Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 970-565-6868; 1740 E Main St; mains $8-12; 11am-10pm; )
Good-tasting food at bargain
prices draws the crowds on any given night. Though a chain, it does a great job. The
chicken
mole,
seafood tacos and
carne asada
all win raves, as do margaritas with fresh
lime juice. Expect a wait on weekends.
Information
Colorado Welcome Center
( 970-565-4048; 928 E Main St; 9am-5pm Sep-May, to 6pm Jun-Aug)
Maps,
brochures and some excellent pamphlets on local activities like fishing and mountain bik-
ing.
970-565-6666; 1311 N Mildred Rd)
Emergency services.
Southwest Memorial Hospital
(
Getting There & Away
In the extreme southwest corner of the state, Cortez is easier to reach from either Phoenix,
AZ, or Albuquerque, NM, than from Denver, 379 miles away by the shortest route. East
of Cortez, US 160 passes Mesa Verde National Park on the way to Durango, the largest
city in the region, 45 miles away. To the northwest, Hwy 145 follows the beautiful Do-
lores River through the San Juan Mountains on an old Rio Grande Southern narrow-gauge
route over Lizard Head Pass to Telluride, 77 miles distant.
Cortez Municipal Airport
( 970-565-7458; 22874 County Rd F)
is served by United Express, which
offers daily turboprop flights to Denver. The airport is 2 miles south of town off US 160/
666.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Four Corners Navajo Tribal Park
Don't be shy: do a spread eagle for the folks on top of the
Four Corners Navajo Tribal Park
(
928-871-6647;
www.navajonationparks.org
; off US 160; admission $3;
7am-5pm Oct-
May, 7am-8pm Jun-Sep)
corners marker that signifies you're in four states at once. Great photo
op, even if it's not 100% accurate - government surveyors have admitted that the marker
is almost 2000ft east of where it should be, but it is a legally recognized border point
marking the intersection of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.
