Exploring Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is located in the southwestern region Colorado and encompasses over 174,000 acres of federal land.
Established on June 9, 2000, the monument is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
This region has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years, including by the Northern Ancestral Puebloan culture, and boasts more than 8,300 recorded archaeological sites—the highest site density in the United States.
These sites include villages, field houses, check dams, reservoirs, great kivas, cliff dwellings, shrines, sacred springs, agricultural fields, petroglyphs, and sweat lodges.
During our trip, we visited the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum (37.47631, -108.5459).
This fascinating museum features both permanent and temporary exhibits highlighting the Ancestral Puebloan, Native American, and historic cultures of the Four Corners region. The pottery collection is particularly impressive.
Admission to the museum is $7, but it’s free with an America the Beautiful pass.
A half-mile nature trail from the museum leads to Escalante Pueblo, which overlooks McPhee Reservoir. Originally built in AD 1129, this site offers a glimpse into the 12th-century history of the region.
Adjacent to the Visitor Center is another significant archaeological site, Dominguez Pueblo.
While there are many other hiking trails and pueblos to explore within the monument, they weren’t close to our campsite in Dolores. You can find more information about them here.
The Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum in the monument was an incredible stop, and I highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area!
