Canyons of the Ancients National Monument | Bureau of Land Management Skip to main navigation Official websites use .gov .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS lock ) or means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Flickr 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. Visitors are encouraged to begin their journey at the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum , which offers exhibits, trail information, and context for the region’s deep cultural heritage. 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. Plan Your Visit Visitor Center and Museum Learn and Explore Monument Management