Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

Canyons of the Ancients is a fragile checkerboard of ancient sites scattered across 164,000 acres of high desert in the southwest corner of Colorado. This area was the epicenter of Ancestral Puebloan communities. This enormous monument is a difficult place to navigate and there are just a few areas ready for the public to explore. It is an area to discover on your own, if you are prepared for an adventure of a lifetime.

Hours of Operation:
The Anasazi Heritage Center is open 9 am until 5 pm seven days a week from March - October and from 10 am until 4 pm seven days a week from November–February.

Directions:
After checking in at the Anasazi Heritage Center for a map and orientation. Visitors will travel west on Hwy 184 to Hwy 666. From Hwy 666 visitors can travel either north or south to access sites within the Canyons of the Ancients.

Visitor Services:
Parking
Visitor Information

Travel Tips:
Avoid traveling alone. Tell someone your plans and expected route. Carry a good map, a first aid kit, sunscreen, and at least one gallon (four liters) of water per day per person. Wear a hat, long sleeved shirt, long pants, sturdy footwear, and good socks. Watch for rattlesnakes, scorpions, mountain lions, and other potentially dangerous wildlife. Expect biting gnats in May and June. Roads are unpaved and require four-wheel drive.
 
27501 Hwy 184
Dolores, CO 81323
970-882-5600
co.blm.gov/canm