Trail of the Ancients
Driving Directions

Driving the Byway

Colorado

Beginning at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado on US-160, travel west 8 miles to the intersection of US-160 and CO-145 where the byway forks. Route a) goes northwest. Route b) goes southwest.

Fork a) Turn north (right) and follow CO-145 for 9 miles to the intersection of CO-145 and CO-184. Follow CO-184 west 8 miles to its intersection with US-491 in Colorado. Turn right (north) and follow US-491 for 9 miles to its intersection with Montezuma County Road CC. Turn left (west) and follow this route for 4 miles to its intersection with CR-CC and Montezuma County Road 10. Turn left (south) and follow CR-10 to the Colorado-Utah state line and the beginning of Trail of the Ancients - Utah, approximately 19 miles.

Fork b) At the intersection of US 160/491 and 145, continue on US 160/491. It travels southwest 40 miles to the Four Corners National Monument in Utah and the terminus of the byway. Before the Four Corners Monument, the byway also heads northwest, on CO-41, 10 miles to Trail of the Ancients - UT.

Utah

At Monticello, UT, turn south or left onto US-191 and proceed 20.3 miles past Blanding, UT. From Blanding, UT, continue on US-191 south for 5.7 miles to the junction with U-95. Turn west or right onto U-95 and proceed 8.6 miles passing Butler Wash Indian Ruin in Utah on the right. From Butler Wash, follow U-95 and proceed west 6 miles to Mule Canyon Ruin. From Mule Canyon follow U-95 and proceed west 10.4 miles to the junction with U-275. Turn onto U-275 and drive 4.5 miles to the monument visitor center. From the monument there are two alternative routes to points farther south on the byway. Vehicles pulling trailers and large motor homes are encouraged to return to US-191 -- see "(b)" below. Return via U-275 to U-95 and proceed 1.8 miles to the junction with U-261. Turn south or right onto U-261 and follow the road southward to the U-261 and US-163 Junction. At the junction of U-261 and US-163 a spur route travels to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in Utah. Turn west or right onto US-163, and drive 3.3 miles into the community of Mexican Hat. Cross the historic bridge over the San Juan River, and enter the Navajo Reservation. Continue on US-163 for 24.5 miles to the entrance to the Tribal Park on the south side of US-163. Return to Mexican Hat via the same route. Follow US-163 east past the city of Bluff to the junction with US-191. After reaching that junction continue east on US-162 towards Colorado to enjoy that part of the byway or turn back onto US-191 northward which you can follow back to Blanding where you started or turn eastward on U-262 towards Colorado.