Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance
Hike the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument!
We collaborate with the Bureau of Land Management to engage the public through education, outreach, and stewardship for the use and enjoyment of the natural and cultural landscape of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and nearby public lands.
Current Announcements
Luminaria Night at Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum 12/4/2026 5 PM
27501 CO-184, Dolores, CO 81323
Reserve a FREE CANM Visitor Center & Museum Parking Spot Here!
Experience the magic of the season at Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum by enjoying an enchanting evening stroll illuminated by glowing luminarias, leading to Escalante Pueblo. Warm up with hot cocoa and cookies and enjoy the peaceful beauty of the night sky.
Event Details:
- Luminarias along the plaza and trail to Escalante Pueblo
- Complimentary hot cocoa & COOKIES provided by SJMA
- FREE Parking reservations required, with arrival times at 5:00, 6:00, or 7:00 PM
Plan Ahead: Parking is limited, so please carpool whenever possible and reserve your parking time in advance using the QR code. Bring a flashlight for safety while walking the trail.
No Account or Login Information Needed. Please click the Get Tickets button to select a Parking Lot Reservation time. Please select the desired arrival time, click the ticket counter Up/Down scroll widget to select the number of parking lot spots to reserve, click the Add button, and then click the Checkout button to register for your FREE parking spot!
Reserve a FREE CANM Visitor Center & Museum Parking Spot Here!
Visit the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum
Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum is Southwest Colorado’s premier archaeological museum, operated by the Bureau of Land Management since 1988. All museum facilities are wheelchair-accessible.
Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum is a museum focusing on Ancestral Puebloan, Native American, and historic cultures in the Four Corners region. It is also headquarters for visitors traveling to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
Features include:
- Permanent exhibits on archaeology, local history and Native American cultures
- Two 12th-century archaeological sites (Ask a volunteer about the visiting these sites just outside of the museum.)
- Special exhibits and events
- Educational resources for teachers
- Internships for enrolled and recently graduated college students
- Research library of archaeology and anthropology resources
- Research collection of more than 3 million artifacts and records from archaeological projects in Southwest Colorado
- Picnic area and half-mile nature trail
Please call 970-882-5600 for customer services that may be available by phone or email on days the Visitor Center is not open. A “Virtual Ranger Station” will be stocked with maps, brochures, and junior ranger booklets and can be found next to the Visitor Center’s parking lot 24/7.
Social Media
Page likes: 2,870
Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance
(opens in a new tab)SCCA promotes preservation and education for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and its Visit
🎶 TOMORROW! Chantil Dukart Live in Concert 🎶Join us Saturday, October 17, at 6:00 PM for an unforgettable evening of jazz, soul, blues, original music, and storytelling with award-winning pianist and vocalist Chantil Dukart!With roots in the Tsimshian and Sugpiaq tribes of Alaska, Chantil brings a unique musical voice, warmth, and laughter to every performance. We’re thrilled to welcome her back to Southwest Colorado for an evening of music and community!📅 Tomorrow, October 17 | 6:00 PM📍 Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum27501 CO-184, Dolores, CO🧡 Suggested donation: $15 to support SCCA’s cultural programming and the artist. . If you’d like to make your donation online, please visit swcocanyons.app.neoncrm.com/event-detail?event=215Come enjoy an evening of incredible music and help us celebrate the arts and Indigenous voices in our community!🎵 Learn more: swcocanyons.org/events🎹 Meet the artist: chantilmusic.comWe hope to see you there!#ChantilDukart #LiveMusic #IndigenousArtists #JazzMusic #CanyonsOfTheAncients #SouthwestColorado #SupportTheArts
🌙 Today is the final day to support Dark Skies at Canyons of the Ancients! ✨Your gift helps provide safe, inspiring night sky experiences through:🔴 Red lighting & luminaria supplies🔭 Educational speakers & programs🌌 Efforts toward International Dark Sky Park designationHelp us keep the stars shining for future generations.Donate today: swcocanyons.app.neoncrm.com/forms/summer-2026Thank you for protecting the night sky! 💫
🌙 Help Us Protect Dark Skies Before September 30 ✨There is still time to support Dark Sky programming at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.Thanks to our community of supporters, SCCA has been able to create meaningful opportunities to experience and learn about our incredible night skies—from the annual Star Party to upcoming programs like Luminaria Night. Your support helps make these experiences safe, welcoming, and educational.Before our Dark Skies campaign ends on September 30, we invite you to make a gift to help provide:🔴 Red rope lighting and luminaria supplies that allow visitors to safely navigate nighttime events while protecting night vision and minimizing impacts on wildlife.🔭 Speaker honorariums that bring astronomy experts, educators, and cultural presenters to share their knowledge and inspire our community.Your gift also helps advance SCCA’s efforts toward International Dark Sky Park designation for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, supporting education, outreach, and responsible lighting practices that protect this extraordinary resource.Every contribution—large or small—helps keep the stars shining for future generations.✨ Donate by September 30: swcocanyons.app.neoncrm.com/forms/summer-2026#DarkSkies #CanyonsOfTheAncients #ProtectTheNight #InternationalDarkSkyPark #NightSky
🌌✨ Updated Schedule: Star Party at Canyons of the Ancients! ✨🌌Join us Friday, September 4, from 6:00–9:00 PM for an evening of fascinating presentations and stargazing with our partners from Mesa Verde and Hovenweep!Please note that our schedule has been updated since our last post.🌟 6:00 PMThe Milky Way and Other Paths to the Other Worldwith Ranger Colin Purdy🌟 7:00 PMCeremonial Events Based on Celestial Observationswith Mary Weahkee🔭 8:00 PMStargazing on the Visitor Center Plaza!Bring your telescopes, binoculars, red-light flashlights, chairs, and curiosity! If you're bringing a telescope and would like to share it with others, please contact us ahead of time at (970) 882-5600.🌙 Programs like the Star Party are an important part of our work to connect people with the night sky and advance International Dark Sky Park designation for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.✨ Help us continue providing Dark Sky education and experiences for our community! Your support helps fund speakers, educational programs, and dark-sky-friendly supplies for nighttime events.Donate today: swcocanyons.app.neoncrm.com/forms/summer-2#starpartyP#darkskiesS#CanyonsOfTheAncientsi#stargazinga#ProtectTheNightNight
🌌 Help Us Bring the Night Sky to Life! 🔭Your support helps make programs like our upcoming Star Party possible—and moves Canyons of the Ancients National Monument closer to International Dark Sky Park designation.On September 4, join us for an evening of presentations exploring the connections between people, place, and sky, followed by guided stargazing under the incredible dark skies of Canyons of the Ancients.📅 September 4 | 6–9 PM📍 Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum🔭 Bring your telescope, binoculars, red-light flashlight, chair, and curiosity! If you’d like to share your telescope, please call 970-882-5600.Donations to SCCA’s Dark Skies campaign help fund:✨ Speaker honorariums for astronomy and cultural educators🔴 Red lighting and supplies for safe, dark-sky-friendly nighttime events🌌 Ongoing public outreach required for Dark Sky Park certificationHelp us protect the night and keep these experiences accessible to our community:swcocanyons.app.neoncrm.com/forms/summer-2026#DarkSkies #StarParty #CanyonsOfTheAncients #InternationalDarkSkyPark #ProtectTheNight
YouTube
