The Things to do in Cortez CO include different outdoor activities. Cortez, the county seat of Montezuma County, is near the Four Corners. It’s where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. Cortez is in the southwest of the state. Cortez, New Mexico is worth visiting. It has a distinct charm and deep culture.
Cortez, Colorado, lies in the heart of the Four Corners region of the Southwest. It’s between the entrance to the recognized Mesa Verde National Park and the intriguing Ute Mountain Tribal Park. Some of America’s most abundant archaeological sites are situated in the southwest.
You can discover the historic sites, national parks, and monuments. To learn about the history of the area take part in these year-round Cortez activities. Here are the top things to do in Cortez Colorado.
Cortez Cultural Center
The Center’s Museum has interpretive displays about the Basket Maker and Pueblo periods. They focus on the Ancestral Pueblo people.
Exhibits from the Navajo, Pueblo, and Ute Mountain Ute tribes are also on display. Local and regional artists are showcased in monthly art displays. Native American dances are performed against a backdrop of a traditional pueblo. A mural on the rear of the structure portrays this.
Dances are held Monday through Saturday at 7 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The open-air plaza comes with a Hogan. It is a Navajo traditional dwelling open for travelers to explore.
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center
By Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, you can work in the field and the lab with experienced archaeologists, go on domestic and international field trips with scholars, receive college credit through our Field School, enroll your kids in amazing summer camps where they can learn while having a great time, and much more.
The Lowry Pueblo
Visit a 40-room town situated on a 1,000-year-old ancestral Puebloan site. First excavated in 1931, the Lowry Pueblo site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1967.
It is among the most important BLM archaeological sites in the Four Corners area, which includes the confluence of Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico.
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is one of Colorado’s four national parks. It features a distinctive view. For more than seven centuries, the Ancestral Pueblo people set up prosperous towns on the mesas and cliffs of Mesa Verde.
The park gives visitors an astounding view of the past. It also protects the interesting cultural legacy of 26 Pueblos and Tribes. This International Dark Sky Park and World Heritage Site is home to more than a thousand species. A few of them are unique to Earth.
The Sunflower Theater
The Sunflower Theatre first opened its doors in 2015 and is located under KSJD Community Radio. It presents performing arts, musicals, films, and educational programs. This will help the diverse rural audience in the Four Corners Region enjoy better cultural experiences.
Its opening was much awaited because, other than bars, the town needed any kind of performing space. A favored spot in the local area, this prominent venue is small in size but powerful in live performances.
Hovenweep National Monument
Six prehistoric settlements, constructed between A.D. 1200 and 1300, spread across a twenty-mile stretch of magnificent mesa tops and vast canyons along the Utah-Colorado border that make up the Hovenweep National Monument.
The prehistoric Puebloan communities, which were once home to over 2,500 people, are known for their multistory towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on stones.
Their structures invite people to marvel at the skill and purpose of their builders. The Square Tower Group is the starting point for visitors to the Hovenweep National Monument.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
Many cultural and historic sites reflecting Ancestral Puebloan and other Native American cultures can be found within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
Situated 10 miles west of Cortez in southwest Colorado, the Monument occupies 176,056 acres and contains over 6,355 distinct significant archeological sites that have been honored for their exceptional cultural, ecological, and scientific significance.
Mountain Biking
For those who love mountain riding, Cortez provides an exceptional experience. For cyclists of all ability levels, Cortez offers an awesome play area with its different routes and challenging nature.
Conquistador Golf Course
Conquistador is an 18-hole championship golf course with a par of 72 that features small, hilly greens, rolling hills, and big trees that come into play on eight of the holes. It’s at an elevation of 6,200 feet, where you can enjoy refreshing summertime weather.
Hiking
For travelers searching for the perfect balance of peace and excitement, Cortex gives a place to unwind. Hikers can walk on forest trails. They can hike to vista spots that offer dazzling views. They can also enjoy the peace of nature.
Hiking Dolores River Canyon
Surrounding by 26,000 acres of natural and breathtaking wilderness, the Dolores River Canyon is a stunning 30-mile stretch of red rock canyon around the Dolores River, a tributary of the Colorado River.
The river and canyon are well-liked by those seeking outdoor adventures since they provide fantastic hiking and canoeing opportunities on the river. The Dolores River Canyon Trail is a nice, difficult hiking path that winds through a stunning red rock canyon with little elevation increase.
After three and a half miles, you’ll come across some amazing petroglyphs. Hikers with a strong sense of adventure might continue into the Dolores River Canyon.
