Drilling wellpads in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument National Ancients the of Canyons in wellpads Drilling year-round. year-round. eagles hunt in the area area the in hunt eagles lizards. Falcons and and Falcons lizards. rare snakes and rare rare and snakes rare lion, coyote, fox, fox, coyote, lion, deer, elk, mountain mountain elk, deer, Wildlife includes includes Wildlife on every acre. every on Lowry Pueblo Photo by Lanny Wagner every use is allowed allowed is use every county-maintained paved and gravel roads. gravel and paved county-maintained monument, but not not but monument, COLORADO via accessible is Monument National Ancients the of Canyons conservation, in the the in conservation, research, hunting and and hunting research, www.co.blm.gov/ahc and gas development, development, gas and ph: 970-882-5600 ph: horseback riding, oil oil riding, horseback Dolores, CO 81323 CO Dolores, mountain biking, biking, mountain 27501 Highway 184 Highway 27501 cattle grazing, grazing, cattle Anasazi Heritage Center Heritage Anasazi uses such as hiking, hiking, as such uses the Bureau of Land Management at: Management Land of Bureau the allows a variety of of variety a allows or contact or intended as exhibits in an ‘outdoor museum’ experience. The BLM BLM The experience. museum’ ‘outdoor an in exhibits as intended www.co.blm.gov/canm Some archaeological sites are clearly identified, while others are are others while identified, clearly are sites archaeological Some For More Information, visit Information, More For beauty and archaeological integrity of the landscape. the of integrity archaeological and beauty you explore the monument, please do your part to protect the natural natural the protect to part your do please monument, the explore you mounds or depressions in the earth. These sites all need protection. As As protection. need all sites These earth. the in depressions or mounds those with standing walls, are obvious, and other sites consist of rubble rubble of consist sites other and obvious, are walls, standing with those and thousands more await documentation and study. Some, such as as such Some, study. and documentation await more thousands and Thousands of archaeological sites have been recorded in the monument, monument, the in recorded been have sites archaeological of Thousands Park P National 491 visitor information, maps, exhibits and advice on travel conditions. travel on advice and exhibits maps, information, visitor 0 16 erde V esa M at the Anasazi Heritage Center, near Dolores, which provides up-to-date up-to-date provides which Dolores, near Center, Heritage Anasazi the at R resources. Monument headquarters are located located are headquarters Monument resources. G o a d a rich landscape of cultural and natural natural and cultural of landscape rich a the monument is managed to protect protect to managed is monument the National Monument National Ancients 491 Landscape Conservation System, System, Conservation Landscape of the of Canyons Monument of Land Management’s National National Management’s Land of National of Colorado. Part of the Bureau Bureau the of Part Colorado. of Hovenweep HERITAGE CENTER HERITAGE desert in the southwest corner corner southwest the in desert ANASAZI than 170,000 acres of high high of acres 170,000 than TION INFORMA & AP M Monument encompasses more more encompasses Monument S ENT CI AN Canyons of the Ancients National National Ancients the of Canyons Welcome OF THE OF ONS Y CAN BLM TIONAL MONUMENT TIONAL NA S ENT CI AN OF THE OF ONS Y CAN Painted HandPuebloPhotobyLannyWagner Visitors observe more than 100 bird species throughout the year. Trip Ideas perspectives. Artifacts, microscopes, a loom and other hands-on experiences If you have ½ day, visit the Cross-country motorized travel is not allowed. If a route is not signed, If you have a few hours, visit the Anasazi Heritage Center, Canyons of the encourage discovery and exploration of the past. A ½-mile (3/4-km), Heritage Center and Lowry Pueblo. it is not open. Ancients National Monument Headquarters. self-guided interpretive trail leads to Escalante Pueblo, which offers a Lowry Pueblo National Historic Landmark is the only developed panoramic hilltop view. The museum shop offers books, recreation site within Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. There are no formal campgrounds. Primitive, dispersed camping is Artifacts excavated from sites in Canyons of the Ancients National videos and teaching materials about the ancient and Lowry Pueblo has stabilized standing walls, 40 rooms, eight kivas and allowed, but vehicles must not be more than 20’ from the edge of a Monument are preserved at the Anasazi Heritage Center (monument recent history of the Four Corners area. The Center a Great Kiva. route surface. headquarters). This museum explains Ancestral Puebloan