The small communities of Mesa Verde Country: Cortez, Dolores, and Mancos, welcome you with genuine hometown hospitality! Each has its own special character (and characters!), so be sure to take time to explore each one.
Cortez, the archaeological center of America, is the largest community near Mesa Verde National Park. The town is nestled between the brooding Sleeping Ute Mountain and the sharp-hewn silhouette of Mesa Verde’s green table top.
Dolores is located on the San Juan Skyway, about an hour from Telluride. This adventure hub is where the Dolores River forms McPhee Reservoir, the second largest body of water in Colorado. With the Dolores River running through town and mountains on both sides of the valley, Dolores is Mesa Verde Country’s outdoor recreation playground.
Mancos sits in the heart of the lush Mancos Valley and traces its roots back to the ranching, farming, and timber industries that started in the 1870s. Ranching is still a mainstay, and while the Western spirit is alive and well, Mancos is becoming well-known for its thriving artist community.
10 minutes from Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez has plenty of lodging, shopping and dining choices including breweries and wineries.
The town of Dolores takes its name from the river, but is better known today for outdoor fun, colorful history and water sports.
Known as the place where Louis L’Amour wrote many of his novels, the Western landscape of Mancos continues to inspire a burgeoning artist community.
Connect with Mesa Verde County on social media and share your adventures with #ExploreMesaVerde.
