Mesa Verde County

Step Back in Time in Colorado!

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Mesa Verde County(TM) in Colorado has its own way for visitors to "step back in time" through the centuries when the Ancestral Pubeloans occupied this area. Here history lives on through a National Park, two National Monuments, a Tribal Park, scenic byways and archaeological research and education.

The Trail of the Ancients, the only National Scenic Byway dedicated to archeology, is located in the Four Corners area of Colorado. This 145-mile byway includes the wonders of Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, the Ute Mountain Tribal Park, Lowry Pueblo and the Anasazi Heritage Center. This is also Colorado's jumping-off point to the Four Corners Monument where, on hands and knees, you will be in four states at once.

Off the beaten path is The Ute Mountain Tribal Park, located south of Cortez. The park is maintained by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe as a preserve for its Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites and historic Ute rock art. The park was recently recognized by National Geographic Traveler as one of the 80 World Destinations for Travel Adventure in the 21st century. Knowledgeable Ute guides lead half-day and full-day tours through the park.

Crow Canyon Archaeological Center offers a unique opportunity to observe the excavation and preservation of Ancestral Puebloan sites. In addition to day tours at the center, visitors may sign up for a weeklong, hands-on supervised dig. The center also offers family, middle school and high school archaeology programs.

The Anasazi Heritage Center houses a fascinating museum with hands-on exhibits, education programs, nature hikes, and films exploring archaeology, as well as the lifestyles of the Pueblo, Ute and Navajo.

Mesa Verde National Park is the only National Park dedicated to the works of humankind. The park, which hosts over 550,000 visitors a year, will celebrate its 100th Anniversary this summer. In addition to the popular ranger-led tours of Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House, visitors to Mesa Verde National Park may explore the park at their own pace, with self-guided tours of Spruce Tree House, Cedar Tree Tower, Far View, Step House and others. For the first time in decades, Mesa Verde will open part of its backcountry to visitors through ranger-guided, interpretive tours of Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. These limited events, held only during the 2006 Centennial year, will allow visitors to hike with park rangers to Oak Tree House, Mug House and Spring House. Other Centennial activities include: Native American dances and art; cultural events, seminars, and a lecture series; music festivals and exhibits. The park is open year-round, although access to sites is limited during the winter.

Mesa Verde Country(TM) is located in Southwestern Colorado. Daily flights are available from Denver International Airport to Cortez. For additional information, contact Mesa Verde Country(TM) Visitor Information Bureau at 800-253-1616 or visit online at www.mesaverdecountry.com.

If you are in the area, another great attraction is in Grand Junction, located in the famed "Dinosaur Diamond" of western Colorado and northeastern Utah. It has become internationally known for its wealth of dinosaur excavation sites, exhibits, fossil trails and hands-on paleontological activities. The Museum of Western Colorado provides daylong dinosaur expeditions, "Dino Digs", to Rabbit Valley Research Natural Area. Participants have the opportunity to receive field instruction from a professional paleontologist and a special tour of the Dinosaur Journey Museum Lab. The cost of the daylong expedition is $99, and includes transportation, lunch and Gatorade.

For more information on the Museum of the West "Dino Digs", contact the Grand Junction Visitors & Convention Bureau at 800-962-2547 or www.visitgrandjunction.com.