Hiking in Cortez, Colorado

Hiking In National Forests	Hiking In National Parks	Hiking In State Parks	Hiking In Wilderness Areas
Medium Trails (4-8 miles)	Short Trails (1-3 miles)

Hiking In National Forests

San Juan National Forest

The San Juan National Forest encompass some 2.5 million acres. This terrain ranges from high-desert mesas to alpine peaks, with many recreational opportunities.

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Hiking In National Parks

Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument protects five prehistoric, Puebloan-era villages spread over a twenty-mile expanse of mesa tops and canyons along the Utah-Colorado border.

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Hiking In State Parks

Mancos State Park

This state park encompasses 338 acres surrounding Jackson Gulch Dam and Reservoir. Mancos Lake is the recreation focus of the park.

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Hiking In Wilderness Areas

Lizard Head Wilderness

Lizard Head is a nearly vertical rock spire, which rises 400 feet from a conical base to 13,113 feet. It has been voted Colorado's most dangerous and difficult climbs by many mountaineers as the rock consists of volcanic rock that crumbles in hand.

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Medium Trails (4-8 miles)

Prater Ridge Trail

This is a 7.8-mile trail that follows a large switchback up to the top of the ridge. From there, it takes visitors along the edge of the ridge providing views of the Montezuma Valley, Prater Canyon, and Morefield Canyon.

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Short Trails (1-3 miles)

Big Al Trail

This is an easy .6 mile trail, with a total elevation gain of 40 feet.

Black Bear Trail

This 1.9 mile trail is located within the Mancos State Park. It is rated as "moderate" and has an elevation of 7,800 feet. This trail sees low usage.

Far View Archeological Sites

This area is located along the Main Park Road. This 1/2-mile, level trail leads to six different mesa top sites.

Farming Terrace Trail

This trail has been closed since fire burned through the area during the 2002 Long Mesa Fire.

Knife Edge Trail

This is a 1.5-mile trail that begins at a pullout near the Morefield Amphitheater, and follows the old road alignment from the northwest corner of Morefield Campground towards the Montezuma Valley Overlook.

Mountain Lion Trail

This 0.6 mile trail is located within the Mancos State Park. It is rated as "easy" and has an elevation of 7,800 feet. This trail sees low usage.

Nordenskiold Site No. 16

This is a 2-mile round trip hike to Ruin No.16. The overlook offers a leisurely stroll on the quietest trail in Mesa Verde.

Petroglyph Loop Trail

This trail is a 2.8-mile hike and begins from the Spruce Tree House. The trail follows below the edge of the plateau to the south, and then makes a short climb to the rim of the mesa and returns via the rim.

Point Lookout Trail

This is a 2.3-mile trail which switchbacks up the backside of Point Lookout and follows the top of the mesa.

Soda Canyon Overlook Trail

This is a 1.5-mile hike, beginning at the parking lot area on the Cliff Palace Loop Road, which is past the Balcony House parking area.

Spruce Canyon Loop Trail

This is 2.1 miles and begins from the Spruce Tree House. The trail follows the bottom of Spruce Canyon, then climbs up to the picnic area, and ends at the museum.

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