The Oak Flat Trail is located in the South Rim section of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The trail, built by Student Conservation Association volunteers, allows hikers to descend below the rim without going all the way to the river. As you hike, you’ll pass through parts of the Black Canyon of […]
The Warner Point Nature Trail is a scenic, family-friendly hike in the South Rim section of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Named after Mark Warner, a local minister dedicated to protecting the park, this 1.6-mile out-and-back trail features approximately 380 feet of elevation gain. As you hike, you’ll pass through a landscape of […]
The Square Tower House cliff dwelling features the tallest standing architecture located in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. It is 90% original with an intact kiva roof, original plaster and paint, and plenty of rock art. Built and inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans between 1200 and 1300 AD, it contained 49-60 rooms and 8 kivas. […]
Balcony House is a mid-sized cliff dwelling located in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. Built by the Ancestral Puebloans between AD 1180 and 1270, this remarkable structure once housed approximately 30 people and contained 38 rooms and 2 kivas. Constructed using sandstone, mortar, and wooden beams, Balcony House is nestled within a natural alcove […]
Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America, is located in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. Built by the Ancestral Puebloans between AD 1190 and 1280, this remarkable structure contained 150 rooms, 23 kivas, and once housed approximately 100 people. It is believed to have served as a social and administrative center with […]
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, […]
The Wellington Ditch Trail in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, is an easy and scenic hike that winds through mixed forests and meadowlands along the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Starting at Loop 3 of the Piñon Flats Campground, the trail connects to the Montville Nature Trail, passes the visitor center, […]
The Petroglyph Point Trail in Mesa Verde National Park offers stunning views of Spruce and Navajo Canyons and leads hikers past an impressive petroglyph panel. The trailhead is conveniently located near the Spruce Tree House Overlook by the Mesa Verde Museum. This moderately challenging hike is about 3 miles round trip and gains approximately 350 […]
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado is open 24/7 all year round, with no timed entries or reservations required for visiting. As an International Dark Sky Park, it offers stunning opportunities for stargazing. The park features a 30-square-mile dunefield that visitors are free to explore, making it ideal for daytime or nighttime […]
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park features two campgrounds within the park to accommodate the visitors it receives each year. This year we stayed at the South Rim Campground located one mile from the South Rim Visitor Center. Reservations may be made on recreation.gov for mid-May to mid-October, and it is first-come first-served after […]
