by Michele Kadison

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site
This fort, located in Colorado’s Southern Plains and built in 1833, served as an Indian trading post and a central hub on the Santa Fe Trail.  The fort became a staging area for Colonel Stephen Watts Kearney’s “Army of the West” during the war with Mexico in 1846.  It was abandoned in 1849, but the current structure is a perfect replica of the original.

Walk down the Santa Fe Trail to arrive at the fort’s gate. Once inside, watch the short documentary film, “Castle of the Plains” and then take a self-guided or guided tour to see actors reenact how life was back when the fort was alive and thriving.

Guided tours are available from September to May at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:00 p.m.  The site is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from June through August and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. September through May.  Call 719-383-5026 to reserve a tour, it is well worth it.

How to get there:
8 miles east of La Junta, Colorado on US 50.  Take Highway 109 north 1 mile to Highway 194.  Go 6 miles east to arrive at the site.

15 miles west of Las Animas, Colorado on CO 194.  Take US 50 to Highway 194 and then go west 13 miles.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Located in west-central Colorado, Black Canyon is not a well known park.  With its 27,705 acres of land, it attracts only about 180,000 visitors each year, ensuring that you will not be meeting up with the usual crowds when hiking or enjoying other activities during the high seasons.  With its narrow width and its sheer walls, Black Canyon is a dramatic sight, combining ruggedness and depth with the beauty of the Gunnison River flowing over the igneous rock below.  Only 1,500 feet wide in some places, the sun rarely shines on the canyon walls, hence the name Black Canyon.  The canyon is 5 miles long, with the most scenic area designated a national park.  Hike over to the upstream part of the gorge to see the three dams that are part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area.

You can reach Black Canyon off the Gunnison National Park from the north or south.  I found my way there by taking US 50 just east of Montrose via CO 347.  It’s a 7 mile trip that takes you up to 8,500 feet above sea level.  The excitement builds as you feel yourself get closer to the canyon rim.  Then, at Tomichi Point, you finally see the canyon in all of its grandeur.  There are quite a few vantage points from there and I stopped at every one to get some really great photos.  Once you get past the visitor’s center, you’ll see the canyon at its narrowest width at a spot rightly called The Narrows.  Once you arrive at High Point, the canyon becomes more V-like in shape, opening up a bit to give you a greater perspective.

From the south rim you can take a number of trails.  There are easy hikes as well as extremely challenging ones.  I was hoping to see some wildlife as I trekked through the majestic scenery and was rewarded slightly by spotting an eagle and a marmot!  There are also black bears, coyotes, bobcats, and a plethora of bird species hiding all about, waiting to be alone again on their turf once you’ve passed by.

From the north rim you can take a five-mile road that provides amazing vistas along the edge of the canyon.  There are several trails that take you down to the river, but this can be a difficult trek.

The park offers 102 campgrounds on the south rim and 13 on the north rim, all available on a first-come, first serve basis.  For information on camping and lodging, contact the Montrose Visitors and Convention Center at 800-873-0244.

One of the most breathtaking sights is on the 205 mile West Elk Loop.  This is easily accessed if you’re arriving at the park by taking I-70.  Here you will loop around the West Elk Wilderness, driving past the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Crawford and Paonia State Recreational Areas, White river, and the Gunnison National Forest.  Once you reach I-50 you can enjoy even more amazing views from the Curecanti National Recreation Area.

For more information on the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, contact: 970-641-2337.

Colorado National Monument
This stately monument on 20,534 acres of land is located in western Colorado and is part of the greater Colorado Plateau, which includes the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Arches National Park.  This site is famous for its unusual formations that include sheer-walled canyons, monolithic rock outcroppings, dinosaur fossils, and evidence of prehistoric Native American culture.  During the summer you can enjoy evening campfire programs, where entertaining lectures and stories are told about the region.  The park is open 24 hours a day, with the Visitor Center open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter.

How to get there:
The site is located 12 miles from Grand Junction, Colorado.  If you’re arriving from the east, take I-70 to Grand Junction and exit at Horizon Drive, taking Exit 31 to the east entrance of the park.  If you’re arriving from the west, take I-70 to Fruita and Exit 19 to the west entrance.

Curecanti National Recreation Area
This 41,972 acre park is located in west-central Colorado between Montrose and Gunnison.  Here you will find three exquisite lakes: Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal.  The Blue Mesa is the largest lake in Colorado, extending for 14 square miles.  Morrow Point Lake marks the entryway of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and below this is Crystal Lake, where you will find the Gunnison Diversion Tunnel, a National Historic Civil Engineering landmark.

