Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with a private car or motorcycle. Vehicular transportation is necessary to get to the sites
from the front park gate as well as to get between them.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Mancos
POP 1330 / ELEV 7028FT
A quick sprint through tiny Mancos and you'll think you've stumbled upon yet another
Colorado ghost town. But slow down for a minute and wander amid the boutiques, artists
co-op and landmark buildings and you'll be in for a great surprise. Sleeping and eating
options are limited, but the ones that do exist are charming and eclectic. Mesa Verde Na-
tional Park is just 7 miles to the west, so if visiting the park is on your itinerary, staying in
Mancos makes an appealing alternative to the rather nondescript motels in Cortez. From
June through September, the town puts on Grand Summer Nights, a series of gallery
walks that local restaurants and shops also participate in. It's held the last Friday of the
month.
Sleeping
Jersey Jim
Lookout Tower
( 970-533-7060; r $40; mid-May-mid-Oct)
How about spending the night in a former fire-
lookout tower? Standing 55ft above a meadow 14 miles north of Mancos at an elevation
of 9800ft, this place is on the National Historic Lookout Register and comes with an Os-
borne Fire Finder and t opographic map. But no water.
The tower accommodates up to four adults (bring your own bedding) and must be re-
served long in advance; there's also a two-night minimum stay. The reservation office
opens on the first workday of March (1pm to 5pm) and the entire season is typically
booked within days.
LOOKOUT TOWER
$
MOTEL
$
Enchanted Mesa Motel
( 970-533-7729;
www.enchantedmesamotel.com
; 862 W Grand Ave; s/d $71/82; )
Hipper than most
independent motels, this place has shiny lamps and solid wooden furniture, along with
king- and queen-size beds. There's a big playground out front for the kids. Best of all, you
