Mesa Verde, A Sacred Place

For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. See the NP Website

From the cabins: 28 miles / 45 min (Need a permit to visit the best part)

Great Sand Dunes, Dunes Among Diversity

The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park! See the NP Website

From the cabins: 191 miles / 3h 30 min

Hovenweep, Masonry that has stood for centuries

Once home to over 2,500 people, Hovenweep includes six prehistoric villages built between A.D. 1200 and 1300. Explore a variety of structures, including multistory towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders. The construction and attention to detail will leave you marveling at the skill of the builders. See the NP Website

From the cabins: 61 miles / 1 hr 10min

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

The archeological record etched into this cultural landscape is much more than isolated islands of architecture. More than 8,300 recorded sites reflect physical components of past human life: Villages, field houses, check dams, reservoirs, great kivas, cliff dwellings, shrines, sacred springs, agricultural fields, petroglyphs and sweat lodges—some areas have more than 100 sites per square mile. See the NP Website

From the cabins: 44 miles / 50 min

Canyon de Chelly, the homeland of the Dine

his canyon is home to Dine’ families who raise livestock, farm lands, and live here. People have lived in these canyons for nearly 5,000 years, which is longer than anyone has lived continuously on the Colorado Plateau. In this place called Tsegi, their homes and images tell us their stories. See the NP Website

From the cabins: 144 miles / 120 min

Welcome to Canyon Trails Ranch

We operate a family-owned ranch in McElmo Canyon, with horseback riding, secluded camping/glamping, a carriage shop, and chuckwagon catering. 

We are located 1 mile east of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, between Mesa Verde National Park and Hovenweeep National Monument. Website Here

Mancos

Folks usually discover Mancos’ truly Western landscape and culture on their way to somewhere else. Just 6 miles east of the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park, the town’s visitor center is the perfect stop for travelers in search of park information or a good place to eat. Explore the town

Durango

Durango is a small city in southwestern Colorado, near the New Mexico border. The 19th-century Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam train passes mountains and canyons. In the city center, its affiliated Railroad Museum displays restored locomotives, aircraft and a baggage car converted into a movie theater. Nearby, the Powerhouse Science Center offers interactive exhibits in a former power. Website

From the cabins: 27 miles / 30 min

Telluride

With pristine, glorious mountain peaks, breathtaking scenery, a quaint historic district, and world-class skiing, Telluride is certainly one of the most beautiful towns of Colorado. Website