9 Of The Most Charming Towns In Colorado Plateau
Anchored on the Four Corners region of the American Southwest, the Colorado Plateau is a ‘physiographic region’ of the Intermontane Plateaus, circumscribed by significant mountain ranges such as the Rocky Mountains, Uinta Mountains, and the Wasatch Range, as well as the Rio Grande rift, the vast Basin and Range Province, and Mogollon Rim. The Colorado Plateau Province which spreads over 130,000 sq. mi., includes a substantial part of northwestern New Mexico, the western and southwestern portions of Colorado, the northern section of Arizona, and the southern and eastern halves of Utah. Distinguished by magnificent red rock landscapes, the Colorado River & its tributaries, old volcanic mountains, scattered forest areas, slot canyons, and sunken deserts, the Colorado Plateau Province is dotted with countless charming small towns that are worth adding to the itineraries for your upcoming vacations to this portion of the United States.
Taos, New Mexico
The seat of government of north-central New Mexico’s Taos County, Taos, is situated approx. 55 miles north-northeast of Santa Fe in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Thousands of sightseers from worldwide are attracted to this chief town of the Taos Micropolitan Statistical Area to witness its untouched wilderness, awe-inspiring panoramas, the meandering Rio Grande River, and flawless amalgamation of different cultures. When in town, the Taos Pueblo, Eanger Irving Couse House & Studio, San Francisco de Asis Church, Taos Art Museum at Fechin House, Taos Center for the Arts, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Harwood Museum of Art, Governor Bent House, and Millicent Rogers Museum are must-visits. Additionally, the outstanding Taos Ski Valley alpine resort located northeast of Taos offers winter sports fanatics ample vertical runs down the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. All through the year, a variety of fun-filled events, including the Taos Winter Wine Festival, Yuletide in Taos, Taos Lilac Festival, Taos Mountain Balloon Rally, Taos Solar Music Festival, Taos Fall Arts Festival, and Fiestas de Taos, are held in the town.
Telluride, Colorado
Telluride, the center of administration and the most populous town in southwestern Colorado’s San Miguel County, occupies a secluded spot at an elevation of 8,750 ft on the western side of the San Juan Mountains. A one-time silver mining camp alongside the San Miguel River, this quirky alpine community offers mountain biking, golfing, trout fishing, rock climbing, ATVing, hiking, river rafting, camping, and cross-country skiing during the warm and cold seasons. The 87-acre Telluride Historic District encompasses a major part of Telluride’s developed area and includes meticulously preserved late boom-town architectures filling Colorado Street - the town’s main commercial avenue. Downtown Telluride is chock-a-full of umpteen locally-owned shops, bookstores, art galleries, boutiques, accommodations, museums such as the Telluride Historical Museum, and top-class restaurants like Smuggler Union Restaurant & Brewery, 221 South Oak, and New Sheridan Chop House. Furthermore, spare time from your busy schedules to attend community events like the Hot Air Balloon Festival, farmers’ market, Telluride Yoga Festival, and Telluride Film Festival.
Mancos, Colorado
Mancos, a serene mountain town in Montezuma County, is located in the Mancos River Valley on U.S. Route 160 Highway betwixt Cortez and Durango in southwestern Colorado. Girdled by mountains and ranchlands, this economic hub of East Montezuma County is distinguished for its nearness to prominent attractions, including the Mancos State Park, Chicken Creek Cross-country Ski Area, Four Corners Monument, Jackson Gulch Reservoir, and Mesa Verde National Park. Currently, Mancos has grown into a reputed art colony, with the Mancos Creative District covering multiple blocks of the downtown. The downtown business district is jam-packed with scores of landmark properties, galleries, coffee houses, shops, bakeries, finest eateries like Chavolo’s Mexican Restaurant, and one of Colorado’s oldest uninterruptedly running bars - the Columbine Bar & Grill. Annually, the town hosts various unique events such as Mancos Bloom, Mancos Valley Summer Brewfest, BurroFest, Mancos Days, and Mancos Farmers Market.
Moab, Utah
Occupying the core of the Colorado Plateau in east-central Utah, Moab, the seat of Grand County, is situated on the western side of the La Sal Mountains. Widely known for its astounding landscapes and as an entryway to the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Moab is a noted starting point for the town’s many hiking, biking, and off-roading trails. Peruse the shops, museums, and diners on Main Street, take a refreshing dip in Ken’s Lake, drive along the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway U-128, raft down the rapids of the Colorado River, and be present at any of the town’s fab annual festivities such as the Moab Folk Festival, Moab Music Festival, Skinny Tire Festival, and LGBT Pride Festival.
