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Go beyond Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez and Durango to find the farm bistros, guest ranches and lesser-known towns and monuments of Colorado's southwest corner.

Hidden Gems of Southwest Colorado

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There are special places and unique vistas around nearly every Colorado corner. You can help ensure these places exist for generations to come by staying on roads and trails, keeping speeds in check, leaving campsites and picnic spots just as you found them, and following instructional signs while you’re out and about in our state.

Travel Like a Local

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Looking to enhance your understanding of Southwest histories and cultures or embark on a transformative experience? Discover Archaeology Webinar Series, Archaeology Research Program, Cultural Explorations, College Field School and School Programs. Advance registration.

Crow Canyon Archaeological Center

The Farm Bistro is a casual yet elegant farm to table restaurant in the heart of historic downtown Cortez, Colorado. The lunch and dinner menus are comfort food with style, and features locally grown produce and meat, and is a hub for diners seeking fresh and flavorful cuisine. The cozy lounge serves all-Colorado spirits, beer and wine. Customers can buy local produce and eggs, body care products, locally roasted coffee, music, crafts and more at the year-round farm stand. Travelers seeking good food find a welcoming environment that features an art gallery, a selection of used books focused on sustainable living and a community bulletin board. 
At The Farm Bistro in Cortez, you're likely to be sitting next to the farmer who grew your lunch or dinner! Rusty and Laurie Hall's restaurant is an extension of their Mancos farm which, along with other local growers, provides much of the meat and produce. They believe that access to locally grown food is key to a community's well being.

The Farm Bistro

Pop into some of the local vineyards around Cortez for a taste of their special vintages.

Sip & Explore

Pastoral scenes of Navajo Churro Lambs and bison-looking Galloway Calves await you at Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch. Nestled in front of the majesty of the Ute Mountain in peaceful McElmo Canyon, the ranch is an unforgettable destination. Out here where the mountains meet the desert you can experience the nation's oldest outdoor museum, with incredible natural, geological and archaeological experience.
Ranch Side: Currently we have seven vacation rental units in Cortez, Colorado: we have the luxurious <a href="https://canyonoftheancients.com/wagstaff-cabin/">Wagstaff Cabin</a>, the historical <a href="http://canyonoftheancients.com/cortez-co-lodging/">Elden Stone House</a>, the charming <a href="http://canyonoftheancients.com/mesa-verde-cabins/">Cowboy Log Cabin</a>, the <a>Quasi Lookout </a> and the biggest <a href="https://canyonoftheancients.com/colorado-ranch-house-for-rent/">Ranch House</a> are available to fit your needs. Ask about our long-term rates or winter specials! 

Sky Village: With ruins and rock art just within walking distance, the majestic view of the sacred Sleeping Ute Mountain, endless terrain to explore, and a mystic dark sky, Sky Village is perfect for those who love to enjoy peace and solitude. The two newest dwellings, <a href="https://canyonoftheancients.com/lodging-cortez/star-tower/">Star Tower</a> &amp; <a href="https://canyonoftheancients.com/lodging-cortez/sky-kiva/">Sky Kiva</a>, were inspired by ancient ruins around the Four Corners Region.

Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch

Settle in and relax in the peace and quiet of the ranch for your overnight stay. Tour the barns and vegetable garden, feed the baby sheep, hike the easy trails around the property or the nearby Canyons of the Ancients National Monument towers.

Settle in for the Evening

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The ranch's breakfast is packed with fresh organic produce from the area, so be sure to savor the local flavors before heading out for a day of activity.

Stay for Breakfast

Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum contains a 3.5 million-item research collection. Exhibits interpret the history and culture of the Four Corners region including Ancestral Puebloans; historic Pueblo, Ute and Navajo Native Americans; and Anglo settlers.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Visitor Center and Museum, BLM

Serving Thai lunch and dinner specialties in Cortez.

Thai Cortez

This 6.5-mile trail is used for hiking and mountain biking. You'll pass through one of the largest prehistoric settlements in this region with 420 rooms, 100 kivas, and 14 towers, but no exposed walls.

