LAND OF ENCHANTMENT Stunning landscapes, culture and adobe villages await on this 2,121-mile trip.

PROOF E L P A S O, T E X A S, T O R O C K Y M O U N TA I N N AT I O N A L P A R K A N D B A C K LAND OF ENCHANTMENT Stunning landscapes, culture and adobe villages await on this 2,121-mile trip. WYOMING EL SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO Rocky Estes Mountain Park 25 Park Lyons Grand Lake Dinosaur Monument Colorado Monument 70 Cheyenne 80 Boulder 40 Denver 70 Breckenridge 25 Grand Junction Colorado Springs COLORADO Mesa Verde Park Durango 285 Cañon City Great Sand Dunes Park 160 Pueblo 25 South Alamosa Fork Trinidad Farmington 550 40 Taos Chimayó Capulin Los Volcano Bandelier 25 Alamos Monument Monument Las Vegas Santa Cerrillos Fe Madrid Albuquerque 40 25 PHOTO BY DEPOSIT, MAP BY PETER SUCHESKI PHOTOS BY COURTESY Socorro Truth and Consequences 25 NEW MEXICO White Sands Monument Alamogordo 82 10 Las Cruces Carlsbad 10 MEXICO El Paso 285 Carlsbad Caverns Park TEXAS T raveling through New Mexico is like exploring a foreign country where every turn gives you a different glimpse into a magnificent blend of cultures and food. From El Paso, Texas, drive to Carlsbad Caverns Park and White Sands Monument. Farther north, a string of charming towns near Santa Fe await you, as do the impressive ruins left behind by ancient people in Bandelier Monument. En route to Colorado's Mesa Verde Park, stop in Farmington to visit a trading post, a brewhouse and even a cave where you can spend the night. Then head to Alamosa and Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve in the stunning San Luis Valley in Colorado. After you've removed the sand from your shoes, head north to the historical town of Grand Lake on the western edge of Rocky Mountain Park [see pages 7-19 for more park details]. On your way home, stop in Colorado Springs to reach a 14,115-feet-high summit by car. Farther south take a scenic drive near Trinidad, Colo., see the works of a fascinating western illustrator and explore Capulin Volcano Monument 53 miles to the south. MYCOLORADOPARKS.COM CO2019_RoadTrips_LandEnchantment_PROOF.indd 53 53 12/10/18 1:34 PM

LAND OF ENCHANTMENT EL PASO, TEXAS, TO ALAMOGORDO, N.M. 88 miles and 1 hour and 31 minutes WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT SAND AND SUN Play in the giant sandbox of White Sands Monument. There are few things as striking as the glistening white sands in southern New Mexico, so stop here to experience this vast field of dunes yourself. White Sand Dunes Monument is the world s largest gypsum dune field, which spans 275 square miles. Start your adventure at the monument s historic visitor center. Housed in the 1930s-era Pueblo Revival building are interactive exhibits, information on daily activities and a great film A Land in Motion to orient you. You ll find the White Sands Trading Co. in there as well, which sells snacks, sandwiches and drinks. From the visitor center, take Dunes Drive, an 8-mile oneway ride sprinkled with roadside exhibits, picnic areas, restrooms and trails. The first four miles are paved and the last four are hard-packed. Learn more at nps.gov/whsa. Explore the inside of the Earth Carlsbad Caverns Park is a stunning place whether you re a cave fanatic or never thought twice about caving. Check out the Big Room, North America s largest single cave chamber that's as large as six football fi elds. You can take a self-guided tour of the Big Room by walking 1.25 steep miles one way via the Natural Entrance. Or use the elevator in the Visitor Center and descend 750 feet into the Big Room. From there, you walk on a paved trail. It s $15 for adults; kids 15 and younger are free. To explore other caves, make reservations at least 48 hours in advance for a guided tour, ranging from easy to very diffi cult. Adults tickets start at $7. Each cave has a different minimum age requirement for children based on the diffi culty of the excursion. For reservations go to recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777. Learn more about the park located in Carlsbad, N.M., at 575-785- 2232 or at nps.gov/cave. PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK 54 COLORADO EDITION 2019

La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site Memories that last. Walk ancient paths through the rich history and natural beauty of petroglyphs carved into boulders on the edge at La Cieneguilla Petroglyph site. Their meaning remains shrouded in mystery leaving curious visitors to speculate. Come see for yourself and let your imagination soar while creating memories to last a lifetime. SantaFeNMTrue.com

