You could make a sweeping 116-mile drive along Trail of the Ancients and see plenty. But to make the most of the Colorado side of the recently designated National Scenic Byway, give yourself time to take side trips to the extraordinary, if underappreciated, archaeological sites that dot the extreme southwestern corner of the state. Ancient Indians made their homes in stone cities carved into the high desert until about 1300, when they abandoned the Four Corners. Trail of the Ancients is the only byway of the 125 nationally-designated routes to be designated for its archaeological qualities.
Hop on the trail at the entrance to the granddaddy of the Four Corners ruins, Mesa Verde National Park, between Mancos and Cortez on U.S. 160. Be prepared to drive on some gravel roads to reach the lesser-known sites.