There are many wonderful things to do in Curecanti, including hiking the beautiful trails, fishing the clear lakes, and horseback riding in the warm months; cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, and ice fishing in the cold months.  There are many interesting interpretive programs and an abundance of wildlife viewing, which makes being in this lush area a true vacation pleasure.  Many dinosaur fossils have been discovered here as well as traces of 6,000 year old structures.  Visit the 5,000 acre archeological district and ride on the narrow gauge train to make your stay complete.

The park is open every day, with the visitor center open from mid-May to the end of September.

Dinosaur National Monument
You will find this national monument in the northwestern region of Colorado and the northeastern region of Utah.  The vista from this spectacular area is nothing short of stunning.  The area is renowned for being the most important Jurassic paleontological site in the world, with the monument standing as a testimonial to an almost complete stratigraphic geological record. In addition you will see miles of canyons created by the Green and Yampa rivers cutting through the landscape.

When I visited the area I was overwhelmed by the display of over 1,500 dinosaur bones as well as the dinosaur replicas at the Dinosaur Quarry, just 7 miles north of Jensen, Utah.  I took the self-guided auto tour, which is a great way to learn about the history of the park along with the wildlife, prehistoric Native American rock art, and more.  Be sure to take the Desert Voices nature trail, guided by the Tour of the Tilted Rocks auto tour.  There is also a 62 mile auto tour that will take you through a dinosaur ecosystem, a great drive to Echo Park through two sandstone canyons, and some great river trips where camping is spectacular under the vast mountain skies.

How to get there:
Go two miles east of Dinosaur, Colorado off US 40.

For more information, contact: 970-74-3000

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Just 35 miles west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, this 5,998 acre park is known for its countless fossils.  Here you will find insects, leaves, and seeds from the Oligocene period preserved in great detail along with the famed petrified sequoia stumps that make this monument a favorite with those interested in prehistoric life.  Take a walk through the petrified forest after being informed by the 20 minute orientation lecture beforehand.  There are many summer programs offered at this monument, including Junior Ranger programs on the weekends, discovery programs, and a wide range of pertinent seminars.  Come at any time of year to hike along some of the most fascinating trails in the region.  The visitor center is open from May to September from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the rest of the year.

How to get there:
North or south on I-25, take US 24 west for 35 miles until you arrive in Florissant.  From here follow the signs and go 2 miles south to arrive at the visitor center.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
These are the highest dunes in North America, surrounded by some of the most magnificent mountains in the Colorado Rockies.  This protected area includes tundra, forests, grasslands, wetlands, forests, lakes, and streams.  The dunes were created over thousands of years by southwesterly winds blowing through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  They are a magnificent sight at any time of day when they turn varying shades of cream, pink, gray, gold, brown, and russet.  All along the dunes there are trails of all kinds.  Take a backcountry trek or hike on the dunes themselves (about a 2 hour journey).  I took my hike in the late afternoon when the light created an amazing array of colors that played over the dunes in an ever changing rhythm.  There is plenty of flora and fauna to observe in the park and camping is a delicious way to enjoy the pure air and clear night sky.  Summer events are abundant, with contests for kite flying and sand castle building, seminars, photo workshops, and concerts galore.

There are two major national scenic byways near the park.  Take the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway if you are coming north from Colorado Springs or Denver.  Here you will follow the historic stagecoach and railway routes to famous gold prospecting sites, fossil sites, and historical sites.  Some recommendations are The Royal Gorge Railroad with its 1,053 foot suspension bridge, the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Victor’s National Historic District, and Cripple Creek.

How to get there:
Take State Highway 115 from Colorado Springs to US 50, going west to Canon City.  Alternatively you can take US 24 from Colorado Springs to Florissant.

The second scenic byway lies northwest of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and is called the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway.  Here you will see historic villages and trading posts, Wet Mountain Valley, San Isabel National Forest, and spectacular views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

How to get there:
Take I-25 south for 112 miles to Pueblo.  Then pick up State Highway 96 west for 51 miles to Westcliff.  You can follow route 165 south from Highway 96 at McKenzie Junction to Colorado City, passing through Rye and San Isabel.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is open 24 hours a day all year round, with the Visitor Center open daily except for winter holidays.
For more information, contact:  719-378-6300

Hovenweep National Monument
This monument consists of 6 groups of towers, pueblos, and cliff dwellings created by the pre-Columbian Indians.  Located in southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado, the area is comprised of 785 acres filled with some of the most beautiful ancestral Puebloan architecture in the region.  Each trail leads to each of the sites, which are in fairly remote areas.  Enjoy the peace and serenity of the land as you feel the vibration of the history resonate through each step.  Start at the visitor center for an orientation and then continue to the Square Tower Group to begin your self-guided tour, which should include the trail through Little Ruin Canyon.

Hovenweep is open year round, with visitor center hours daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and extended hours during the summer.  Hiking trails are open during daylight hours only.

