• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Colorado Brands
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Mine Tours
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Public Parks
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos with Lodging
    • Dude Ranches
    • Hot Spring with Lodging
    • Wineries with Lodging
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Cortez Colorado
Cortez and the San Juan Mountains.

Cortez, Colorado

1
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

Cortez is one of the largest towns in Southwest Colorado, secluded near the Four Corners. The historic downtown section is several blocks, all lined with nice shops and restaurants.

Located in Montezuma County, Cortez is the county’s largest city and county seat. It had a population of 8,766 in 2020. It resides at an elevation of 6,191 feet and offers easy access to many outdoor attractions in neighboring states.

History

Cortez CO City Hall
Cortez City Hall. Photo by: Jeffrey Beall

Cortez is unique in that it wasn’t originally established to be a mining town. There was a theory that the soil in the Montezuma Valley would be perfect for farming. However they needed water to make their plans work, so a large group of men started creating a diversion system from the Dolores River.

Farming and cattle ranching boomed in town and eventually, Cortez became a supply hub for surrounding towns. The lack of a local railroad line started to become a problem for transportation. Cortez stayed resilient and continued to expand until the early 1900s.

1911 brought a terrible storm that washed out many of the town’s crops and irrigation systems. World War 1, an epidemic, unstable markets, and dry summers threatened the stability of the whole community. Many farmers left, however the Dust Bowl pushed migrants from neighboring states into town.

Cortez went through many more ups and downs until it finally stabilized in the 1960s, depending on tourism and government to provide continuous support for the economy. Mesa Verde National Park drew visitors in, and the large amounts of surrounding public land required a lot of government officials to maintain it all.

Main Attractions

Community building
Amphitheater at the Cortez Cultural Center. Photo by: facebook.com/cortezculutralcenter

Archaeological Sites – The southwest region of Colorado was once settled by the Anasazi or Ancient Puebloan people. Ancient ruins are located all around, many that have been excavated are open to visitors. Find pit houses, cliff dwellings, kivas, and other signs of civilization. Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep, and Canyons of the Ancients are all nearby.

Cortez Cultural Center – Features exhibits on the lifestyle and art of Ancestral Puebloans. You can also find Native American dance performances Monday through Saturday in the evenings.

Read about the top things to do near Cortez.

Recreation

Dolores river canyon
Aerial view of the Dolores River Canyon. Photo by: Bureau of Land Management

Camping –

  • Mancos State Park offers 32 sites; no electrical hook-ups.
  • Mesa Verde National Park has a whopping 267 campsites at Morefield Campground. There is also a full service village featuring an RV dump site, all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts, and complimentary showers.
  • Hovenweep has a very nice 31-site campground with breathtaking views.
  • Primitive car camping is permitted on many BLM roads in the Canyons of the Ancients.
  • McPhee Recreation Area is within the San Juan National Forest and has a campground.
  • Read about the camping near Cortez and Mesa Verde.

Fishing –

  • Nearby Mancos State Park offers a large lake open to fishing and boating year-round.
  • McPhee Reservoir to the north near Dolores has boating and fishing. It’s the second largest lake in Colorado behind Blue Mesa Reservoir.
  • Totten Lake is a small reservoir just east of downtown that is stocked with pike, largemouth bass, and catfish.​
Historic cliff dwellings
Cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park near Cortez. Photo by: Jo Zimny Photos

Hiking –

  • Sand Canyon trail is a long trek at 12.5 miles, but it included a waterfall, archeological sites to explore, and beautiful views of the area along the way.
  • Dolores River Canyon trail follows the Dolores River. It is a relatively flat trail within the red rock canyon, and there are petroglyphs at the end to discover.
  • Great hiking is never far off in the Southwest. Many archaeological sites offer well-maintained trails and a chance to see historic sights.
  • Read about the best hiking trails near Cortez.

Accommodations

Duplex suite at an Inn
Duplex Suite at the Kelly Place Bed & Breakfast in Cortez, CO. Photo by: facebook.com/kellyplacebnb

This section contains referral links. If you click through and take action, we may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. 



Booking.com

Far View Lodge – Stay southeast of town inside Mesa Verde National Park. It lies 15 miles south of the park’s entrance, granting unmatched convenience for experiencing the park round the clock.

Kelly Place Bed & Breakfast – Cozy, cowboy-inspired accommodation with beautiful views of the Anasazi Cliff. They have different-sized suites, RV spots, and tent camping as well.

