
Who Were the Ancient Puebloans?
The Ancient Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were a Native American culture that inhabited the Four Corners region—Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico—between approximately 1 A.D. and 1300 A.D. Depending on the criteria used to differentiate them from earlier groups, their origins may extend back to around 1500 B.C. The Ancient Puebloans are renowned for transitioning from a nomadic, hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a sedentary agricultural society, cultivating beans, squash, and corn. They are also noted for their monumental architecture, which served as housing, defense against hostile groups, and protection for their food supplies.
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Ancient Puebloan Ruins: Best Places to Visit
One of the Southwest’s most captivating features is the remnants of this prehistoric civilization. The culture’s zenith occurred in Chaco Canyon from 900 to 1100 C.E. The grand pueblos in Chaco surpass other ancient world achievements, such as those of the Mayas and Incas. By 1300, the Ancient Puebloans had mysteriously vacated the region, sparking ongoing research and speculation.
This two-part guide explores the best places to visit these historical sites. This one will cover Utah and Colorado. When visiting, please respect these sacred areas by leaving no trace, not moving or taking anything, and following photography rules.

Ancient Puebloan Indian Ruins – Colorado
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde, near Mancos, CO, is perhaps the most well-known Indian cultural park in the United States. The main attraction is the many elaborate cliff dwellings in the area. The largest, and most famous, is called the Cliff Palace. The area has been occupied for nearly 2,000 years. The park features mesa top pueblos and pit houses (dating from perhaps 600 C.E.) as well as the cliff dwellings which were built and occupied only during the final few decades of Anasazi occupation in the 13th century. There is also an excellent museum. Many ranger-guided tours are available including the famous Balcony House tour. The drive up to the mesa is extremely scenic. Access and activities are limited in winter. Pass prices vary: Single vehicle prices; October 23 – April 30 is $20, May 1 to October 22 is $30.


Hovenweep National Monument
Hovenweep National Monument in Dove Creek, Ut is on the border of Colorado and Utah. Hovenweep preserves six prehistoric sites built between A.D. 1200 and 1300 which may have served as ceremonial centers. Explore a variety of structures, including multistory towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders. Hovenweep National Monument protects six ancestral Puebloan communities that are spread 20 miles along the Utah-Colorado border. Each community is one “unit” of the park, and each unit is not connected to the others. You should start your visit at the Square Town Group the park’s main unit, which includes the visitor center and campground, as well as several of the park’s famous ancestral Puebloan structures. The rest of Hovenweep’s units are considered outliers and are more difficult to visit. All the outliers are accessed via dirt road, and we highly recommend using high-clearance vehicles. These units are Cutthroat Castle, Holly, Cajon, Horseshoe and Hackberry Groups. Please check the website for directions as this is not a straightforward monument to visit. Passes to visit the park start at $10.

Ute Mountain Tribal Park
The Ute Mountain Tribal Park in southwestern Colorado was created to preserve significant remnants of the Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) people, including spectacular cliff dwellings and rock art. Access to the park which is along the Mancos River and tributary canyons – and adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park – is by guided tour only. The Ute Mountain Tribal Park tours are highly recommended to anyone who is interested in cliff dwellings or any aspect of Ancestral Pueblo culture. However, the hiking and general effort of the all-day tour is quite strenuous so please do some research about this hike before you book it. There are other tours available.

Canyons of the Ancients and Anasazi Heritage Center
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Delores, Co. which is in the four corners area and encompasses over 174,000 acres of federal land. The Monument contains the highest known archaeological site density in the United States, with well-preserved archeological finds of Native American cultures. This cultural landscape contains more than 8,300 recorded sites reflecting many 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. The total number of sites is estimated to be up to 30,000. A great starting point for visitors to the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument is the visitor center and museum. With tons of historical and informational data on the protected lands, the center is the perfect place to gather information for your guided or unguided tour. Admission to the museum is $7.

Chimney Rock Archaeological Area
Chimney Rock Archaeological Area is a San Juan National Forest Archaeological Area located in Chimney Rock, CO. Surrounded by the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, Chimney Rock covers seven square miles and preserves 200 ancient homes and ceremonial buildings, some of which have been excavated for viewing and exploration: a Great Kiva, a Pit House, a Multi-Family Dwelling, and a Chacoan-style Great House Pueblo. Chimney Rock is the highest elevation of all the Chacoan sites, at about 7,000 feet above sea level. From the base, the hike to the top is just a half mile and it’s rewarded with dramatic 360-degree views of Colorado and New Mexico. All vehicles and motorcycles will be subject to an activity pass fee – $20.00. The activity pass fee provides 5 days of access to the Chimney Rock National Monument. Self-guided tours are available during open hours and are included in the activity pass.

