Mesa Verde Sunrise Tour
SUNRISE TOUR INFORMATION
Location: Hawkins Preserve, Cortez, Colorado
Duration: 2 Hours
Group Size: Maximum 12 guests
Watch the sun rise over Mesa Verde plateau
Best Sunrise in Cortez
Embrace the dawn and wake up with the sun on this guided two-hour walking tour through Hawkins Nature Preserve. Enjoy panoramic views as the sun rises behind the iconic plateau of Mesa Verde National Park.
Walk through Hawkins Preserve and learn about the desert plants, rocks, and beautiful flowers. Your local tour guide will share information about the landscape, point out the La Plata Mountains, Sleeping Ute Mountain, and McElmo Canyon, all visible from your walk. At the canyon edge you will enjoy a local pastry and coffee, tea, or hot chocolate as you wait for the sun to rise.
The tour also included interpretation of ancient Puebloan sites and visiting a 1,200 year old dwelling in the Preserve. This experience blends natural beauty, storytelling, and easy outdoor exercise.
This is a great tour to take before heading up to Mesa Verde National Park, especially if you did not book a ranger-guided tour into the cliff dwellings, or
if you are traveling outside of the main season, this tour is a great substitute for cliff dwelling tours.
As a thank you to protecting this land and cultural resources, $5 from every ticket on the Mesa Verde Sunrise Tour is donated to the Cortez Cultural Center. Guests are encouraged to visit the center before or after the tour to learn even more about Cortez history and culture.
Why Choose the Cortez Wild West Ghost Tour
The sunrise tour allows your group to explore all the sites and experiences of the area during the day! (Check out the Guide to Cortez and Mesa Verde Country for our recommendations!)
Incredible views of the sunrise, the picturesque plateu of Mesa Verde National Park, and other local landmarks including the La Plata Mountains, Sleeping Ute Mountain, and McElmo Canyon. At certain times of year, desert wildflowers are abundant in Hawkins Preserve.
Get up-close and personal with history. Visit a Puebloan dwelling more than 1,200 years old and see ancient pottery sherds and a mano stone.
Conveniently located in downtown Cortez near restaurants and shopping. (We recommend WildEdge Coffee after the tour!)
Local guides with cultural insight, fun stories, and great recommendations!
Easy to book and flexible cancellation policies.
We support other local businesses! All giveaways and snacks are purchased in Montezuma County and $5 from every ticket goes to support the Cortez Cultural Center.