Retro Inn – Eccentric spot with uniquely decorated rooms and fun common areas like a cafeteria.

Read about the best hotels in Cortez.

Dining

Mexican restaurant
Gustavo’s Mexican Restaurant and Bar in Cortez, CO. Photo by: facebook.com/gustavosmexican

The Farm Bistro – Perfect place for freshly prepared unique dishes, such as a yak burger, chile relleno pie, or curried veggie wontons.

Gustavo’s Mexican Restaurant and Bar – Brightly decorated Mexican spot serving up large portion sizes for a great price.

Burger Boy Drive-in – Classic American eatery with burgers, fried sides, and thick malt shakes to enjoy.

Special Events

Celtic dancing
Dance demonstration at the Cortez Celtic Fair. Photo by: facebook.com/celticcortez

May – 12 Hours Mesa Verde – A 12 hour endurance bike race held annually to benefit local youth development programs.

May – Ute Mountain Birding Festival – Charity event for the Cortez Cultural Center, this festival has many birding related events and speakers.

Jun-Oct – Cortez Farmers Market – Every Saturday morning from June until October, in the parking lot of the Montezuma County Building.

Jun – Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo – Family friendly rodeo experience with clowns and stick horse races each night.

Jun – Celtic Fair – A free event consisting of a Highlands dance and games competition, kids activities, and live Celtic bands.

Jul-Aug – Montezuma County Fair – Classic county fair with rides, food vendors, and 4-H events.

Aug – Cortez Hot Air Balloon RNDVS – Get up close and personal with a variety of hot air balloons, and even catch them glowing at dusk.

Oct – Pumpkin Festival – Celebrate fall with hay rides and pumpkin painting.

 

Downtown has wide streets.
Francisca's Cantina.
Blondies Pub & Grub and Smitty's Pool Hall.
Drive-in burger restaurant.

Activities near Cortez

Casinos:

  • Ute Mountain Casino (14mi)

Federal Lands:

  • Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (11mi)
  • Dolores River
  • Hovenweep National Monument (45mi)
  • McPhee Reservoir (16mi)
  • Mesa Verde National Park (22mi)
  • Mesa Verde Wilderness Area
  • San Juan Mountains
  • San Juan National Forest
  • Yucca House National Monument (11mi)

Hiking:

  • Petroglyph Point Trail

Landmarks:

  • Four Corners Monument
  • Ute Mountain Tribal Park (20mi)

Made in Colorado:

  • Osprey Packs

Museums: 

  • Crow Canyon Archeological Center

Scenic Drives:

  • San Juan Skyway
  • Trail of the Ancients Byway

Ski Areas:

  • Purgatory Mountain Resort (72mi)
  • Hesperus Ski Area (34mi)

State Parks:

  • Mancos State Park (23mi)

Towns:

  • Dolores (11mi)
  • Durango (45mi)
  • Hesperus (34mi)
  • Mancos (17mi)
  • Pleasant View (20mi)
  • Telluride (76mi)
  • Yellow Jacket (15mi)

Transportation:

  • Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ)
  • Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) (59mi)

Whitewater Rafting:

  • Dolores River Rafting

Latest in Cortez

Mesa Verde Spruce Tree House Snow

5 Reasons to Visit Mesa Verde this Winter

In the A.D. 1200s, the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde were home to ancestral Pueblo Indian…

5 Reasons to Visit Mesa Verde this WinterRead More

Lake City Colorado Lake San Cristobal Overlook

Escape to these 11 Remote Colorado Destinations and Secluded Towns

If you live in a big Colorado city that’s seen constant growth over the past decade,…

Escape to these 11 Remote Colorado Destinations and Secluded TownsRead More

Seventh Street in Glenwood Springs, CO

The Largest Colorado Mountain Towns

Whether you’re looking to move into the Rocky Mountains or just visit on holiday, and prefer…

The Largest Colorado Mountain TownsRead More

Colorado Native Americans Ute Mountain Park Pictograph

The Original Coloradans

Colorado, like most states, has its squabbles between “locals” and “outsiders”, or “natives” and “newcomers”. The…

The Original ColoradansRead More

View more Cortez articles

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Montezuma County

  • All Towns
  • Montezuma County
  • Cortez
  • Dolores
  • Mancos
  • Pleasant View
  • Towaoc
  • Yellow Jacket

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise