COLORADO NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY TRAVELS THROUGH AMERICA'S ARCHAEOLOGICAL HEARTLAND

Trail of the Ancients stands as sole byway dedicated to archaeology

The 114-mile Trail of the Ancients, America's only national scenic byway dedicated solely to archaeology, is full of archaeology and culture in the heart of the Colorado Plateau. With access to countless examples of Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) culture, scenic vistas, and some of the most austere land in the country, the trail invites visitors to step back in time and create their own adventures.

Some regions of the Colorado Plateau, over which the Trail winds, remain today much as they were in the 13th and 14th centuries. The terrain along the Trail encompasses the arid Four Corners region that includes Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, the Anasazi Heritage Center, Ute Mountain Tribal Park and the Four Corners Monument before connecting to Utah's Trail of the Ancients.

The byway travels through some of the country's most beautiful, yet austere, country. At numerous stops along the circuitous byway, archaeological sits and other cultural elements — tools, pottery sherds, petroglyphs, and pictographs — serve as rich reminders of the ancient peoples who lived here and farmed the area.

Visitors who travel the trail today will find stunning views of massive valleys, 14,000-foot-mountains, badlands, lakes, raging rivers and trickling streams. They may spot raptors, songbirds, deer, elk, fox and coyotes, or take in a wide array of recreational activities along the way, such as rafting, hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, boating, fishing, photography and golf.

For suggestions on a detailed, full-day itinerary, check www.mesaverdecountry.com. Some key stops along the trail are:

Mesa Verde National Park — The park provides a look into the life of the Ancestral Puebloans, with pithouses, intricate multi-story cliff dwellings and ancient artifacts. With more than 4,000 known archaeological sites, 600 of which are cliff dwellings (over 800 hundred years old), Mesa Verde tells the story of a civilization's dynamic growth over 700 years.

Ute Mountain Tribal Park — The Ute Mountain Utes, one of the seven original Ute bands that inhabited Colorado, operate the park as a primitive area to protect its cultural and environmental resources. Ute guides interpret Ute Indian history, pictographs, geological land formations, and Ancestral Pueblo petroglyphs, artifacts and dwellings.

Hovenweep National Monument — A remote and starkly beautiful area, the monument preserves six prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan villages spread over a 20-mile expanse of mesa tops and canyons along the Utah-Colorado border. Hovenweep is noted for the towers that protect its springs.

Anasazi Heritage Center — Visitors may discover Ancestral Puebloan history through interactive experiences. Grind corn with a mono and metate, weave on a traditional loom, or experience virtual archaeology with computer programs designed for all ages.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument — The monument contains more than 100 archaeological sites per square mile, the highest density in the nation.

Cortez Cultural Center — A regional center for living culture, the center hosts free performances by Native American dancers and musicians, and includes a museum of Ancestral Puebloan and early pioneer history, as well as the Hawkins Preserve, a local archaeological site dedicated to the preservation of native plant and animal life.

Mesa Verde Country® (www.mesaverdecountry.com)
Mesa Verde Country® is the southwest Colorado travel destination surrounding Mesa Verde National Park. The towns of Cortez, Dolores, Mancos, and Towaoc, and the entire Mesa Verde Country® area, comprise the archaeological center of America.