Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mesa Verde & Southwest Colorado
Why Go?
The West at its most rugged, this is a landscape of twisting canyons and ancient ruins, with
burly peaks and gusty high desert plateaus. Centuries of boom and bust, from silver to real
estate, tell part of the story. There's also the lingering mystery of its earliest inhabitants,
whose relics have been found at the abandoned cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National
Park.
Southwestern Colorado can be a heady place to play. Some of the finest powder skiing in
the world melts to revea l winding singletrack and hiking trails in summer. Vineyards are
sprouting up on the western slope. A sense of remove keeps the Old West alive in wooden
plank saloons and aboard the chugging Durango railroad.
With all that fresh mountain air, local attitudes - from the ranch hand to the real-estate
agent - are undoubtedly relaxed. Dally a bit under these ultra-blue skies and you will know
why.
When to Go
Jun-Aug
Prime time for hiking and camping in the legendary San Juans.
