COME TO LIFE Cortez Cortez sits at the heart of the Trail of the Ancients scenic and historic byway, a route that cuts through ruddy deserts where breezes are sweetened by sagebrush and the whispers of Colorado’s first inhabitants. At the Cortez Cultural Center , take in Native American dance performances and rotating art exhibits. Along the byway, you’ll find the famed sandstone cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — as well as the architectural wonders of Hovenweep National Monument ’s 700-year-old towers. Thanks to remote locations that lend themselves to clear views of constellation-pierced skies, both are known as excellent stargazing spots. Book a night at the Canyons of the Ancients Guest Ranch , where the Star Tower and Sky Kiva guesthouses were inspired by the likes of Mesa Verde and Hovenweep. They also offer easy access to yet another fascinating area heritage site: Canyons of the Ancients National Monument . In nearby Towaoc, learn about the Ute and Ancestral Puebloan peoples, their art and architecture at Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park . This land is sacred to the Ute people; you must book with one of their guides to enter. If you’re eager to explore more, take a short side trip off the byway to Ignacio’s Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum , where exhibits take you from prehistory to modern day. LEAVE IT AS YOU FIND IT As you explore, keep the enchantment of these places intact by taking nothing but pictures and leaving nothing but footsteps. Learn more at Colorado.com/LNT. Hovenweep National Monument 134 1-800-COLORADO ERIC WUNROW
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2024: Page 134
