Growing Up Near One of Utah’s Great Ranching Families
Growing up in Monticello, Utah, I was blessed to spend time with one of the great ranching families of southeastern Utah — the Redds of La Sal. Their world was full of wide-open country, red rock canyons, and the kind of rugged, everyday heroism that shaped the West.
How the Cowboy Caves Were Built
One day, Hardy Redd — the oldest son of Charlie Redd — took me out to see how the cattlemen lived while working the herds. Between Monticello and Moab, tucked into the rust-colored cliffs, were the cowboy caves: shelters carved by dynamite and by hand, built directly into the rock.
The men blasted away the sandstone until they created just enough space for a bed, a small stove, and a corner to cook in. A wooden door was added, and then an outer covering to keep out rodents and curious desert creatures. It was simple, rugged living — but it kept the cowboys warm on freezing spring nights and shaded during the blazing heat of summer.
Daily Life Inside a Cowboy Cave
These caves weren’t just shelters. They were a home base during the long months of herding cattle across the canyons and mesas. Hardy described how the cowboys cooked in Dutch ovens, making sourdough biscuits, roasting potatoes, stirring big pots of stew, and preparing whatever meat they had on hand.
Dutch Oven Cooking for Beginners: Outdoor Meals Made Easy
He spoke with such affection for those days — the camaraderie, the hard work, and the quiet evenings when the sun slipped behind the red cliffs and the whole desert glowed. Listening to him, I could almost smell the sourdough baking and hear the clatter of the Dutch oven lid.
Why Most Travelers Never Notice These Hidden Caves
Today, most people driving between Monticello and Moab would never notice these hidden cowboy dwellings. But to those who knew the land — and to those of us lucky enough to be shown its secrets — they stand as powerful reminders of a way of life built on grit, skill, and a deep love of the land.
A Lasting Connection to Utah’s Ranching Past
Whenever I return to this area and stand in front of one of these old cave shelters, I feel the history settle in around me. I can almost see Hardy standing there again, telling stories of the cattlemen who slept, cooked, and lived inside these red-rock caves, shaping Utah’s ranching heritage one long day at a time.
