Top 10 Heritage Tourism Activities Near Cortez, Colorado

Southwest Colorado and the Four Corners area is a haven for heritage tourism, archeology, and cultural anthropology! In fact, this area of the United States boasts one of the highest concentration of archeological sites in the entire world! It may look like a desert to modern travelers, but southwest Colorado has been inhabitied for thousands of years, and the ancestral heritage of indigenous societies is incredibly important to its legacy. If you are planning a trip to Cortez, Colorado there are so many wonderful and inspiring ways to immerse yourself in this history, from visiting Mesa Verde National Park to mountain biking through Canyons of the Ancient National Monument.

One of the best ways to visit any historical site is to book a guided tour. Guides add important and often personal information about the spaces you are visiting, and can help ensure protection for both the sites, the native flora/fauna and the visitor. Ranger led tours at Mesa Verde National Park* take guests directly into some of the most iconic sites, Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance leads guests to lesser-known areas in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, and Cortez Tours leads a sunrise tour to Hawkins Pueblo in Cortez, Colorado.

If you are planning to visit any of the sites mentioned below on your own - make sure to visit with respect. These ancient sites hold immense value to modern indigenous societies, it's important to remember you are not just visiting an archeological site, but someone's great-great-great-grandparent's home. Keep these rules in mind when visiting any historical site in the Southwest:

1. Never enter a site on your own. Remain a respectful distance in order to preserve these fragile places. Do not send pets, drones, or other human accessories into a site. 

2. Follow all directions from interpretive signs or park rangers.

3. If you find an artifact (pottery sherd, arrow head, etc) leave it where you found it.

4. Protect the natural world. Stay on the trail. If the trail is muddy, walk directly into the mud, through the middle of the trail. The ecosystem of southwest Colorado is sensitive and can be easily damaged by humans.

   
   

There is a beautiful video of how Pueblo people are connected to these sites and the importance of visiting with respect at: https://crowcanyon.org/resources/visit-with-respect/.

1. Sunrise Tours with Cortez Tours

   Wake up early to experience the magic of a Colorado sunrise! For thousands of years people have been waking with the sun in Southwest Colorado to begin their day. It is truly magical to watch the sunrise in the same way and feel connected to both the land and the people that came before us. Book a tour at www.corteztours.com.

2. Balcony House & Cliff Palace Tours

   The park rangers in Mesa Verde National Park lead tours into some of the most iconic sites in the park from May - October. This is an incredible special experience to get up-close to history in a safe and respectful way. To book a tour visit: https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/233362.

   
   

   *Tours may be reduced or cancelled all together in 2025 due to the Federal layoffs and hiring freezes enacted by the Trump Administration.

   
   

3. Montezuma Heritage Museum

   This museum, at only $5 entry, is a must-stop on a tour of SouthwestColorado. Paying homage to the many agricultural societies of the area, the museum highlights the life of early settlers in the Montezuma Valley. To learn more visit: https://montezumamuseum.org.

   
   

4. Native Dances at the Cortez Cultural Center

   The Cortez Cultural Center hosts Native dancers most nights from June through August. Located in the heart of downtown Cortez, the outdoor amphitheater is a great space to learn about culture and support local artists. You can learn more about the dances at: https://cortezculturalcenter.org/native-american-dances.

   
   

5. Visit the Far View Sites and hike Petroglyph Point Trail in Mesa Verde National Park

   The Far View Sites, located near the better known Chapin Mesa sites, are some of the oldest and most densely populated sites in the Park. The size and meticulous masonry of theses sites are incredible and deserve to be visited! To learn more about the Far View Sites visit: https://www.nps.gov/meve/learn/historyculture/mt_far_view_sites.htm.

   
   

   Petroglyph Point Trail can be found near the Museum at the top of Mesa Verde. This 2.4-mile loop trail takes you through rugged terrain of sagebrush and steep canyon cliffs to see incredible petroglyph panels. While not suitable for all hikers, this can be a rewarding journey for the right visitor. https://www.nps.gov/places/place-ppt-trail.htm

   
   

6. Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum

   The Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum is the most comprehensive museum on Puebloan history. This is a must-visit for anyone interested in heritage tourism and southwest archeology. With interactive exhibits that connect ancient and modern ways of life, a visit to this museum will leave you with a better understanding of the ancestors and a deeper respect for the world we inherited from them. The paved, interpretive trail next to the museum also takes visitors to two Puebloan sites and explores the Dolores Archeology Project that was the impetus for the creation of this incredible museum. To learn more visit: https://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/CANM-visitor-center-museum

   
   

7. Hovenweep National Monument

   Hovenweep National Monument is a part of the same heritage and Puebloan culture of Canyons of the Ancients. The Visitor Center also has an excellent museum and interpretive signs and materials and the 2-mile loop trail provides beautiful views and perspective of this ancient landscape. https://www.nps.gov/hove/index.htm

   
   

8. Mountain Bike Through Sand Canyon

   Visiting ancient sites doesn't always have to be done through hiking. The trail system at Sand Canyon has nearly 20 miles of designated mountain biking trails. This is a great way to cover more ground, see more ancient sites, and get some exercise! To learn more about Sand Canyon & Rock Creek Trails, and for a map, visit: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/.

   
   

9. Lowry Pueblo Tour with Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance

   Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance is the official friends group of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. In addition to developing programming and educational opportunities for the Monument, SCCA leads guided tours to many of its archaeology sites. One of my favorite tours of theirs is to Lowry Pueblo. You can book your tour at: https://swcocanyons.org/tours/.

   
   

10. Galloping Goose Historical Society

    This quaint museum in Dolores, Colorado is a must-see for any train lover...or anyone who is fascinated by the history of the American West! Located in the beautifully designed recplica of the RGS Dolores Depot, the museum's pride is the original Goose No. 5 - a small engine from the 1930s. This is a fascinating museum staffed by passionate volunteers who will delight guests with the history of the railway that once connected the remote towns of southwest Colorado. To learn more about the museum and historical society visit: https://www.gallopinggoose5.org.