See how the Anasazi lived at richest archaeological finds
About 30,000 archaeological sites – villages, field houses, reservoirs, great kivas, cliff dwellings, shrines, sacred springs, sweat lodges and more – are in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which has the highest archaeological density in the U.S. The Anasazi Indians lived here more than 10,000 years, dating back to the 10th century. The Great Kiva at Lowry Pueblo is one of the northernmost Great Houses linked to the region’s Chaco Canyon, with an interpretive trail and picnicking.
Along the way
Stay: Near Dolores, an 1800s ghost town – Dunton Hot Springs – has hand-hewn cabins, saloon and dance hall, bathhouse, open air chapel and waterfall. Or go “glamping,” luxury camping, at Dunton River Camp on the Dolores River. (duntonhotsprings.com, 877-288-9922). For lower costs, Sophia Retreat & Event Center (19581 Road 31 in Dolores, 970-882-4920, sophiaretreatcenter.com).
Eat: Sophia’s Bistro in the event center gets high marks.
Drink: Dolores River Brewery for live music, “thought-provoking” beer (100 4th St., 970-882-4677).
Fun: Explore the history of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad at Galloping Goose #5 and Museum, 421 Railroad Ave., 970-882-7082, gallopinggoose5.org. Ride on the historic Galloping Goose No. 5 Railcar on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge.
Hidden gem: Nearly 12 miles of the Dolores River from below the McPhee Reservoir dam to Bradfield Bridge are a great stretch to harvest rainbow and brown trout. (Remember your bug spray.)
The inside of the main tower at the Painted Hand Pueblo at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument on Thursday June 21, 2017 in Cortez, Colorado. The main tower is built upon a large outcrop of rock and it also had a dwelling beneath it. The stones that were once part of the tower and its lower room are strewn all around the boulder. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
The ruins of a Native American structure stand atop a large rock formation in Sand Canyon at Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. Photo by Andy Rogers/The Gazette
Artifacts are shown at the Anasazi Heritage Center on Friday June 22, 2017 near Dolores, Colorado that were found in the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
A rock formation at Canyon of the Ancients National Monument overlooks the Sand Canyon Trail and Sleeping Ute Mountain. Photo by Andy Rogers/The Gazette
The main tower at the Painted Hand Pueblo at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument seen from the top the trailhead on Thursday June 21, 2017 in Cortez, Colorado. The main tower is built upon a large outcrop of rock and it also had a dwelling beneath it. The stones that were once part of the tower and its lower room are strewn all around the boulder. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
The main tower at the Painted Hand Pueblo at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument seen from the top the trailhead on Thursday June 21, 2017 in Cortez, Colorado. The main tower is built upon a large outcrop of rock and it also had a dwelling beneath it. The stones that were once part of the tower and its lower room are strewn all around the boulder. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
A view of a large alcove along the Sand Canyon Trail at Canyon of the Ancients National Monument contains standing ruins of a Native American structure. Photo by Andy Rogers/The Gazette