Ancient Puebloans Indian Ruins – Utah
Grand Gulch Primitive Area
Grand Gulch is one of the finest cultural and recreational resources on the Colorado Plateau. Located in Monticello, Utah, it winds for fifty miles before reaching the San Juan River. The lush canyon is ideal for backpacking and pack trips. And it is full of Anasazi relics. Remnants of small dwellings are scattered throughout Grand Gulch. But a big feature is the fabulous rock art, for the most part colorful painted pictographs. This is an unsupervised environment, so you get to enjoy these relics in a private and natural setting. Please keep in mind that this is a very primitive area. You do need a permit to enter this area.

Canyonlands National Park – Newspaper Rock State Park
The Canyonlands region is rich in small scale Anasazi ruins and rock art, located near Moab, UT. One of the most famous sites is Newspaper Rock adjacent to the Needles District. The large flat rock wall is literally covered by petroglyphs. If you are a backpacker, you will be able to reach the famous “All American Man” pictograph on Salt Creek. Canyonlands National Park preserves 337,598 acres of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches, and spires in the heart of southeast Utah’s high desert. Canyonlands preserves the natural beauty and human history throughout its four districts, which are divided by the Green and Colorado rivers. These are not close together so be sure to do research on the park’s website to see what areas you wish to explore. There is a $30 private vehicle fee to enter the park.

Edge of the Cedars State Park
At the nearby town of Blanding, the Edge of the Cedars State Park offers a partially excavated pueblo and a small museum. Edge of the Cedars Pueblo, a village inhabited by the ancestors of contemporary Puebloan peoples from AD 825 to 1225 and climb down a ladder to enter the 1,000-year-old kiva. View the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) pottery on display in the Four Corners area. There is a $5 fee to enter the park.

Horseshoe Canyon – Canyonlands National Park
The Great Gallery of Horseshoe Canyon is considered the finest rock art panel in America. While this area was the domain of the Fremont people during the Anasazi era, the rock art is much more ancient. The style, is known as “Barrier Canyon” and is associated with the Archaic Indians during the years 2000 B.C.E to 500 C.E. Relics in the area have been dated to 9000 B.C.E Access is via 30 miles of dirt road, then several miles of pretty tough hiking into the canyon. This is part of Canyonlands National Park.

Anasazi Indian Village State Historical Monument
Located in the remote town of Cannonville, Utah, this site offers an excavated Anasazi village and a museum. It is unusual because the village was established around 1075 B.C.E. by Kayenta Anasazi migrating up from the south. The village prospered for nearly 200 years and became a crossroads of Ancient Puebloan and Fremont culture. The village burned in 1275. The cause is not known nor is the whereabouts of the residents after the village was destroyed. Outside the museum, tour a life-sized, six-room replica of an ancient dwelling and view a portion of the original site. Inside, view artifacts excavated from this site and learn the lifeways of these people. There is a $5 fee to enter this monument.
Conclusion
As you can see there are many sites that have great history of not only the Ancient Puebloan, but also the peoples that followed them. If you enjoy learning about the history of our country, then these must-see sites should go on your bucket list! There is so much to learn about past cultures and visiting these sites is a great experience. Not only will you learn about the past, but the landscape is amazing. The Southwest, especially the four corners area, offers breathtaking views, lots of historical sites and some quirky places along the way. I had no idea there were so many sites in the four corners area. When planning your trip, you may want to break it into more than one trip to give yourself enough time to see them all. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, it will tell you about Ancient Puebloan sites in Arizona and New Mexico.
We hope to help you plan your vacations by informing you of things we have learned and tips we’ve picked up along the way. I do recommend checking the websites we supplied when planning your trip to get more detailed information. We hope to inspire you to get out and make your own memories, don’t forget a camera, and find your own adventures. You don’t have to go on a big vacation to have an adventure, you can take a day trip near home and learn something new about your area. The most important thing is to get out and have fun!