life on the Great also has a movie theater, curation facility and Sage Plain and beyond and orients visitors. library. Lowry Pueblo also has interpretive signs and brochures, and the picnic Guided trips are provided by permitted Interactive exhibits illustrate area, toilet and trail are all wheelchair accessible. The area does not private companies only. Contact Ancestral Puebloan life The Anasazi Heritage Center is fully wheelchair- have drinking water or services except pit toilets, and there is no Monument headquarters for a list. from archaeological accessible. The Center is open daily, except overnight camping. and Native January 1, Thanksgiving and December 25. Call In the Sand Canyon/Rock Creek Special American 970-882-5600 for admission fees and hours. The To reach Lowry, turn west off Highway 491 at Pleasant View onto Recreation Management Area, visitors Heritage Center is 10 miles (16 km) north of Cortez. County Road CC and go 9 miles (14.5 km) west. This asphalt road must stay on the designated routes. The turns to gravel, but is usually passable by all vehicles. Ask the staff at rest of the Monument is open to foot and the Anasazi Heritage Center for winter accessibility status. horseback travel. If you have a day, visit the Anasazi Heritage Center, Bicycles are allowed only on existing county roads and designated BLM routes. Lowry Pueblo and Painted Hand Pueblo. Painted Hand is a beautiful Three BLM Wilderness Study Areas (Cross Canyon, Squaw/Papoose standing tower perched on a Canyon, and Cahone Canyon) are open only to non-mechanized/non- boulder. The site has never motorized travel. been excavated, but stone rubble shows where rooms Private property is interspersed throughout the monument. Please avoid were built against the cliff face trespassing or blocking driveways. and on boulders. The site gets its name from outlined hands on a boulder (such paintings are called pictographs). Please respect these fragile paintings! Oil and dirt from hands will eventually destroy these remnants of past lives. To reach Painted Hand, turn west off Highway 491 at Lowry Pueblo County Road CC and go 5.5 miles (8.8 km) west. Take County Road 10 south 11.3 miles (18 km). Look for the small Painted Hand sign and kiosk, then turn left. Follow dirt road 1 mile to Painted Anasazi Heritage Center Hand Trailhead. To get there, you should have a good map and a high- clearance vehicle. There are no services or facilities. Escalante Pueblo, built during the 1100s, is on the Heritage Center grounds. Exploring Canyons of the Ancients Be Safe To Dove Creek • Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is Monticello Utah a remote, rugged and harsh desert environment. Rd H Colorado DOLORES Summer temperatures may exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), and elevation Cortez ranges from 4,875 ft (1500 m) above sea level 6 ! Durango ! d to 6,825 ft (2100 m) above sea level. a o • Carry and drink at least one gallon (four liters) R of water per person per day. • Use sunscreen. Or Hike on the Sand • Have ample fuel for your vehicle. Arizona New Mexico Canyon/Rock Creek • Always carry a good map, water, food and first Special Recreation aid kit. Avoid travelling alone. Tell someone Road R Cahone Management Area ÆQBradfield your plans and expected route. trails. • Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, Cahone 6 S sturdy footwear and good socks. 1 d The Sand Canyon and Rock Canyon WSA R d Photo © Jerry Sintz a • Use insect repellant. Expect biting gnats in Creek trails are open for o 4 Saddlehorn Pueblo in Sand Canyon R May and June. d hiking, mountain biking a o Rd T • Watch for rattlesnakes, scorpions, mountain lions and other potentially dangerous or horseback riding on R wildlife. designated routes only. Lowry Hiking routes can be steep, Pueblo Road CC Pleasant View 0 1 A Rich Cultural History rocky and remote. There are ) Road BB d no services or facilities. a Humans have been part of this landscape for at least 12,000 years. Changes in o Canyons Squaw 4 2 1 R d a cultural life over time ranged from hunting and gathering to farming. By about Papoose o d R a Canyon WSA o A.D. 750 farmers, now known as Ancestral Puebloans, occupied a widespread area If you have a second day, visit Sand Canyon Pueblo… Rd Z R 1 that included Canyons of the Ancients and much of southwest Colorado. Their 1 Sand Canyon Pueblo includes the remains of about 420 rooms, 100 kivas and Yellow Jacket d Road Y year-round villages began as clustered pit houses. Over time, these ancestors of the 14 towers. Researchers from the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center excavated Cross R of the Canyon Rd Y modern-day Pueblo Indians developed larger masonry homes with connecting walls several rooms from 1983 to 1993, and then backfilled them to protect standing 5 M CP HE E WSA 1 above ground.