LAND OF ENCHANTMENT WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT TO SANTA FE, N.M. 223 miles and 4 hours PECOS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK TRUE NEW MEXICO Looking for adventure that feeds the soul? Check out our top six things to do in Santa Fe County. 1. CHIMAYÓ WHY GO: Built in 1816, the quaint adobe El Santuario de Chimayó attracts thousands of people every year to visit this Historical Landmark. Some even collect the miraculous holy dirt inside the chapel. Apparently, numerous miracles have happened on site with people leaving crutches and other medical devices behind to be hung on the walls. TIP: Head to longtime legendary Rancho de Chimayó Restaurante, which has been serving traditional New Mexican dishes for more than 50 years. Try the hand-rolled tamales, blue corn enchiladas or the legendary carne adovada. In 2016, it won the prestigious James Beard Foundation America s Classic award. 2. TURQUOISE TRAIL NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY WHY GO: This 62-mile route is dotted with extraordinary scenery and colorful towns like Madrid, pronounced MAH-drid. A former mining town, Madrid is an art district fi lled with boutiques, galleries and cafes. TIP: Order a green chile cheeseburger at the Mine Shaft Tavern and sit at its 40-foot lodgepole pine bar. The tavern is rumored to have ghosts. 3. CERRILLOS WHY GO: Five miles of trails in Cerrillos Hills State Park offer you a glimpse of more than 1,000 years of area mining history, plus magnifi cent views of four mountain ranges. Some of the turquoise mined here ended up in the Spanish crown jewels collection and later was used in Tiffany & Co. pieces. TIP: Stop in The Black Bird Saloon in Cerrillos for a drink and food. You ll fi nd burgers, elk and lamb, along with saloon snacks like the Lawless Bandit, freshmade guacamole and six-gun salsa with blue corn chips. 4. BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT WHY GO: See ancient ruins that are easily accessible by foot in an uncrowded environment. TIP: Hike (and climb ladders) along the Tsankawi prehistoric site, a 1.5 mile walk on a mesa, viewing cavates (human-carved alcoves), petroglyphs and the ancient village of Tsankawi. 5. PECOS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK WHY GO: Wedged between the Sangre de Cristos and Glorieta mesa, this park preserves ruins left behind from Pecos Pueblo, a regional powerhouse in the 1400s, and the later Spanish colonization. TIP: Hike the 1.25-mile roundtrip Ancestral Sites Trail and pass the remains of the Pecos Pueblo and the mission church. 6. TEN THOUSAND WAVES WHY GO: Ten Thousand Waves is inspired by Japanese mountain hot springs resorts and offers spa treatments, massage and hot tubs just 10 minutes from downtown Santa Fe. TIP: Treat yourself at the nearby 65-room luxurious Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado. Learn more at santafenmtrue.com. TEN THOUSAND WAVES PHOTOS COURTESY SANTA FE COUNTY 56 COLORADO EDITION 2019

SACRED SPACES BISTI/DE-NA-ZIN WILDERNESS TREASURE HUNT Native American history meets natural wonders in Farmington, N.M. Plus it's just 35 miles from Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness area, dotted by spires, sculpted rock and hills of various colors. PHOTO BY DEPOSIT DINÉTAH ROCK & PUEBLITOS Explore some of the more than 200 Navajo pueblos built between 1680 and 1775. Simon Canyon Ruin is a one-room structure built on top of a 20-foot-high boulder in 1754. It can be accessed via the Simon Canyon Recreation area 3.4 miles below the Navajo Dam. A half-mile hike will bring you to the ruin. Learn more at farmingtonnm. org/listings/dinetah-rock-art-pueblitos. KOKOPELLI S CAVE Originally conceived to be geologist Bruce Black s office, Kokopelli s Cave is a spectacularly wonderful bed-and-breakfast venue. Hike along a sandstone path to get to your 1,700-foot cave suite equipped with a kitchen, Jacuzzi tub, queen-sized bed and a replica Native American kiva. Sunset views of Shiprock, a sacred Navajo mountain, are gorgeous. Learn more at kokoscave.com. THREE RIVERS EATERY AND BREWHOUSE Located in the historic Andrews Building built in 1912, this local favorite has 12 of the brewery s 50 beers on tap at any one time. While you are there, check out the more than 600 beer labels hanging on the walls. Donated by Henry and Margie Glosser in 1999, they constitute New Mexico s largest beer label collection. Learn more at threeriversbrewery.com. HOGBACK TRADING POST Fourth-generation Native American trader Tom Wheeler runs this authentic trading post located in a 10,000-square-foot Hogan-shaped building just outside of Farmington. Wheeler s great grandfather established the family s original post in 1871. Today, travelers can buy Native American jewelry, Navajo rugs, baskets and alabaster sculptures. Find it at 3221 Hwy. 64, Waterflow, N.M. Learn more at Farmington Museum and Visitor Center, 3041 East Main St. or at farmingtonnm.org. FarmingtonNM.org Chaco Culture Historical Park MYCOLORADOPARKS.COM 57

