Mesa Verde

Before heading into the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, visitors should be sure to check out the Anasazi Heritage Center, which is located near the entrance and right on the way along the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway. Here, they can find maps and information pertaining to the Canyons of the Ancients National Monuments, and they will also be able to take a look at some exhibits to learn about Native American and Pueblo culture and history. At the Anasazi Heritage Center, visitors can check out an educational film, explore a comprehensive research library, view authentic artifacts, and take part in interactive exhibits.

27501 CO-184, Dolores, CO 81323, Phone: 970-882-5600

Canyons of the Ancients is a national monument in Montezuma County, and it is home to some beautiful and unique natural land and rock formations. Within its 176,000 acres, Canyons of the Ancients holds more than six thousand archeologically significant sites, making it the highest known density of such sites in the entirety of the United States. There are some areas in this rich and diverse place that have hundreds of sites, from ruins of villages or cliff dwellings to shrines and ancient sacred springs. There is so much evidence of ancient human civilizations here, and scientists believe the area has been habited by ancient humans for over ten thousand years.

9651 Rd N, Cortez, CO 81321, Phone: 970-882-5600

Ancestral Pueblo life has been a part of this region for thousands of years, and it stands apart from many other places in the world due to the sheer volume of archaeological evidence. At the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, which is located inside Mesa Verde National Park, visitors can explore exhibits detailing the lives and culture of Ancestral Puebloans, including some ancient artifacts that pre-date written history itself, visit Spruce Tree House, an ancient cliff dwelling, and watch a short film about the history of the area. The museum is open to visitors year round, though it is closed on some holidays and its hours change seasonally.

1 Mesa Verde, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330, Phone: 970-529-4465

Tucked into the beautiful San Juan mountain range of the Rocky Mountains, Circle K Ranch is an all-encompassing Wild West experience located in Dolores, Colorado. At Circle K Ranch, guests can stay in a top-tier bed and breakfast, with accommodations that range from rooms to full cabins, and spend their days hiking or horseback riding through the gorgeous Colorado wilderness. Guests can not only ride their horses but learn from experienced wranglers how to connect and communicate with their mounts. During hunting season, groups can rent cabins at the ranch to use as a home base for their hunting excursions.

27758 CO-145, Dolores, CO 81323, Phone: 970-562-3826

Cliff Palace is one of the largest and most in-tact cliff dwellings not only in Mesa Verde National Park, but in the world. At its height, archaeologists believe it once held over 150 rooms, and was home to approximately one hundred people. By comparison, most of the other cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde had only about 1-5 rooms. This unique slice of history is a sight to behold, and visitors to Mesa Verde National Park who want to get a closer look can stop by the Mesa Verde Research and Visitor Center on their way into the park to obtain tickets for a one-hour guided tour inside the Cliff Palace.

Cliff Palace Loop, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330, Phone: 970-529-4465

Located in the town of Cortez, Colorado, the Cortez Cultural Center is a great place to learn about the archeological finds of the area as well as the historic culture of the American Indian people who have always called the area home. The history of the Ancestral Pueblo people, including from the Basketmaker and Pueblo periods, are on display in a variety of interactive exhibits in the Cortez Cultural Center, as well as exhibits pertaining to the history of the Ute and Mountain Ute, Navajo, and Pueblo tribes of Native Americans. The Cortez Cultural Center is open year round to visitors.

25 N Market St, Cortez, CO 81321, Phone: 970-565-1151, Facebook

Situated on 170 acres of land full of archeological sites, research centers, interactive exhibits, and classroom space, Crow Canyon Archeological Center is a full and unique experience. Visitors can get up close and person with ancient artifacts, see a fully operational archeological lab, and learn about the work that archeologists and field researchers do at Crow Canyon. A guided tour of Crow Canyon will take visitors to the laboratory, to the Pithouse Learning Center, where they can explore a detailed replica of a Pueblo dwelling typical of those that date back to the eighth century, and to the demonstration gardens. Tours are free and last about one hour.

23390 C R K, Cortez, CO 81321, Phone: 800-422-8975

The Rocky Mountains are no joke—the steep slopes and sharp turns made it incredibly difficult for passage, and that’s why narrow gauge railroads were built. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is more scenic than functional these days, but it is truly a spectacular way to get around. Passengers can traverse the 45 mile track through dramatic mountain landscapes, and even opt to add other exciting and educational stops like a tour of the historic Silverton Mines. Throughout the year, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad offers plenty of great, seasonal events, like a pumpkin patch ride, a Polar Express ride, and even some great Wine & Rails or Brew Train events.

Phone: 970-247-2733

The Far View Visitor Center is located inside Mesa Verde National Park, and it is open from the months of April through October. At the Far View Visitor Center, visitors can take a break from their day of explorations and learning to use the restroom, or purchase tickets to see Cliff Palace, Long House, or Balcony House. Nearby is the Far View Lodge, a restaurant where visitors can enjoy a delicious meal, as well as a small bookstore and gift shop that is well equipped with a wide variety of souvenirs, collectibles, and information about the park.

Mile Marker 15, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330, Phone: 800-449-2288

A lot of US states are shaped around natural features like rivers or mountain ranges, but out in the center of the country, state lines were parceled out in big, rectangular tracts of land. It’s a bit repetitive, sure, but what this means is that in the southwest corner of Colorado, there’s a place where the borders of four different states meet. At Four Corners, visitors can straddle the state lines between Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, a cool way to be in four places at once and the only place in the United States where it’s possible to do so.

597 NM-597, Teec Nos Pos, AZ 86514, Phone: 928-206-2540