Canyons of the Ancients

Canyons of the Ancients NM https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/colorado/canyons-of-the-ancients https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyons_of_the_Ancients_National_Monument Canyons of the Ancients National Monument protects an archaeologically-significant landscape located in the southwestern region of the U.S. state of Colorado. The monument encompasses and surrounds three of the four separate sections of Hovenweep National Monument, which is administered by the National Park Service. The monument was proclaimed in order to preserve the largest concentration of archaeological sites in the United States, primarily Ancestral Puebloan ruins. As of 2005, over 6,000 individual archeological sites had been identified within the monument.

Lowry Pueblo Photo by Lanny Wagner COLORADO Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is accessible via county-maintained paved and gravel roads. www.co.blm.gov/canm or contact the Bureau of Land Management at: Anasazi Heritage Center 27501 Highway 184 Dolores, CO 81323 ph: 970-882-5600 www.co.blm.gov/ahc For More Information, visit 160 491 Road G National Monument Ancients Hovenweep National Monument of the Drilling wellpads in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Wildlife includes deer, elk, mountain lion, coyote, fox, rare snakes and rare lizards. Falcons and eagles hunt in the area year-round. Some archaeological sites are clearly identified, while others are intended as exhibits in an ‘outdoor museum’ experience. The BLM allows a variety of uses such as hiking, cattle grazing, mountain biking, horseback riding, oil and gas development, research, hunting and conservation, in the monument, but not every use is allowed on every acre. Thousands of archaeological sites have been recorded in the monument, and thousands more await documentation and study. Some, such as those with standing walls, are obvious, and other sites consist of rubble mounds or depressions in the earth. These sites all need protection. As you explore the monument, please do your part to protect the natural beauty and archaeological integrity of the landscape. Mesa Verde National P ark Canyons of the Ancients National Monument encompasses more than 170,000 acres of high desert in the southwest corner of Colorado. Part of the Bureau of Land Management’s National Landscape Conservation System, the monument is managed to protect a rich landscape of cultural and natural resources. Monument headquarters are located at the Anasazi Heritage Center, near Dolores, which provides up-to-date visitor information, maps, exhibits and advice on travel conditions. 491 Canyons ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER MAP & INFORMATION A NCIENTS Welcome BLM OF THE CANYONS NATIONAL MONUMENT A NCIENTS OF THE perspectives. Artifacts, microscopes, a loom and other hands-on experiences encourage discovery and exploration of the past. A ½-mile (3/4-km), self-guided interpretive trail leads to Escalante Pueblo, which offers a panoramic hilltop view. The museum shop offers books, videos and teaching materials about the ancient and recent history of the Four Corners area. The Center also has a movie theater, curation facility and library. If you have a few hours, visit the Anasazi Heritage Center, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Headquarters. Guided trips are provided by permitted private companies only. Contact Monument headquarters for a list. The Anasazi Heritage Center is fully wheelchairaccessible. The Center is open daily, except January 1, Thanksgiving and December 25. Call 970-882-5600 for admission fees and hours. The Heritage Center is 10 miles (16 km) north of Cortez. Painted Hand Pueblo Photo by Lanny Wagner Trip Ideas Visitors observe more than 100 bird species throughout the year. Cross-country motorized travel is not allowed. If a route is not signed, it is not open. There are no formal campgrounds. Primitive, dispersed camping is allowed, but vehicles must not be more than 20’ from the edge of a route surface. Artifacts excavated from sites in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument are preserved at the Anasazi Heritage Center (monument headquarters). This museum explains Ancestral Puebloan life on the Great Sage Plain and beyond and orients visitors. Interactive exhibits illustrate Ancestral Puebloan life from archaeological and Native American In the Sand Canyon/Rock Creek Special Recreation Management Area, visitors must stay on the designated routes. The rest of the Monument is open to foot and horseback travel. CANYONS If you have ½ day, visit the Heritage Center and Lowry Pueblo. Lowry Pueblo National Historic Landmark is the only developed recreation site within Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Lowry Pueblo has stabilized standing walls, 40 rooms, eight kivas and a Great Kiva. Lowry Pueblo also has interpretive signs and brochures, and the picnic area, toilet and trail are all wheelchair