Canyons of the Ancients Museum Tours
Canyons of the Ancient National Monument
Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum serves as the headquarters to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and is southwest Colorado's premier archaeological museum featuring Ancestral Puebloan, Native American, and historic cultures in the Four Corners region. The museum curates almost 4 million artifacts from the surrounding area and hosts special exhibits, films and programs regularly. Stop by the Visitor Center and Museum before heading onto the Monument to help plan your trip.
Please refer to the banner at the top of this page for the most up-to-date information about the Museum and Visitor Center's operational status. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, building capacity will be limited. Visitors will be required to wear a face covering while indoors and asked to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others. Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the building.
Ensure museum entry by booking a self-guided museum tour ahead of time under the ticket tab below. Each ticket provides an individual entrance to the museum for one hour, beginning at the top of the hour. Walk-up admission to the museum is subject to availability. Access to the visitor center portion of the building does not require a ticket, though access may be temporarily limited if the building is at capacity.
The Monument itself is always free to access, and there is no charge to visit the amenities surrounding the building. These include a wheelchair-accessible half-mile trail, picnic tables, an ethnobotany garden, a pump with potable water, and two Puebloan sites, Escalante and Dominguez Pueblo.
Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum serves as the headquarters to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and is southwest Colorado's premier archaeological museum featuring Ancestral Puebloan, Native American, and historic cultures in the Four Corners region. The museum curates almost 4 million artifacts from the surrounding area and hosts special exhibits, films and programs regularly. Stop by the Visitor Center and Museum before heading onto the Monument to help plan your trip.
Please refer to the banner at the top of this page for the most up-to-date information about the Museum and Visitor Center's operational status. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, building capacity will be limited. Visitors will be required to wear a face covering while indoors and asked to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others. Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the building.
Ensure museum entry by booking a self-guided museum tour ahead of time under the ticket tab below. Each ticket provides an individual entrance to the museum for one hour, beginning at the top of the hour. Walk-up admission to the museum is subject to availability. Access to the visitor center portion of the building does not require a ticket, though access may be temporarily limited if the building is at capacity.
The Monument itself is always free to access, and there is no charge to visit the amenities surrounding the building. These include a wheelchair-accessible half-mile trail, picnic tables, an ethnobotany garden, a pump with potable water, and two Puebloan sites, Escalante and Dominguez Pueblo.
Notifications and Alerts
The Canyons of the Ancients visitor information area, museum, special exhibit hall, and theater are currently open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum will have a capacity of 10 guests and tickets can be purchased in-person, first-come, first-serve. Tickets are not currently reservable online.
To create a safe space for visitors and staff while in the building the following guidelines are in place:
- Wear a face covering
- Stay at least 6 feet from others
- Clean your hands regularly
- Reschedule your visit if you feel unwell
Please call 970-882-5600 for customer services that may be available by phone or email on days the Visitor Center and Museum 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.
Need to Know
- Limited Capacity
Building capacity will be limited to ten people or less.
- Visitor Safety
Face coverings are required in federal facilities, including Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Musuem. We ask the public to maintain 6 ft of separation between themselves and other guests and practice good hygiene, such as using hand sanitizer before touching shared surfaces, while visiting.
- Checking In
Ticket reservation-holders should bring a photo ID or written confirmation of their reservation (printed or digital). America the Beautiful Interagency pass holders shold also be prepared to show their pass to staff.
- Pass Holders
We honor all America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Interagency Passes. See the Fees and Cancellations section for valid pass types.
- Drinking Water
Water fountains are available for use, but we recommend bringing your own reusable water bottle to fill up.
- Restroom Facilities
Restroom facilities are available for use and regularly cleaned.
- ADA Compliance
The Visitor Center and Museum features ADA-accessible parking, paved ramps and trails, and ADA services such as a lift to a reconstructed pithouse in the museum. You can call 970-882-5600 to request a wheelchair from the parking lot upon arrival. The half-mile trail to Escalante Pueblo located on site is paved and has wheelchair landing pads located along the route.
- Pets
Only service animals are allowed inside the Visitor Center and Museum building. Dogs are permitted outside the Visitor Center, but must be kept on a leash.
Booking Windows
The Canyons of the Ancients Museum is currently closed. Please continue to monitor this page for status updates.
Changes and Cancellations
Fees
The self-guided museum tour ticket fee is $6 per adult.
Individuals 15 and under, tribal members, and America the Beautiful Interagency Pass holders (and up to three additional adult guests) do not pay this entrance fee.
There is an additional $1 nonrefundable reservation fee charged for each museum entrance ticket reserved through Recreation.gov. Recreation.gov applies this fee to every ticket, regardless of age, status, or pass ownership. Visitors who don't reserve tickets in advance will not be charged this fee.
Important: Each Interagency pass covers the pass holder and three additional adult guests. Select the total number of adults covered under the pass (1-4) to arrive at the ticket total when making your online booking.
There is no fee to access the Visitor Center or greater Monument area.
America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Interagency Passes
We honor all types of America the Beautiful Interagency Passes. Passes cover the pass owner and up to 3 additional adults. Pass types include:
• Interagency Annual Pass
• Interagency Senior Annual or Lifetime Pass
• Interagency Access Pass
• Interagency Volunteer Pass
• Interagency Military Pass
• Interagency 4th Grade Pass
• Golden Age Pass
• Golden Access Pass
Changes, Cancellations, Refunds, and No-Shows
To change a museum tour reservation, please go onto your Recreation.gov account or call 877-833-6777. Changes can be made up to 12 a.m MST the night before the tour.
For a refund of the $6 museum tour ticket fee, the reservation holder must cancel before 12 a.m. MST on the night before the tour. Please note that the $1 reservation fee is nonrefundable.
No-shows or cancellations made after midnight the night before the tour are not subject to refund.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
27501 Hwy 184 Dolores CO 81327
Phone Number
970-882-5600
