Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, located in the Four Corners region of southwestern Colorado, protects a stunning cultural landscape with the highest known density of archaeological sites in the United States. Encompassing 176,000 acres of public lands, the Monument features more than 8,300 documented sites—including villages, kivas, field houses, cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and ancient roadways—with estimates suggesting over 30,000 yet to be recorded.
These sites offer a window into over 12,000 years of human history, primarily shaped by Ancestral Puebloan cultures and their descendants. The area continues to be a living landscape used today for traditional purposes, recreation, hunting, livestock grazing, and energy development.
While exploring the Monument’s canyons, mesas, and desert terrain, visitors are reminded to Visit with Respect and Leave No Trace to protect the resources that define this unique place.
Get Involved
- Partners
Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum is operated by the Bureau of Land Management with assistance from Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance and San Juan Mountains Association.
- Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance is the official friends group to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. They help provide the special programming and events year-round.
- San Juan Mountains Association provides Visitor Center staff and skilled educators who help deliver educational programming at Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum. Email [email protected] to schedule a field trip today!
- Volunteers and Interns
We welcome volunteers to help further the mission of the monument and the BLM. Student internships are also periodically available in Curation and Visitor Services. Please call for details.
- Artist in Residence
Canyons of the Ancients hosts two Artists in Residences each year. Visit our Artist-in-Residence page to learn about current opportunities and apply.
Activities that Require Permits
- Large Groups and Guided Tours
Tour groups (and any organized group over 15) visiting the National Monument are required to obtain a special recreation permit. Contact the Canyons of the Ancients permitting staff at 970-882-5635 well in advance for guidance on permit requirements and for a list of guides.
We encourage all groups over 15, organized and/or commercial to plan your visit to Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum instead of the National Monument to help protect and preserve sensitive cultural resources. Call us to schedule your visit one month in advance.
For school group visits, please see For Educators.
- Special Recreation Permits
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and Tres Rios Field Office accept commercial Special Recreation Permit applications and modification requests for the following year every September 1 through 30. This includes existing permittees requesting permit modifications such as requesting additional use areas or proposing changes to the pre-existing purposes and/or activities authorized. Please call for details.
- Christmas Tree Harvesting
Permits are required for cutting a Christmas tree. Contact the Tres Rios Field Office for details.
- Resource Extraction
The Monument supports various uses, including livestock grazing, which occurs across 98% of the area. Grazing is a historical use that has occurred since the late 1800s. Oil and gas leases cover nearly 80% of the Monument, with over 100 actively producing wells.
Contact Us
This area is managed by Tres Rios Field Office; visit their page for office hours and directions.
970-882-5600
Quick Facts
- Establishment law
- Established June 9, 2000
- BLM Acreage: 176,000 acres
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