Hike Sand Canyon Trail

Eclectic, fun full-service craft brewery. 12 in-house brews with 5 blends. Freshly prepared food, fire-grilled steaks, prime rib, great burgers, sandwiches, salads, Mexican specialties and house-smoked bar-b-que ribs, children's menu, gift shoppe and game room.

Main Street Brewery and Restaurant

We want to welcome you as our guest to the nation's richest archeological preserve, where amazing cliff dwellings and more than 4,000 ancient sites.

Mesa Verde National Park

Far View Lodge is the only lodging inside Mesa Verde NP. Breathtaking views, award winning cuisine, guided tours of Ancestral Puebloan dwellings, invigorating solitude and endless wildlife watching. RV and camping. Native American handicrafts.
<a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/10-amazing-experiences-mesa-verde-national-park">Read 10 Amazing Experiences in Mesa Verde &gt;&gt;</a>

Mesa Verde - Far View Lodge

Casual food-court setting features breakfast burritos and omelet station, a yogurt bar, and standard breakfast fare. For lunch, daily specials including our signature Navajo tacos, sandwiches and salad station.

Far View Terrace Cafe

The Mesa Verde 700 Years Tour provides you with an overall historical view of the Ancestral Puebloans’ architectural, horticultural, cultural, and religious dimensions of their lives in the Southwest.

Take the 700 Years Tour

Patio Dining at its best! Stop at Spruce Tree Terrace Café, located in the heart of Mesa Verde National Park, for favorite American classics and Southwest specialties.

Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe

Tour the park's Far view Sites Complex, which can be explored by a trail system that weaves through several excavated sites.

Far View Sites

Mesa Verde Metate Room Restaurant received "Award of Culinary Excellence" from the American Culinary Federation Colorado Chefs Association in the area of sustainable cuisine. Colorful Native American artwork surrounds as you enjoy our award winning, contemporary menu.

Metate Room

The museum displays dioramas illustrating Ancestral Puebloan life. There are also many exhibits of prehistoric artifacts, a chronology of Ancestral Puebloan culture, and other items related to the park.

Mesa Verde Museum

Grab fresh-brewed coffee, smoothies, specialty frozen-espresso drinks and breakfast burritos.

Fahrenheit Coffee Roasters

Facilitated by a vibrant community of more than 150 artists, the growing downtown <a href="http://www.mancoscreativedistrict.com/">Mancos Creative District</a> has eight galleries, a historic opera house and countless locally owned businesses.

Mancos Creative District

Fired Up Pizzeria is dedicated to the ingredients, quality and traditional methods of producing authentic Neapolitan pizza. Our pizzas are created with handmade dough, fresh mozzarella, and hand crushed tomato sauce. We focus on using high quality imported and local ingredients needed to produce a great pizza and support a great community. We do this with the conviction that when you pour your heart and soul into what you love, excellence can be achieved. Come and enjoy.

Fired Up Pizzeria

We invite you to step inside our lobby and walk around and be part of our history by joining us. You’ll see shadow boxes depicting stories of the old west and mining times and witness unsurpassed craftsmanship at every turn.

Check into the Historic Strater & Tour Its Living Museum

El Moro sources meats, produce &amp; beverages from local and regional partners whenever possible.  Local beers, spirits &amp; meats are always on the menu!

El Moro Spirits & Tavern

Four Leaves Winery Durango is a boutique winery located in historic Durango, Colorado. We import the highest quality grapes and then handcraft, blend, and ferment all of our wines right in front of you! Drop in and enjoy a wine tasting, a glass of wine, or pick up a bottle. Want to create a custom blend that is all your own? Our staff can guide you through making your very own wine! In addition to having a custom blend you enjoy a bottling party with friends, and each bottle has a personalized label that is all your own. For more info click on make your own wine

Four Leaves Winery

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If you're visiting in May, check out the <a href="http://durangowine.com/">Durango Wine Experience</a>: Three delicious days of educational seminars, wine dinners and unique tastings featuring hundreds of wineries, artisan spirits and craft beers.