LAND OF ENCHANTMENT FARMINGTON, N.M., TO MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK 70 miles and 1 hour and 20 minutes CLIFF PALACE IN MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK PALACES OF THE PAST Visit Mesa Verde Park to see how ancient Americans lived. While climbing one of the several 10-foot ladders at Cliff Palace on a hot day, you'll realize why ancient people spent 700 years in what is now Mesa Verde Park. About 1,400 years ago, Ancestral Puebloans (also known as Anasazi) built more than 600 dwellings into the gorgeous sandstone cliffs that serve as nature's air conditioning in the heat of the summer. Tour these dwellings to catch a glimpse into our nation's ancient history. You must go on a guided tour with a park ranger to see Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House. Purchase your tickets for these tours in person at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center up to two days in advance. The visitor center is home to exhibits, restrooms, park information and the park's museum collection of more than 3 million objects. On your own, head to the Far View area, which was home to 50 villages within a half-square mile from 900 A.D. to 1300. On this.75-mile loop, you ll realize that Mesa Verde is much more than just cliff dwellings. The Ancestral Puebloans lived in villages on the top of the mesa before moving down into the cliffs. The loop will take you past the Far View House, four other villages and a dry reservoir. Learn more at MyColoradoParks.com. PHOTO BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE 58 COLORADO EDITION 2019

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LAND OF ENCHANTMENT MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK TO ALAMOSA, COLO. 149 miles and 2 hours and 56 minutes GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE LOCAL TASTE Base in Alamosa to explore Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve more. Explore the tallest sand dune in North America, take a dip in hot springs and eat in the shadow of 14,000-foot peaks in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, all within 35 miles of Alamosa, Colo. The Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve is one of the most unique national park experiences you'll ever have. Be sure to wear closed-toes shoes because cool morning sand can heat up to a dangreous 150 F on a hot summer day. As you explore, be on the look out for the 750-foot Star Dune, which is the tallest sand dune in North America. Three miles south of the national park entrance is Zapata Falls, a cool oasis. The 25-foot-high waterfall is just a short half-mile hike from the parking lot and involves wading through cool water or walking on log bridges to get close to it. Then take a dip in the renovated Sand Dunes Recreation complex. The 10,000-square-foot greenhouse offers an adultsonly experience with three soaking tubs, a 10-foot by 75-foot zero entry pool and a bar built in a shipping container. Beyond the Greenhouse, families can frolic in a large pool fed by hot springs that features a diving board. Hungry? Head to Locavores for a farm-to-table, fast-casual meal. When you walk in you ll be greeted by a large map of the San Luis Valley. On it are stars denoting local farms where the restaurant buys its ingredients. From Haefeli s Honey Farm and sausage made in the valley to potatoes and lamb raised in the valley, the food is so fresh Locavores doesn t even have a freezer. Owner Wendi Seger opened the restaurant to tap into the San Luis Valley s farm scene and make food available locally. For a farm-to-tap experience, head to Square Peg Brewerks where local childhood friends Mark Martinez and Derek Heersink, whose barley provides the base malt, own this tasting room. Or drive to Colorado Farm Brewery, a former dairy owned by head brewer Josh Cody and his family. They create their own malt in former dairy equipment and grow their own grains and hops, crafting estate beers. Learn more at the Colorado Welcome Center, 610 State Ave., or alamosa.org. PHOTO BY SHEBA OLENIK: NATIONAL PARK TRIPS MEDIA PHOTO CONTEST 60 COLORADO EDITION 2019

North Catamount Reservoir 9,200 ft. Request your FREE Visitors Guide at VisitCOS.com

