Dinosaur NM
76
Rocky Mountain NP
70
DENVER
Florissant
Colorado NM
Fossil Beds NM
70
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
Canyons of the Ancients NM,
25
Hovenweep NM
●
Dinosaur National Monument in the
●
Hovenweep National Monument, north-
Yucca House NM
Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve
Mesa Verde NP
north-west corner of the state is a treasure west of Mesa Verde, is comprised mainly
trove of dinosaur fossils. Hike along of ancient stone towers thought to be
marked paths to view ancient rock art. used by Ancestral Puebloans for studying
●
Florissant Fossil Beds National astronomy. (some campgrounds are open year-round).
Monument in central Colorado is packed
●
Canyons of the Ancients National Each park has its own special features,
with prehistoric fossils of plants and Monument contains the nation’s highest whether it’s a crystal-clear, high-alpine
insects, including petrifi ed tree stumps. density of archaeological sites. T_h e Trail lake, cascading waterfalls or sandstone
●
Yucca House National Monument is an of the Ancients Historic Byway links the cliff s.
unexcavated Ancestral Puebloan surface informative Anasazi Heritage Center, Fees are associated with entering
site off ering no services to visitors. Still, it Mesa Verde and Hovenweep. state parks, with vehicle day passes about
is close to Mesa Verde, between Towaoc If you plan on visiting many sites $6. If you plan on visiting many parks
and Cortez, and may be worth a visit, governed by the US National Park during your Colorado holiday, consider
especially for archaeology afi cionados. Service, consider purchasing an annual purchasing an annual pass, available at any
pass instead of paying entrance fees at of the 42 state parks.
each attraction. For more information, No matter where your travels take
visit www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm you in Colorado, remember a few basic
rules of spending time in national parks,
State Parks national monuments and state parks –
Colorado’s 42 state parks range from always use designated trash bins (or if
urban Cherry Creek State Park just there are no trash receptacles in remote
outside Denver to western Rifl e Falls, locations, take it with you); respect the
known for its rock-climbing routes, to wildlife by not feeding them human food;
remote Bonny Lake State Park in the leave wild fl owers for others to enjoy; and
eastern plains. T_h e state park system off ers don’t forget your camera!
visitors nearly limitless opportunities for
outdoor recreation – from snowshoeing,
For more information
cross-country skiing and snowmobiling
www.nps.gov/state/CO/index.htm
in the winter, to hiking, biking, fi shing,
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
www.parks.state.co.us
camping and boating in the summer
www.colorado.com » 17
COL10_pp16-17_National Parks.indd 17 9/24/09 5:45:22 PM
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