Trail of the Ancients

Total Number of Days/Nights: One

Itinerary Summary: Between two remote national monuments and a 100-year-old national park, this National Scenic Byway takes you through the heart of the quintessential landscape and unique history of the American Southwest. Because there are so many destinations of archaeological significance, It's best to take your time along the tour.

Day

Here are some of the highlights: 

• Hovenweep National Monument—remote and often uncrowded, this national monument includes a bevy of structures, namely a series of stone towers built by the Ancestral Puebloan people.
• Canyons of the Ancients National Monument—this remote and rugged patchwork of land surrounds Hovenweep, and contains the highest concentration of archaeological sites in the United States. From grand cliff dwellings to modest check dams, these structures enable you to visualize how the landscape must have looked when the Ancestral Puebloans lived here.
• Anasazi Heritage Center—located on McPhee Reservoir near Dolores, the Anasazi Heritage Center interprets the various cultures of the region through exhibits, interactive demonstrations and film.
• Mesa Verde National Park—this World Heritage Cultural Site houses some of the most dramatic archaeological sites on earth. Some of the grandest sites include the dwellings at Cliff Palace, Spruce Tree House and Balcony House, where you can climb into kivas and immerse yourself in the wonder of this ancient civilization’s handiwork.
• Four Corners—this may not be a site of great historical significance, but it is the only place in the United States where the borders of four states meet.

Distance: 116 miles
Suggested time: Allow 5 to 8 hours


Scenic & Historic Byways Overview
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