FOUR CORNERS, FOUR SEASONS
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall: Mesa Verde Country® Has It All
CORTEZ, CO Vacationing in Colorado means far more than skiing in winter and hiking in summer. In Mesa Verde Country®, it doesn't take much to find the unexpected and discover the unexplored.
WinterWinters in Mesa Verde Country® are pure magic, with bright sunshine, days that warm into the 40s, sun that warms red-rock canyons for hiking, and cold, clear nights.
- Downhill ski - Telluride Ski Resort and Durango Mountain Resort are fewer than 75 miles from Cortez in the heart of Mesa Verde Country®. Stay with us and ski both.
- Cross-country ski, snowshoe - Choose from untracked powder or close to 100 miles of groomed trails. Backcountry skiers flock to the San Juan Hut System, a trail with five huts linking three towns.
- Hike, explore, rejuvenate - Experience the quiet and serenity of Mesa Verde after a fresh snow.
- Tour - Try out a dog sled ride or a snowmobile.
SpringGreen spreads up the mountainsides and into the canyons, wild flowers begin bursting into bloom, and bird song fills the air.
- Bird - Try birding in the variety of ecosystems that offer glimpses of spring migrants and year-round residents.
- Raft - Dolores River trips can range from easy tours to running the rapids at the height of the spring snowmelt.
- Hike - Take a wildflower hike in McElmo Canyon or Mesa Verde National Park.
- Kite - Take advantage of a multitude of parks and spring breezes in Cortez.
- Dine outdoors - With spring comes patio dining in restaurants throughout the area.
SummerHot, sunny days cool to starlit evenings. Elevation changes from 4,000 to 14,000 feet let you control your own climate.
- Hike - Check out wildflowers and wildlife in the 2-million acre San Juan National Forest.
- Go green - Indulge in local harvests at farmers' markets throughout the area.
- Fish - Try your hand in the Gold Medal flyfishing waters of the Dolores River
- Ski - Water, that is, on McPhee Lake.
- Go back in time - Tour the 800-year-old cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park. Don't miss Long House!
- Ride 'em, cowboy - Take part in a cattle drive. Take a horseback ride into the backcountry and sample real cowboy grub.
FallAutumn announces its arrival with brilliant gold quaking aspen leaves on the hillsides and in the valleys — and fewer people.
- Drive - Take in the spectacular fall colors along the famous San Juan Skyway, often called the most beautiful drive in America. Motorcyclists will find some of Colorado's most scenic riding in Mesa Verde Country®.
- Hunt - Local outfitters, guides, and tour companies lead the way to record deer and elk.
- Eat, drink, and be merry - Visit a local winery or microbrewery and add in local food fare from farmers' markets.
- Get out - Take advantage of warm temperatures, clear skies, and dry air for some of the best hiking, biking, horseback riding, and golfing of the year.
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