Location: Cortez
Top Things to do in Cortez
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Things to do in Cortez, Colorado (CO): The Best Sights & Landmarks
The City of Cortez is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 8,482 at the 2010 United States Census.
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1. Hovenweep National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 672 reviews
Located in Utah but near Cortez, this site has six ruin sites all built around 1200 AD. Hovenweep is 42 miles from Cortez, CO and approximately 48 from Blanding, UT
Reviewed By wre2018 - Tucson, United States
Hovenweep National Monument consists of some clusters of ancestral puebloan ruins close to the Utah-Colorado state line. A worthwhile stop if you are in the Four Corners area. You will notice architectural similarities with structures in nearby parks (Mesa Verde, Canyons of the Ancients, Chaco, etc.). There are towers, kivas, D-shaped buildings, some built with clearly defensive purposes in mind (to guard a spring, for example). Pets are permitted on the trails. The park headquarters is at the Square Towers Group (the best and longest trail is here, but only a limited portion of it is suitable for wheelchair-bound people). Other sections of the park worth going to are the Holly, Horseshoe, and Hackberry units--driving to these in a low-clearance vehicle will be a challenge, but can be done with care. Unfortunately, what there is to see are ruins of buildings and petroglyphs in places. To see artifacts (pottery, tools, woven items, etc.) removed from various archaeological sites in SE Utah and SW Colorado, you need to visit museums located elsewhere: Edge of the Cedars State Park in Blanding, UT and Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum in Dolores, CO. Both museums are quite interesting, and some of the items on display clearly used materials from distant places (e.g., in Mexico).
2. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 258 reviews
Reviewed By WanderlusTravelers
For the total experience, I’d rate Canyon of the Ancients very highly. However, the history of the people in Canyon is that of those who occupied the area in Mesa Verde National Park. Having come from MVNP, I found the info and sights duplicative. The cultural center in Dolores is interesting. Takes 1-2 hours and there are 2 short films you can watch. As far as sights in Canyon, you mostly just have two options: Lowry Pueblo (very similar to MVNP), and a non-shaded hiking trail (Sand Canyon), where you can self-explore unrestored ruins. These two sights are separated by at least an hour drive.
3. Cajon Group
4. McElmo Flume No. 6
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2 reviews
The McElmo Creek Flume is on county land east of Cortez on U.S. Highway 160. A point-of-interest highway pullout directs visitors to the site. A walkway and overlook with information panels explains the history of the water structure. Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company Flume No. 6, aka McElmo Creek Flume, was built in 1921. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
