COME TO LIFE / Ancient Treasures 3 SIDETRIPS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: UTE MOUNTAIN TRIBAL PARK, MILES/MATTHEW INDEN; SAN JUAN SKYWAY, KENNAN HARVEY; CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT, BLM. Now that you have an appreciation of the canyons and cliffs that made Mesa Verde Country famous, cruise one of Colorado’s most fascinating scenic byways. The San Juan Skyway is a 236-mile loop called the “most beautiful drive in America” for good reason. The road tours southwestern Colorado’s rich landscape, starting in Cortez and passing through the idyllic mountain towns of Mancos, Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride, Rico and Dolores. In the fall, this drive is lined with golden aspens. DAY 2 Travel the 116-mile Trail of the Ancients , America’s only National Scenic Byway dedicated solely to archaeology. From Cortez, wind past Mesa Verde to Ute Mountain Tribal Park in Towaoc (3) , where Ute guides help you explore the culture, architecture and art of the Ute and Ancestral Puebloan people. From here, pass Four Corners Monument on your way to Hovenweep National Monument ’s round and square towers, some of which you can visit via short hike. Visit at night for stargazing in this International Dark-Sky Park, including ranger-led stargazing programs in the spring and summer. Fit in a visit to the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (4) . Stop first at the Anasazi Heritage Center , a superb archaeological museum that introduces the monument, the family that discovered the cliff dwellings, and cultures native to the region. Then head to Lowry Pueblo , an ancient pueblo site within the monument with 40 rooms and eight circular kivas. The area’s high-desert canyons, mesas and 600 miles of singletrack trails, as well as slick-rock and old-growth forest trails, make Cortez a hub for mountain bikers. East of town on Hwy. 160, Phil’s World is a fast, fun and well-maintained singletrack trail, and the Geer Park has 10.9 additional miles of intermediate biking within Cortez city limits. If ATVs are your thing, the Dolores Public Lands Office can direct you to the best routes, including the Aspen Loop Trail , a multipurpose, 39-mile loop trail that travels through old logging roads, streams and aspen groves. Or see the inner workings of local farms and taste the region’s flavors on a Mesa Verde Farm and Ranch Tour . Excursions hosted by the Cortez Cultural Center include transportation to multiple sites, a guided tour, lunch and tasting of craft bever-ages from area breweries and wineries. In Dolores , fishers will find haven on McPhee Reservoir and the Dolores River, a popular whitewater-rafting route that runs through town. McPhee is the second-largest body of water in Colorado, with 50 miles of shoreline in pinyon, juniper and sagebrush country. Doc’s Marina offers boats and kayak rentals, snacks, ice and tackle. End the day at Dolores River Brewery for local suds and wood-fired pizza or Sutcliffe Vineyards west of Cortez, recently recognized among the country’s top wine producers by Food & Wine Magazine . Or head to Mancos , one of the newest Certified Colorado Creative Districts and a community that traces its roots back to the ranching, farm-ing and timber industries that started back in the 1870s. Today Mancos boasts little shops brimming with unique gifts and wonderful art. Local artisans craft everything from beer and rum to leather goods and handmade Western hats. The state’s most southwestern town, Towaoc is the headquarters of the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation. Attractions include the Ute Mountain Tribal Park, which features both Ancestral Puebloan and Ute rock art and dwellings, as well as native guides that lead guests on an interpretive journey through Ute and Ancestral Puebloan history. The tribe also operates Ute Mountain Casino, Hotel & Resort, which includes an RV park, campground, travel center and restaurant. 4 STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Cortez (page 194), Dolores (page 196), Mancos (page 201), Mesa Verde National Park (page 202), Towaoc (page 206) 170 / 1-800-COLORADO
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2019: Page 170