For more information, contact: 970-562-4282

How to get there:
From US 191, take UT 262, which runs east.  You can also reach the areas through Cortez, Colorado.

Mesa Verde National Park
A unique park that houses the cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo Indians who lived in the area from the 6th to 12th centuries, there are 4,400 sites that comprise this truly precious World Heritage Site.  If you are in good physical shape, take a tour with a ranger, arranged at the visitor center.  And do be warned!  Standing at 7,000 feet above sea level, Mesa Verde National Park can be a demanding hike for those who are not accustomed to moderately rugged activity.

One demanding hike descends about 100 feet on a steep trail with more than 120 uneven stone steps.  You then have to climb five 8-foot wooden ladders to arrive at Cliff Palace.  If you are up for the challenge, it is well worth the trek as you get a very good picture of how the Ancestral Puebloans lived so long ago.

An even more challenging trip takes you down a 100 foot staircase, up a 32 foot high ladder, a 12 foot tunnel (crawl space only), and then another 60 foot climb on ladders and stone steps.  Once you arrive you’ll be in a small ruin nestled in a cliff with a wall that was created to prevent anyone or thing from falling below.  This is Balcony House, one of the treasures of ancient Puebloan life.

These two trails are by no means indicative of all the trails in Mesa Verde National Park.  There are shorter, easier hikes as well as numerous drives to overlooks where the views are spectacular.

The park is open year round and is ideal during summer, fall, and spring.  Winter conditions can be challenging, with up to 3 feet of snow.  For more information, contact: 970-529-4465.

How to get there:
Near to Cortez and Durango, Colorado as well as Farminton, New Mexico.  From Cortez drive one hour east on Highway 160.  From Durango drive one hour and a half west on Highway 160.

Rocky Mountain National Park
Just two hours by car from Denver, this beautiful 265,765 acre park with peaks reaching more than 14,000 feet high, wildflower meadows, forests, lakes, and wildlife galore, stretches 415 miles across the Colorado Rockies.  Reachable by Trail Ridge Road, one of the most astounding drives in North America, you will be driving across the Continental Divide reaching from Estes Park to the east and Grand Lake to the west.  Trail Ridge Road, built between 1929 and 1932, rises more than 11,000 above sea level for eight miles and offers some of the most magnificent vistas imaginable.

Hike one of the more than 60 miles of exhilarating trails through the park where you can see bighorn sheep and elk as well as a wide range of other types of wildlife.  There are many guided tours, but if you want to just enjoy the freedom of big wilderness country, I suggest you get on a horse, take out your snowshoes or cross country skis, or take a boat out for a day of luxurious fishing.  The park is open 24 hours a day all year round.

Through there is no lodging inside the park, there are many possibilities for overnight stays outside.  You can pick from top shelf resorts, hotels, motels, B&Bs, lodges, cabins, campgrounds, and RV parks to enjoy days and days of exploration.  Campers can make reservations up to five months in advance at Moraine Park and Glacier Basin. Camping at Aspenglen, Longs Peak, and Timber Creek is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For information on camping, contact: 800-365-2267
Visitor information:  970-586-1319

How to get there:
Located in north-central Colorado, you can take US 34 and US 36 through Estes Park from the east, and I 70 and US 40 to US 34 through Granby and Grande Lake from the west.

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Along the banks of Big Sandy Creek in southeastern Colorado, this interesting site is on 920 acres of authorized land, with the remainder owned privately and by the state.  The site got its name from a shameful, bloody massacre lead by Colonel John M. Chivington on November 29, 1864.  He led a large number of soldiers to a village of approximately 500 Arapaho and Cheyenne who were camped peacefully along the banks of Big Sandy Creek.  Assuming they were under the protection of the U.S. Army, the tribes were unprepared for the attack where more than 150 people, mainly women, children, and the elderly, were brutally murdered.  The massacre was eventually condemned after three Federal investigations, but the harm had been done.

The site is currently waiting for authorization to open, pending the acquisition of enough land for preservation, interpretation, and commemoration of the massacre.  In tandem with The Conservation Fund, the State of Colorado, and the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes, the National Preservation Society is working towards establishing the site as official.

Yucca House National Monument
On a mere 34 acres, this monument is easily found at just 15 miles south of Cortez, Colorado off US 666.  Here you will see the unexcavated ruins of prehistoric Indian pueblos.  Because of the large size and amount of mounds, archeologists assume that the area will ultimately reveal a great deal of information about the life and times of these people.  The site achieved its name due to the Indians who lived in the Montezuma Valley calling what is now Sleeping Ute Mountain by a native name meaning yucca because of the abundance of these plants in the area.

Though there are no visitor services, you can hike here at any time of year.

For more information, contact:  970-529-4465

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