Canyon of the Ancients National Monument

LisaJanuary 26, 2017

The Four Corners area is replete with cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Canyon of the Ancients National Monument sits a short drive west of Cortez, Colorado. You can easily visits Mesa Verde National Park and Canyon of the Ancients in the same day. While this is a national monument, it is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The Anasazi Heritage Center is the most easily accessible part of the park, and a small ruin is a short hike up a hill behind the center. The ruin has a truly stunning view of the reservoir and the mountains.

A mountain view from the Escalante Trail

Address and Location

You’ll find the Anasazi Heritage Center at 27501 Highway 184 in Dolores, Colorado. The bulk of the managed land lies to the west of US 491.

Cost

Admission during peak season (March through October) runs $3 for adults over 17. Children under 17 are free. Admission during the low season (November through February) is free.

McPhee Reservoir and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Canyon of the Ancients National Monument

What to do

Start at the Anasazi Heritage Center and museum. This serves as the main visitor’s center for the park. From there, head up the Escalante Trail to the Escalante Ruins. The ruins are well-preserved, and the hike there is beautiful. The plateau also offers stunning views of the surrounding reservoir and mountains.

The Escalante Pueblo at Canyon of the Ancients National Monument

The majority of Canyon of the Ancients National Monument lies west of the Heritage Center near the Utah and New Mexico borders. You’ll find Hovenweep National Monument out here. If you want your NPS stamps, be sure to ask a Ranger or BLM employee for directions before you leave the Heritage Center. Our GPS took us on a wild goose chase, and we couldn’t find it.