LAND OF ENCHANTMENT ESTES PARK, COLO., TO COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. 138 miles, 2 hours and 30 minutes SPRING INTO FUN From Bigfoot sightings to summiting a 14,000-foot-peak by car, Colorado Springs is a place to spend several days. The bonus? Many of our favorite attractions are free. GARDEN OF THE GODS IN COLORADO SPRINGS PAINT MINES INTERPRETIVE PARK When you catch a glimpse of the vibrant spires called "hoodoos" and brightly colored hills here, you may feel as if you have been transported to another world. But this hidden gem is located in Calhan, Colo., 45 minutes from Colorado Springs in the rolling hills of Colorado s eastern plains. Named Paint Mines because Native Americans used the colored clays here to create paint, this 750- acre park has four miles of trails, interpretive signs and restrooms. Plan on a 10-15 minute relatively fl at walk to reach the formations. The path is hardpack, making it ADA-accessible. It s pretty otherworldly, says Amy Long, chief innovation offi cer of Visit Colorado Springs. Admission is free. GARDEN OF THE GODS There s a reason this park in the heart of Colorado Springs is visited by more than 6 million people a year. Named a Natural Landmark in 1971, its stunning 15 miles of hiking trails lead you through its sandstone formations, and admission is free. For a 1.5- mile easy loop, park at the main parking lot at the Perkins Central Garden Trail. You can drive your car in, but there s a summertime shuttle, as well as Jeep, trolley, horseback and bike tours. Beat the crowds by going at sunrise or near sunset. Another tip? Start at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, an interactive museum with exhibits, gift shop and a movie that costs a nominal fee. It s almost something you d experience at Epcot, says Long. PIKES PEAK Summit a 14,000-foot peak without having to break a sweat on Pikes Peak. Just minutes from downtown, this iconic mountain offers travelers the option to hike, bike or drive up to reach its 14,115-foot summit. Along the way, be on the lookout for Bigfoot, a large ape-like creature, near the Bigfoot crossing sign on the road. The Summit House is known for its world-famous donuts and also serves burgers, hot dogs, salads, coffee and more. Allow at least two to three hours for this adventure: you ll spend about an hour each way driving, depending how often you stop. And fi ll up your gas tank beforehand. There s no gas station on the road, and you ll need a minimum of a half tank of gas for the entire trip. COLORADO WOLF & WILDLIFE CENTER For an unforgettable experience, visit this sanctuary to see rescued wild animals. You ll fi nd timber wolves, Arctic wolves, Mexican gray wolves as well as coyotes, red foxes and swift foxes. Choose from several tours, including the feeding tour, full-moon tour and one-hour standard tour. At the end, you ll howl with the wolves, an ethereal experience. On the Interactive Alpha tour for those 18 and older, you can get up-close with the wolves and receive up to 15 digital photos to take home. Advanced reservations are required for all tours. Located 35 minutes from Garden of the Gods, the sanctuary is in Divide, Colo., just outside Colorado Springs. It s open every day but Monday. Learn more at VisitCOS.com, follow #VisitCOS on social media or stop by the Visitor Information Center, 515 S Cascade Ave. PHOTO COURTESY VISITCOS.COM 62 COLORADO EDITION 2019

ART MEETS ARCHITECTURE IN TRINIDAD, COLO. ENJOY THE RIDE Scenic drives, stunning landscapes and strolls through a historic downtown await in Trinidad, Colo. PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF TRINIDAD Explore an extinct volcano, check out Kit Carson s coat and eat an amazing vegan meal in Trinidad, Colo. Located on the Colorado side of the New Mexican border, Trinidad was once a stop on the historic Santa Fe Trail and later a mining community. Hop on the free Trinidad Trolley and get off at the Trinidad History Museum complex to visit the Santa Fe Trail Museum, the 1882 Bloom Mansion, the Baca House and to see frontiersman Kit Carson s buckskin coat. It s the coolest thing ever, says Marty Hackett, Colorado Welcome Center and tourism manager, referring to Carsons coat. It s for real. It s an old trapper s coat with beautiful Indian beadwork. Take a short walk down the block where the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art showcases the town s most famous artist, Arthur Roy Mitchell, who was a prolific painter of Western pulp magazine covers. In the Corazon de Trinidad Historic District, you ll find 55 of Colorado's great examples of late Victorian commercial architecture, housing eclectic locally owned shops, galleries, and restaurants, including Sita s Kitchen, a delicious vegan bakery serving breakfast and lunch. Then head east to the Comanche Grasslands where 150 million years ago dinosaurs roamed in a tropical forest that lined a lake. They left 1,300 visible tracks behind. It s one of the longest dinosaur track site in North America. Farther south you can hike along the rim of an extinct volcano at Capulin Volcano Monument. Drive west to travel the 82-mile Scenic Highway of Legends that circles the Spanish Peaks, crossing the 11,248-foot Cordova Pass, or get outside at Trinidad Lake State Park. Learn more at visittrinidadcolorado.com or visit the Colorado Welcome Center in Trinidad at 309 Nevada Ave. MYCOLORADOPARKS.COM 63

Discover Trinidad The Trinidad sign sits atop the summit of Simpson s Rest which offers one of the most spectacular, awe-inspiring views to be found in the entire southwest. Monument Lake Resort offers numerous options for recreational sport and vacation lodging. Come cast your line! The annual Trinidaddio Blues fest brings music lovers from around the country to hear Grammy nominated musicians and artists entertain at one of the largest festivals on the blues circuit. Fishing the Purgatoire River is only one of the many popular outdoor recreations available in Trinidad and the surrounding area....the gem of Southeastern Colorado www.visitt rinidadcolorado.com