Kanab, Utah
Kane County’s administrative center, Kanab, sits along Kanab Creek at the bottom of Vermilion Cliffs in the western Colorado Plateau. Ringed by lofty Navajo sandstone cliffs and vast stretches of harsh desert, this tiny community is excellently placed in the “Grand Circle” area, pivotally among Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Zion National Park, Lake Powell, Pipe Spring National Monument, North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park. Kanab, therefore, is undoubtedly the perfect stopover point for surveying these popular sites as well as other attractions like Kanab Heritage House Museum, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Best Friends Animal Society, Little Hollywood Land Museum, Moqui Cave, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Over the years, filmmakers have gathered here in large numbers drawn by Kanab’s eye-catching scenery, and several deserted film sets have turned into tourist attractions, rightly earning the town its moniker “Utah’s Little Hollywood.” Also, satisfy your appetite with mouthwatering cuisines served by eclectic dining establishments like Rocking V Café, Kanab Creek Bakery, Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen, and Sego Restaurant.
Durango, Colorado
Durango, the La Plata County’s seat, occupies the prosperous Animas River Valley at the foothills of the La Plata Mountains in southwestern Colorado. Settled originally as a frontier mining town, travelers at Durango should stroll through the Main Avenue Historic District featuring numerous landmark properties in addition to galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, brewpubs, and other local businesses. Next, hop aboard the heritage Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, winding through woodlands, mountains, and abandoned mines and, in turn, joining Durango with the neighboring Silverton. Stop by some well-known attractions of this favored all-season holiday retreat such as the Mesa Verde National Park, Durango Wildlife Museum & Fish hatchery, San Juan National Forest, Southern Ute Tourist Center, Animas River Trail, Purgatory Ski Resort, San Juan Skyway, and Colorado Trail; aside from being present at any of the town’s yearly celebrations like Durango Ragtime & Early Jazz Festival, Sundown Festival, and Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.
Williams, Arizona
A bewitching Old West town in north-central Arizona’s Coconino County, Williams is located to the west of Flagstaff, only 60 miles from the southern rim of Grand Canyon. Named in honor of William Sherley - an eminent mountain man, the town was one of the terminal U.S. Route 66 communities bypassed by Interstate 40 Highway in 1984. A lumber, ranching, and railroad mecca at the outset, Williams presently has a burgeoning business district comprising numerous late 19th and early 20th-century structures in different architectural styles. Tourists visiting the town must take a ride on the vintage Grand Canyon Railway besides checking out the miscellaneous specialty shops, motels, the Pete’s Gas Station Museum full of ancient memorabilia and classic cars, and restaurants like Cruiser’s Route 66 Café and Red Raven Restaurant that cater to all those on the lookout for an authentic Route 66 vibe. Stop by the Bearizona Wildlife Park, Bill Williams Mountain Area, Grand Canyon Deer Farm, and Kaibab National Forest for unlimited outdoor recreation.
Sedona, Arizona
This enchanting teeny community is located entirely within the Coconino National Forest, extending across the boundary between Northern Arizona’s Coconino and Yavapai counties in the Verde Valley region. Christened Sedona in honor of Sedona Schnebly - the better half of the settlement’s first postmaster, the town showcases an array of astounding red sandstone formations, creating a surreal scenery against the blue sky. Abutted by several acres of verdant forests, Sedona appeals to adrenaline junkies who want to explore its numberless off-roading, hiking, and biking trails. Every year, wine connoisseurs visit the local vineyards in large numbers to savor the extraordinary wines, whereas merrymakers get to partake in the annual festivities like the Sedona Food Truck Festival, Sedona Hummingbird Festival, St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival, 1st Friday In The Galleries, and Sedona International Film Festival & Workshop.
Jemez Springs, New Mexico
Jemez Springs is a tranquil village in Sandoval County of Northern New Mexico located by the side of the Jemez River in San Diego Canyon, fully circumscribed by the Santa Fe National Forest. The therapeutic mineral waters of the town’s natural hot springs, such as the Spence Hot Springs, San Antonio Hot Springs, and McCauley Hot Springs, have lured vacationers for centuries, leading to the establishment of several retreat centers. Tourists at Jemez Springs should not miss a tour of the adjacent Valles Caldera National Preserve via a spectacular drive along the Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway, besides checking out other noteworthy sites of interest like the Pueblo of Jemez Welcome Center, Soda Dam, Jemez National Recreation Area, Jemez Artisans Co-Op Gallery, Jemez Historic Site, Jemez Fine Art Gallery, and Battleship Rock.
From Mancos - the “Gateway to Mesa Verde” to Williams - the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon,” each Colorado Plateau town captivates vacationers with its exquisite charm. These lovable locales are where mind-blowing natural scenery, thriving Native American cultures, dynamic history, engrossing attractions, and profuse recreational activities congregate to create unforgettable memories for holidayers. So, what is all the wait for? Get ready and set out to experience all that these gorgeous Colorado Plateau towns have to offer.
