You’ll find Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in southwest Colorado. This 175,000 acre area of federal land is known for its high density of archaeological sites.
The national monument contains over 8,000 recorded sites including cliff dwellings, kivas, multi-room dwellings and shrines. If you’re into hiking you’ll love exploring this national monument.
There are a couple of different trails you can take at Canyons of the Ancients and the area is well worth exploring. The most popular trails are the Sand Canyon Trail and East Rock Creek Trail Loop. The route I took on my visit was partially on the Sand Canyon Trail and finishing on the East Rock Creek Trail which was a little over 6 miles.
Another popular stop is the Lowry Pueblo ruin and the Painted Hand Pueblo which are located on the north side of the monument.
You’ll find Canyons of the Ancients about an hour and 20 minutes west of Durango and 45 minutes from Mesa Verda National Park.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument on Google MapsCanyons of the Ancients National Monument Photos
While Canyons of the Ancients National Monument covers a massive area here are my photos from Sand Canyon Trail And East Rock Creek Trail Loop.
I hope you enjoyed my photos and experience from Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Colorado.
