Hawkins Pueblo

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6069 - 6103 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: Hawkins Preserve
Fee: none
Attractions: pueblo ruins

The Hawkins Pueblo is located in the Hawkins Preserve in Cortez, Colorado. The pueblo sits on top of the bluffs on the north side of McElmo Creek. In the cliffs below the pueblo there are several caves that also show signs of previous habitation.

McElmo Creek Petroglyphs

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 5280 - 5342 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: 37.33032, -108.87320
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs

The McElmo Creek Petroglyphs are located about 16 miles west of Cortez, Colorado along Road G. Two panels of petroglyphs can be found at the site. One panel has quite a few images that are unfortunately accompanied by graffiti. The second panel has a large image of a burro and a Spanish fighting bull.

Ute Tribal Park

Rating: 
One-way Distance: up to 30 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 5225 - 6818 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: half day/full day tours
Trailhead: Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park Visitor Center
Fee: varies
Attractions: pueblo, cliff dwellings, rock art

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park is located about 20 miles south of Cortez, Colorado on Tribal Land and can only be visited by booking a half or full day guided tour. The Tribal Park is often acclaimed as 'the other Mesa Verde', which holds true as far as the builders and occupiers of both locations being the same ancient people goes, but the Tribal Park itself is hugely less developed and visitors can expect a much more primitive experience. Tours can be booked by calling the number on their website.

Cannonball Mesa Pueblo

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.25 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 5380 - 5392 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 45 mins.
Trailhead: 37.34494, -108.97158

  left turn: 37.34710, -108.93258
Fee: none
Attractions: pueblo ruins

The Cannonball Mesa Pueblo is located in the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument about 20 miles west of Cortez, Colorado. Perched above a spring, on the rim of a side arm of Yellow Jacket Canyon, are the ruins of a pueblo style structure that probably had 20 or more rooms. While much of the present ruins are rubble piles there are a few standing walls that might be over 10 feet in height.

Cortez (2)

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Hawkins Pueblo   
Round trip distance: 1 mile (Easy)
Elevation: 6069 - 6103 feet · Fee: none

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Ute Tribal Park   
One-way driving distance: 30 miles (Moderate)
Elevation: 5225 - 6818 feet · Fee: varies

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