20 Attractions to Explore Near Mancos State Park

Hesperus Mountain is the highest peak in Montezuma County. The mountain is located in the San Juan National Forest, and its summit offers stunning views of the surrounding area. Hesperus Mountain is popular with hikers and campers, and there are several trails that lead to the top. The summit can also be reached by car, and there is a small parking lot at the trailhead. Visitors to Hesperus Mountain are sure to be impressed by its beauty, and the hike to the top is well worth the effort.

La Plata Canyon is located west of Durango in the San Juan National Forest area of southwest Colorado. Rugged mountains and snow-melt waterfalls await visitors to this verdant, river-cut canyon.Although this trail is not singletrack, it offers nice views and wildflowers the further up you go, making the climb worth it. This trail is approximately 9.25 miles in length from the main parking area and gains over 2,800 feet.

The Camp Bird Mine was a gold and silver mine located in Ouray County. It was one of the most productive mines in the San Juans, and at its peak, it employed over 400 workers. The mine operated for over 20 years, until it was finally closed in 1991. During its time, the Camp Bird Mine produced over $50 million worth of gold and silver. Today, the mine is a popular tourist attraction, and visitors can take a tour of the tunnels and see the equipment that was used to extract the precious metals.

Hesperus Ski Area is 8,880 feet above sea level. 80% of the skiable terrain is lighted for night skiing. It has 13 runs, of which 30% are beginner difficulty, 20% are intermediate and 50% are of expert difficulty. It also features one rope tow and one double chair lift. There is also a full service snack bar, ski and snowboard rentals, ski and snowboard lessons and a tubing hill.

This magnificent trail cuts straight up through the Kennebec Valley, curving back and forth with the mighty river while overlooking woods and mountains. It runs from Embden to Bingham and makes for very comfortable travel. The surface of the trail is crushed gravel, and it's ideal for bikers, walkers, skiers, snowmobilers - just about anyone.

An American national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Montezuma County, Colorado. It protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the United States. The park occupies 52,485 acres near the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. With more than 5,000 sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. it is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States and is best known for structures such as Cliff Palace.

Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum is a museum focusing on Ancestral Puebloan, Native American, and historic cultures in the Four Corners region. The museum's permanent and special exhibits display some of the 3 million mostly Ancestral Puebloan artifacts curated at the facility. The center also houses a public research library, educational resources and a museum shop. Wheelchair-accessible facilities include a picnic area and an interpreted nature and cultural trail.

Escalante Pueblo was a compact village on a hilltop overlooking the Dolores River. Archaeologists believe it was occupied three different times, based on tree-ring dating of the wood used in its construction. Ancestral Pueblo people built the main complex in AD 1129 and lived there for at least nine years. The Spanish explorers Escalante and Dominguez made note of this site in 1776 during their trek across the Southwest.

The Pipe Shrine House, located in Montezuma County, Colorado, is a unique and fascinating archaeological site. believed to have been built by the Anasazi people around 1200 AD, the structure is thought to have been used for ceremonial purposes. The most impressive feature of the site is the large number of pipes that have been found inside the home. Many of these pipes are decorated with images of animals, humans, and other symbols.

McPhee Reservoir is the fifth largest lake in Colorado and provides one of the best spots in the southwest area for warm weather, big lake fun.The lake itself may be accessed from near Dolores, Colorado, by state highways 145 and 184, and offers various boat-launching facilities, picnic areas, and campgrounds in the McPhee Recreation Area operated by the U.S. Forest Service. The lake fills the lower end of the Dolores Valley, with the dam.

Spruce Canyon Trail is located in Montezuma county, Colorado. The trail is 3.8 miles long and features a waterfall and amazing views of the canyon. The trail is rated as moderate and is open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. Dogs are also welcome on the trail as long as they are kept on a leash. The Spruce Canyon Trail is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise.

Spruce Tree House is a large archaeological site located in Montezuma County. The site includes a number of well-preserved dwellings and public buildings, as well as a large number of burial sites. Excavations at the site have yielded a wealth of artifacts, including pottery, tools, and jewelry. The site is believed to have been inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans from approximately AD 1200 to 1300. Today, It is a popular tourist destination.

The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum is located in Montezuma County. The museum is dedicated to the history and culture of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived in the area. The museum houses a collection of artifacts, pottery, and tools that were used by the Ancient Puebloans. The museum also offers tours of the nearby ruins of Mesa Verde National Park. The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum is a great place to learn about the Ancient Puebloan people and their way of life.

The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is dedicated to understanding and protecting the heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people. The center is located, on the site of a former Anasazi village. Today, the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is open to the public and offers a variety of educational programs and tours. The center also conducts research on the Anasazi and other Native American tribes in the region.

Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America. The structure built by the Ancestral Puebloans is located in Mesa Verde National Park in their former homeland region. The cliff dwelling was constructed over a period of centuries, starting around 1200 AD and continuing until the late 1300s. It is thought to have been home to as many as 100 people at its peak. Cliff Palace was rediscovered by American settlers in 1888 and has been open to visitors since 1906.

Smelter Mountain is part of the La Plata Mountains range which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Smelter Mountain rises over 1,200 ft above the town, and the lower slope of the mountain was home to the Durango smelter, hence the name of the mountain. A 1.2 mile hiking trail leads to the summit, and other recreational activities include hunting and paragliding.

Lake Nighthorse is a reservoir created by the 270 feet high Ridges Basin Dam southwest of Durango in La Plata County Colorado.The lake is full and the surface area is approximately 1,500 acres at maximum elevation and the reservoir area includes a total of approximately 5,500 acres. The reservoir site is two miles from downtown Durango and provides a significant recreational amenity to the area.

The Animas Museum is a small, local history museum owned and operated by the La Plata County Historical Society. Its mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the history, culture and heritage of the San Juan Basin, with a focus on La Plata County. It also offers a wide variety of exhibits and educational programs to people of all ages; a research library and photo archive; a gift shop; award-winning gardens; and a restored pioneer log cabin.

This is an interactive science center located in Durango, Colorado. The plant was a very early alternating current power plant, the power we use today, meaning the town of Durango had AC powered street lights before many large cities in the East. The renovated Mission-style powerhouse is a state and national historic place. Today, the original boiler room remains intact and serves as the science center's theater.

The Hermosa Creek Trail is one of the best and most popular trails in the Durango area. There are several route options including an out and back on the singletrack portion of Hermosa Creek Trail. The main trail is very obvious. You will see several trail junctions along the way, but the main Hermosa Creek Trail is always the most well-worn route.