STORIES

Featured Destinations Archives

HOVENWEEP NATIONAL MONUMENT

.......Hovenweep National Monument consists of a small cluster of Anasazi indian archaeological sites along the Colorado-Utah border in the American Southwest. The Anasazi, also sometimes called ancestral Pueblo native Americans, populated the desert southwest from approximately 800 until around 1300. Smaller than, but similar to, the world-famous cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park an hour away, Hovenweep offers a much quieter and more intimate experience.
.......Stone buildings from approximately 1100-1300 AD are scattered on mesa tops and at the base of small cliffs. The beauty of Hovenweep over Mesa Verde is that the visitor can wander at will along gentle pathways surrounding the dwellings. It is unlikely that any tour busses will be disgorging dozens of visitors at a time. In fact, a dozen visitors to any one section of the monument would consist of a crowd.

.......Few of the ancient structures are as dramatic as the soaring cliff palaces of Mesa Verde, but Hovenweep offers the visitor a more intimate experience to the stone palaces, the desert environment, and pre-Columbian culture in America.

.......Hovenweep is located about one hour by car west of Cortez, Colorado. Durango, Colorado (an hour east of Cortez, two hours from Hovenweep), is the closest practical airport, with several daily connecting flights from Phoenix, Arizona, and Denver, Colorado. The entire Four Corners region is also easily accessible from Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is the largest nearby airport.

.......The best times to visit Hovenweep are early spring (April-May) and late fall (October-November). Summer can be hot, and is usually more crowded (although, as said, crowds at Hovenweep are relative). Winter can be very pleasant, and while it may be cold, there is seldom snow on the ground. But maybe you'll wish for snow, as the ancient dwellings can be at their most magical with a dusting of winter white.

.......There are many other scenic and recreational attractions in the Four Corners region near Hovenweep, including Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, ski resorts in Telluride and Durango, Canyonlands National Park, and a host of other destinations.

.......Guidebooks to Hovenweep and surrounding areas are available at local bookstores in both Cortez and Durango. Both communities, and several smaller nearby towns, offer lodging options.

Featured Destinations Archives