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Cortez, Colorado

Top Spots in and near Cortez

  • Mancos, Colorado

    Explore Park Point in Mesa Verde National Park

    5.0
    The Park Point Trail is the highest point in Mesa Verde National Park, and being close to the four corners, you can see for hundreds of miles in every direction on a clear day. It's a very short walk from the car, and there are several nice lookouts along the way, but be sure to walk all the way ...
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  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Explore the Far View Sites Complex

    4.5
    0.75 mi
    The Far View Community is located four miles north of the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. In around 800 AD, the Ancestral Pueblo people lived in this area for several centuries. They mostly farmed the mesa tops, but were also hunters. It was one of the most densely populated regions of Mesa Ver...
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  • Mancos, Colorado

    Hike the Knife Edge Trail

    2 mi / 20 ft gain
    The Knife Edge Trail leaves from a small parking lot located in Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde National Park. It's definitely an easy trail, but it is perfect for the entire family. It offers an unhindered view westward, so it is a prime place to catch the sunset in the park, especially if yo...
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  • Mancos, Colorado

    Hike Point Lookout Trail

    5.0
    2.3 mi / 400 ft gain
    This trail is located within Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde National Park. The parking lot also serves as the parking lot for the amphitheater, so it's pretty huge - unless there's a program going on you shouldn't have to worry about finding a spot.  The trail starts out nice and level, facin...
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  • Mancos, Colorado

    Camp at Morefield Campground

    Morefield Campground is located 4 miles inside of Mesa Verde National Park. There are 267 sites in the campground, and it has tent-only loops. There are also 15 full-hookup RV sites, with many more able to fit RVs. Reservations are recommended, but are not required; the full-hookup sites are the ...
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  • Cortez, Colorado

    Explore Sand Canyon Pueblo

    0.8 mi
    The Sand Canyon Pueblo marks the northern point of the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, and connects south to the start of the Canyon of the Ancients Trail off Road G. The hike from the parking lot nearest to the pueblo is only 0.8 miles, and is reached on Road N, west of Cortez, Colorad...
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  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Hike Nordenskiold Site No. 16 Trail

    2 mi
    This two mile round-trip trail leaves from the information kiosk near Long House and Step House, and leads through and area severely burned by the 2000 Pony Fire.  There's no shade on this trail, so if you are doing it during the hotter months, be sure to bring a lot of water and sun protection. ...
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  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Hike to Long House and Step House at Mesa Verde National Park

    5.0
    3 mi / 130 ft gain
    This is a great opportunity to see two historic cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park within a relatively short period of time. Schedule your day around getting tickets to Long House, then taking a bit of a side trek to the Step House when you have the time. The tour begins at the Weatherhi...
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  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Hike the Spruce Canyon Trail

    5.0
    3.1 mi / 754 ft gain
    The Spruce Canyon trail is very well taken care of. The trail begin with a descent into Spruce Tree Canyon and then follows a stream for 3/4 of a mile before climbing a side canyon back up to the ridge. The trailhead is located on the Chapin Mesa within Mesa Verde National Park. The trail is open...
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  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Hike the Petroglyph Point Trail

    4.0
    2.7 mi / 698 ft gain
    Pick up a trail brochure for information on the interpretive signs. There are some steep and narrow portions of the trail, so make sure everyone in your party is of able physical capability. 
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  • Cortez, Colorado

    Hike Sand Canyon in Canyons of the Ancients

    5.0
    13 mi / 1390 ft gain
    The Sand Canyon trail in Canyons of the Ancients has two trailheads. The lower trailhead (off of County Road G) begins at 5,472-ft., while the upper trailhead (off of Country Road N) begins at 6,862-ft. If you are doing the 13 mile out-and-back hike as I did, begin at the lower trailhead and work...
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  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Explore Mesa Top Loop

    4.5
    The 6-mile Mesa Top Loop Road, open 8 am to sunset, stops at 12 sites including surface ruins and cliff dwelling overlooks. The most famous feature of the park, Cliff Palace, is visible from the Sun Point and Sun Temple overlooks. Sunrise photography isn't possible on the loop due to operating ho...
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  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Hike the Cliff Palace Loop Trail

    5.0
    0.4 mi / 127 ft gain
    Tickets for this tour are $4 per person and are available at the visitor center near the entrance of the park. This tour is best taken from April to November. This hike features The milky way is often visible from the top of Mesa Verde at night.  This one-hour, ranger-guided tour involves climbin...
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  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Explore Balcony House

    5.0
    0.5 mi
    Starting at the trail head at 7,000 feet, you will head down the trail until you get to the cliff dwellings. There will be a wooden ladder you will have to climb, a recreation of the ladder used hundreds of years ago by the tribes living there. Once you get to the top of the ladder, the trail wil...
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  • Montezuma Creek, Utah

    Hike the Ruins of Hovenweep National Monument

    4.7
    2 mi / 80 ft gain
    Hovenweep National Monument consists of 5 separate units which were once Ancestral Puebloan communities. The main trail, Little Ruin Canyon, starts from the Visitor Center and is the only unit that has paved access. Don't let the dirt-clay roads keep you from the other units though, they are not ...
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  • Hesperus, Colorado

    Summit Centennial Peak in the La Plata Mountains via Sharkstooth Trailhead

    6 mi / 2162 ft gain
    From the western end of the town of Mancos, follow CR 42 north until it enters the national forest and becomes FR 561. Go right on FR 350 and keep right at any junctions (there are two of them) until you reach the signed Sharkstooth Trailhead about 19 miles from Mancos.  Enjoy your drive through ...
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Camping and Lodging in Cortez

Far View Lodge
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Far View Lodge

From $129 / night

Morefield Campground
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Morefield Campground

From $33 / night

Mcphee Recreation Complex
Dolores, Colorado

Mcphee Recreation Complex

House Creek
Dolores, Colorado

House Creek

Target Tree Campground
Dolores, Colorado

Target Tree Campground

Transfer Group Campground
Mancos, Colorado

Transfer Group Campground

Guides, Insights and Stories from Cortez

Visiting Old Friends

Visiting Old Friends

Sarah Ortegon

Beautiful Lodging in America’s Most Unique National Park

Beautiful Lodging in America’s Most Unique National Park

The Outbound Collective

10 Photos of Mesa Verde National Park's Stunning Landscape

10 Photos of Mesa Verde National Park's Stunning Landscape

The Outbound Collective

Why You Should Explore These Incredible Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park

Why You Should Explore These Incredible Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park

Christin Healey

6 Amazing Adventures in Mesa Verde National Park

6 Amazing Adventures in Mesa Verde National Park

Haley Baker

Why Shiprock Should Be on Your Southwest Adventure Bucket List

Why Shiprock Should Be on Your Southwest Adventure Bucket List

Joseph Gulizia