Trail of the Ancients
Dolores, CO

The valley's first settlement in 1877 was at Big Bend, about 1.5 miles downstream from today's town of Dolores. Big Bend was abandoned when the Rio Grande Southern Railroad route was scheduled to bypass the settlement, and residents moved next to the tracks at Dolores' present town site. The Galloping Goose railcar and museum stands only feet from the spot where the railroad once ran.

Dolores is home to McPhee Lake, the second largest body of water in Colorado, offering a variety of boating and recreational activities. The San Juan/Rio Grande National Forest, at Dolores' doorstep, offers great outdoor activities, including camping, hiking, hunting, and winter sports. The Dolores River and McPhee lake offer great fishing, and the Dolores River provides opportunities for kayaking and rafting.

Dolores is also home to the Anasazi Heritage Center, a unique federal museum, research center and curation facility, and headquarters for the new Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The town of Dolores lies on the San Juan Skyway, a state and federally designated scenic Byway, called "America's Most Beautiful Drive." Annual celebrations in Dolores include Escalante Day in August and Christmas in Dolores during December.