Durango Wine Experience

THE OFFICE SPIRITORIUM, with its lavish and comfortable décor, can't really be called a bar, saloon, tavern, or lounge but a delightful office away from the office. We are proud to feature one of the best Happy Hours in town. Wine and Beer, Craft Cocktails, and appetizer selection.
DIAMOND BELLE SALOON plays host to the world's finest ragtime entertainers, while costumed dance hall girls and bartenders transport you back to the turn of the last century. Western author Louis L'Amour said the honky-tonk music helped 'set the mood' for his novels of the Old West. The Belle serves a wide variety of delicious lunch, happy hour, and dinner foods, and nightly live entertainment performed by local musicians.
MAHOGANY GRILLE is arguably one of the most unique steak and seafood restaurants in the west. We offer the ambiance of the Victorian Old West as we serve you an array of local traditional favorites and modern small plates. View our fine dining and wine menus at <a href="https://strater.com">www.strater.com</a>.
<a href="https://www.colorado.com/articles/experience-strater-hotel-durango">Experience the Strater Hotel &gt;&gt;</a>
<a href="https://www.colorado.com/visit-durango-channel">Learn more about all there is to see and do in Durango &gt;&gt;</a>

Historic Strater Hotel

Enjoy handcrafted cuisine while stepping back in time in the ambiance of the Victorian Old West as we serve you an array of eclectic culinary specialties. Handcut Steaks, seafood, and vegetarian options. In-house sommelier, full-bar, great wine selection.

Mahogany Grille

Experience the adventure of traveling by a historic steam-powered or diesel locomotive on the same tracks miners, cowboys and settlers of the Old West took over a century ago. Wind through spectacular and breathtaking canyons in the remote wilderness of the two-million-acre San Juan National Forest for an unforgettable journey.

Please note: The Durango &amp; Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is open and is running year-round.

<a href="https://www.durangotrain.com/cascade-canyon-winter-train#.X5cRi1NKi3I/?utm_source=colorado_com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sponsoredarticle">The Cascade Canyon Winter Train</a> and <a href="https://www.durangotrain.com/events/polar-express%E2%84%A2-train-ride#.X5cRxlNKi3I/?utm_source=colorado_com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sponsoredarticle">The POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride</a> begin running mid-November. 

<a href="https://www.colorado.com/articles/durango-silverton-narrow-gauge-railroad-train-colorado-backcountry-packages">Read more about adventures on the Durango Train.</a>

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum

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Pre-order a boxed lunch and much your sandwich as you ride the rails alongside the Animas River.

Have Lunch on the Train

The 232-mile San Juan Skyway Loop takes about 7 hours to drive or can be a great 2 or 3 day trip with multiple opportunities to stop and enjoy scenic, recreational and historic sites.  Contact 970-247-4874 or <a href="mailto:info@sjma.org">info@sjma.org</a> for a free brochure about the San Juan Skyway, which has a satellite map image in the center, providing a list of interpretive stops &amp;visitor centers along the route.
The San Juan Skyway is one of the most scenic drives in America, spanning elevations from 6,200 feet near Cortez to 11,008 feet at Red Mountain Pass.

San Juan Skyway - Scenic and Historic Byway

Majestic Mt. Eolus is the namesake of our dining establishment.  We offer rooftop dining year round on our warm heated patio or an interior dining area which offers a warm and inviting atmosphere. We pride ourselves on creating the highest quality food from local sources for our customers.  From farm to table and vine to wine Eolus Bar &amp; Dining offers something for everyone. The local bounty shines through as the restaurant features an array of local products from farms, ranches, vinters, and breweries around southwest Colorado.

Eolus Bar & Dining

The Animas River provides gold medal waters for fishing, kayaking and rafting. The centerpiece of the city's trail system, this paved multi-use trail stretches nearly 7 miles through Durango's Animas River Greenway. Provides easy access to a variety of parks, open spaces and natural surface trails; the community recreation center, the public library, downtown Durango, neighborhoods and schools.