9. Post-processing:  If you catch the reflected light on a cloudless day, you will likely be pretty happy with the colors and saturation.  However, by increasing the contrast and adjusting the brightness/darkness of your color palette, you can easily enhance the ‘fire.’  Have fun with it!
10. My final tip would be to photograph the nearby “Fallen House Ruin” first in the morning and then drive to House on Fire (26 miles/30 minutes travel time from trailhead to trailhead).  You should be able to do so and still be at HOF before 11 am
11. This is a Leave-No-Trace area.  Please don’t enter the structures or remove any artifacts.

As I was packing up to leave, a local guide,  Jon Fuller of  Moab Photo Tours, and two clients also arrived at the site.  Jon was very friendly and readily shared some tips and stories.  I think my son enjoyed listening to Jon more than he did exploring the site, but then again, photography should be about much more than just pictures, right?

Have fun and keep shooting!
Jeff

 House on Fire Ruins Photo Guide and Tips

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