It is evident that the prehistoric farmers of Cliff
Palace repeatedly visited their fields among the cedars on top of the
mesa, and well-worn trails led from their habitation to these clearings.
Several such trails have long been known, one of which was formerly
exclusively used by white visitors and was facetiously called "Fat Man's
Misery." To another ancient pathway, near which ladders were placed, the
name "Ladder Trail" may be applied. The pathways now used by visitors
follow approximately these old trails, which were simply series of
shallow footholes cut in the cliff. Although the lapse of time since
they were pecked in the rock has somewhat diminished their depth, they
can still be used by an adventurous climber.