accessible. The area does not have drinking water or services except pit toilets, and there is no overnight camping. To reach Lowry, turn west off Highway 491 at Pleasant View onto County Road CC and go 9 miles (14.5 km) west. This asphalt road turns to gravel, but is usually passable by all vehicles. Ask the staff at the Anasazi Heritage Center for winter accessibility status. If you have a day, visit the Anasazi Heritage Center, Lowry Pueblo and Painted Hand Pueblo. Bicycles are allowed only on existing county roads and designated BLM routes. Painted Hand is a beautiful standing tower perched on a boulder. The site has never been excavated, but stone rubble shows where rooms were built against the cliff face and on boulders. The site gets its name from outlined hands on a boulder (such paintings are called picto

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Colorado Recreation Backyard to Backcountry Map Guide & Guide BLM Colorado Recreation Backyard to Backcountry M ore than a quarter of public lands in Colorado are managed specifically for recreation and tourism. Recreation on BLM lands is all about the visitor’s freedom to choose where to go and what to do. Unlike many other recreation destinations, the BLM’s public lands are still quite rustic. There are no entrance stations and comparatively few developed recreation areas. Diversity is the name of the game in Colorado, from our lands, to our recreation opportunities, to our adjoining communities. Dozens of nearby communities provide permitted guiding and outfitting services, gear and equipment sales, and lodging. BLM Colorado is always seeking recreation partnerships to enhance visitors’ experiences and provide quality recreation opportunities. Public lands are not set aside solely for recreation; they offer energy potential and—in an increasingly urban world—vast open spaces. In many places, the flavor of the Old West is still plainly visible—in historic mining structures as well as contemporary ranching activities. syMBOLs Legend A J K V C A N T E G S Camping Hiking Horse Trail Historic Site Rock Climbing Mt. Biking 4WD Wildlife Viewing Fishing Back Country Byway Kayaking Cover Photo: Kevin Krill - Crested Butte Photography, Penitente Canyon Top: Photo ©Jerry Sintz, Animas Forks Bottom: BLM Photo by Matt McGrath, McInnis Canyons NCA 1 | O T D Q E P Q I H B W Dirt Bike Trail Rafting Hunting ATV Trail Scenic Geology Fossil Site Scenic Area Winter Rec Area Snowshoeing Canoeing Off-Highway Vehicle Know Before you go BLM Colorado Offices 9 1 Craig 8 3 Kremmling Meeker 10 2 DENVER Silt 6 4 5 7 6 Grand Junction 7 8 Gunnison Montrose 3 5 Cañon City 1 2 4 9 10 Monte Vista Durango ROyAL gORge FIeLd OFFICe sAn LUIs VALLey FIeLd OFFICe gUnnIsOn FIeLd OFFICe TRes RIOs FIeLd OFFICe UnCOMPAHgRe FIeLd OFFICe gRAnd JUnCTIOn FIeLd OFFICe COLORAdO RIVeR VALLey FIeLd OFFICe KReMMLIng FIeLd OFFICe LITTLe snAKe FIeLd OFFICe WHITe RIVeR FIeLd OFFICe For additional information, contact the local BLM field office for the area you are planning to visit, or go to www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/ recreation-activities/colorado. B LM Colorado wants you to have the best experience possible on your public lands. When planning your trip, take all necessary safety precautions and be aware of regulations. Take into consideration the weather conditions, necessary equipment and wildlife inhabiting the area. CAMPIng BLM-managed public lands provide a variety of options for overnight trips: • developed campgrounds may include a variety of facilities, such as restrooms, potable water, fire rings, picnic areas, garbage cans, tent pads, etc. • dispersed (undeveloped) campsites are normally recognized by a hardened surface with no vegetation, where others have already camped. Use pre-existing fire rings or firepans, and be sure you know the local fire restrictions. TARgeT sHOOTIng Target shooting is permitted in most locations on BLM lands in Colorado. However, some areas are closed to target shooting for safety and resource protection. To ensure the well-being and enjoyment of all visitors on public lands, please follow laws, regulations and guidelines. OFF-HIgHWAy VeHICLes To ensure that all visitors have a chance to enjoy their public lands, visitors must abide by vehicle travel designations. In most BLM areas, OHVs are limited to operating on roads and trails that are identified on travel maps and/or posted as available for motorized use. Please check in with your local field office for more information on the best locations for motorized recreation. CULTURAL sITes Archaeologists study cultural sites to help understand the past. These important sites act as an outdoor classroom for all ages and provide insight into the lives of previous cultures. Collecting artifacts–including arrowheads–from federal public lands or Indian Tribal lands is illegal under federal laws and regulations. Violators may face prosecution and prison sentences of up to one year or more and possible fines. Never touch painted or plastered walls, petroglyphs or pictographs. The oil and dirt from hands can eventually destroy these remnants of past lives. Leave all artifacts exactly where you find them for others to enjoy. | 2 BLM Colorado offers a diversity of recreation activities and destinations. Here are a just few of the highlights: FIsHIng With four gold medal trout waters and three blue ribbon waters, some of Colorado’s best fishing is found on BLM public lands. Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and the Upper Colorado River are just a few areas that offer excellent fishing opportunities. ByWAys Several scenic and historic byways such as the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway, Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Histor

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Leave What You Find • Prehistoric and historic sites help us understand our past (collection of artifacts is against the law). Camping TM Plan Ahead and Prepare • Know the special concerns that go along with traveling in the back country. Minimize risk by planning a trip that matches your skills and expectations, and prepare for hazards and emergencies. • Please leave rocks, plants, fossils and other natural objects as you find them. N W E S TM • Visit in small groups when possible. • Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. TM • Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes. TM • Use a lightweight stove for cooking, and enjoy a candle lantern for light. Respect Wildlife • Never feed wild animals. • Good campsites are found, not made. Dispose of Waste Properly • Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter (including toilet paper and hygiene products). Minimize Campfire Impacts • Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires. • Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces • Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, or snow. on Public Lands • Enjoy rock art by viewing it, not touching it. • Control pets at all times. • Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. TM • Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6-8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished. TM • Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter. Be Considerate of Other Visitors • Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. TM BLM/CO/GI-18/0015 BLM Colorado State Office 2850 Youngfield Street Lakewood, CO 80215 (303) 239-3600 www.blm.gov/co BLM Photo For more information, please contact: CAMPING ON BLM PUBLIC LANDS IN COLORADO DEVELOPED AND UNDEVELOPED CAMPSITES There are more than 8 million acres of public land in Colorado, most of which is available for camping. This brochure is published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to help you enjoy camping on public lands, while preserving the quality of those lands for future generations. Building your camping adventure around your vehicle is one popular way to enjoy your public lands. Developed campgrounds have a variety of facilities available: a toilet, picnic tables, a fire ring, potable water, tent pads, and garbage cans. These sites may require a daily fee, which helps fund the care and maintenance of the site. You can also find developed campgrounds in nearby communities or on lands managed by other agencies. Developed site camping carries responsibilities for being a good neighbor to your fellow campers, and leaving a clean campsite for the next visitors. Although the BLM builds and manages campgrounds on the public lands in some areas, not all recreation attractions have developed recreation sites nearby. Undeveloped sites are normally recognized by a hardened © Jerry Sintz There are several options for staying overnight on public lands managed by the BLM in Colorado. You can camp within a vehicle, trailer, tent, or under the stars. You can enjoy a developed campground or any number of dispersed (undeveloped) sites, backpack or camp on a remote trail. Depending on where you go, available facilities and services vary widely. Please think about the following considerations as you decide what best fits your particular recreation outing. surface with no vegetation where others have already camped. Please use pre-existing campfire rings, and make sure you know fire restrictions that may be in place in your area. Camping at an undeveloped site brings the additional responsibility of packing out what you pack in, and properly disposing of human waste. Please observe the Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics guidelines outlined on the back of this brochure. BLM Photo by Bob Wick BLM Photo CAMPING Whether you take a short hike, an extended backpack trip, or mountain bike into the backcountry, more remote camping requires a greater level of preparation, additional gear and equipment, and more knowledge about how to care for yourself and the environment. Backcountry camping also carries an obligation to leave areas looking as you found them or even better for the next visitor to enjoy.