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Canyons Of The Ancients National Monument
Canyons of the Ancients and Sleeping Ute Mountain.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument – Dolores

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Canyons of the Ancients National Monument contains more than 6,000 recorded Ancient Puebloan archaeological sites and is located in Southwest Colorado near Dolores on 164,000 acres. Canyons of the Ancients offers four main sites, including a site at the visitor center, all within a day’s drive and a loop.

It’s headquartered in Dolores at the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center. The roads are paved for some of the ways, gravel for some, and 4×4 for small portions, most cars could make it, but high clearance is recommended. Compared to Mesa Verde, this place is laxer on the rules. Dogs are permitted on self-guided trails.

Trails are spaced out over public and private land in the high-sage desert. A few of the dirt roads out to the ruins share access with Hovenweep National Monument, so it’s best to combine them into one visit.

Canyons Ancients Painted Hand
A tower overlooks the valley at Painted Hand.

Entrance into the monument is a minimal fee for adults from March to October, and free from November to February.

The journey begins at the Canyons of the Ancients Museum in Dolores, the park’s headquarters. It’s a modern museum visit with interesting exhibits about the Ancient Puebloan peoples. Just outside it, there is a short, nature trail that leads up to an old village. This takes about a 45 minutes to an hour round trip.

Make sure to get all information and supplies at the Center and in town before heading out to the sites.

There are no official campgrounds, but free dispersed camping is permitted on most dirt roads, 300 feet from sites. It’s accessible with most cars. Campsites are free and there are several places to pull over, just use an existing spot. See a guide in the Canyons of the Ancients Museum before starting out. If you would prefer amenities, Hovenweep has an actual campground.

Ancient Ruins at Canyons of the Ancients

There are four main sites, with the first one being, Escalante Pueblo, at the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center. After leaving the headquarters, it’s best to see Lowry Pueblo and then Painted Hand. All the sites are well-marked with a large Canyons of the Ancients sign.

Canyons of the Ancient National Monument Kiva Colorado
Kiva at Canyons of the Ancients NM. Photo: BLM

Each trip takes you from a paved road to a dirt road which is sometimes primitive. Most vehicles with good clearance will be fine. Pets are allowed at all the ruins.

  • Escalante Pueblo – A short nature trail from the Visitor Center leads you to this village. The trail contains information plaques on the plants of the region. Highlights are a large village and kiva and breathtaking views of the river and valley.
  • Lowry Pueblo – A short walk from the parking lot leads to this ancient village. There is a roof over part of the village which adds a certain element to the experience since you can go inside. One of the highlights is a Great Kiva, one of the largest visible kivas in the Southwest.
  • Painted Hand – A short 1/4 mile hike leads to this tower and the start of the tower trail. The Tower trail takes you by several crumbling towers.
  • Sand Canyon Pueblo – This unexcavated site is located in a forest valley. There isn’t too much to see except a lot of stone slabs scattered around. The above three are the main attractions.

Activities at Canyons of the Ancients

Canyons of the Ancients NM Visitor Center and Museum
Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum. Photo: BLM

Biking: Lots of mountain biking down the dirt roads of the Monument.

Camping: Free backcountry camping is permitted on a number of dirt roads throughout the monument. You can pull over and camp anywhere, as long as it’s 300 feet from sites, same as campfire rule. See the Visitor Center for dispersed camping information (PDF) and a map.

  • Read about the camping near Cortez and Mesa Verde.

Hiking / Horseback Riding: Permitted throughout the Monument, except in Sand Canyon / Rock Creek area, where travel is restricted to certain trails.

Off-Highway Vehicles: Restricted to designated routes, see map.

Getting There

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Sign Winter
Wintertime in the Canyons of the Ancients. Photo: Larry Lamsa

Begin your day at the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum for maps and info. It can get very hot out in the high desert. Bring lots of water, snacks, and a full tank of gas. Cell phone coverage is unreliable. Roads back to the sites are dirt, so rain, mud, snow, and ice make travel difficult. A 2WD, the high-clearance vehicle will be fine.

A couple of sites share the same road back as the ruins of Hovenweep National Monument. Consider combining the two into one trip by getting maps for both.

The Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores is the headquarters of the park.
A mountain lion stands guard out from the Anasazi Heritage Center.
Inside the museum are lots of exhibiting depicting life of the ancient Anasazi culture.
"Sleeping Ute Mountain" is a great warrior god that laid down to rest. He is lying flat on his back with his arms folded across his chest, his feathered headdress laid out to the north (right).
At the top of the short, nature hike is a site of an Ancient Anaszi village.
Escalante Pueblo overlooks the Dolores River.
A giant Kiva used by the village for ceremonial and recreational purposes.
The Lowry Pueblo site has a partly covered village and a Great Kiva.
Lowry Pueblo village.
Standing in a room in the village.
Time to take a look inside.
The covered section of Lowry Pueblo is nice because you get to go inside and it recreates having a roof over the village.
A central kiva is guarded.
Above the central kiva.
Outer wall around the village.
Great Kiva was used by the whole community for a variety of activities. This is one of the largest visible kivas in Colorado.
The next site Painted Hand, has several old towers along Tower Trail.
Standing inside the tower.
Another old tower at Painted Hand with Sleeping Ute Mountain in background.
There are ruins located all along hills of the valley.
Evidence of old fires inside this ruin.
The fourth and final site, Sand Canyon Pueblo, doesn't provide much more than a scenic forest with a lot of old building stones scattered about.
Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores.
A re-creation of an ancient pithouse inside the museum.
A short hike from the visitor center is "Escalante Pueblo", named for the explorer who discovered this village.
Next to the kiva is the rest of the village.
"Lowry Pueblo" has a covered indoor section.
"Lowry Pueblo" Village.
Great Kiva at Lowry Pueblo was common ground for the community.
Great Kiva sits just below the rest of the village.
"Painted Hand" has this main tower and several others.
Towers watch the valley beneath Sleeping Ute Mountain.
"South Canyon Pueblo" is just a nice nature walk.
A double-thick wall at Sand Canyon Pueblo.

 

Details

Address: 27501 Colorado 184, Dolores, CO

Phone: 970-882-4811

Season: Year-round

Museum Hours: Mar-Oct (9am – 5pm) | Nov-Feb (10 am – 4pm)

Admission: Entrance fee depending on the season

Pets: Yes, on-leash

Map: Canyons Of The Ancients (PDF)

Website: blm.gov…

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