Do you love to hike and explore Colorado’s many landscapes and attractions? If you do, get ready to have your mind blown (and your leg muscles worked) by walking these 5 historic hiking trails in Colorado that will lead you to some of the most extraordinary ruins in the state:
Located in the scenic San Juan National Forest, Chimney Rock is a massive 4,726-acre national monument that features not only the beautiful colors you would come to expect from the San Juans, but also Ancestral Puebloan sites from some odd 1,000 years ago. (Please note: Since the area is highly protected, it is only accessible via guided tours.)
Do these large castle walls seem to be fit for a king? They are (or at least the POTUS, as was originally intended by builder John Brisben Walker)! Unfortunately, these early 20th-century dreams never came to surface, but you can still see Walker’s impressive work at Mount Falcon Park, which features a special 1.7-mile Turkey Trot Trail strictly for walkers and hikers. It’s one historic hiking trail in Colorado you won’t want to miss.
Quite possibly the most famous ruins in all of Colorado are those of Mesa Verde, which is home to 5,000 known Ancestral Puebloan archeological sites and more than 600 cliff dwellings. When it comes to hiking this magnificent area, there is no shortage of designated trails to explore, running from a 1/2 mile all the way up to nearly 8.
Located just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Mesa Verde is the impressive Hovensweep National Monument; another series of Ancestral Puebloan ruins that features not only several trails, but also jaw-dropping views.
One final hike that we recommend doesn’t involve Ancestral Puebloan ruins, but ruins from the once-thriving mining town of Tomboy. The ghost town, which is located just east of Telluride, contains nothing but wide open spaces just waiting to be hiked and explored!