If you’re looking for small-town Americana, Cortez, Colorado, is the place for you. Cortez is a small, family-friendly city with a welcoming and wholesome sense of community.
Cortez is more than family-friendly, it’s a place where your family can become more connected, not only to one another but also to the stunning natural beauty of this part of the Four Corners region.
In the Cortez area, you can visit archaeological sites and imagine where other families — centuries ago — took meals together and visited about the happenings of the day.
Or, the family can head out to the second-largest lake in Colorado, McPhee Reservoir, and fish, boat, or camp.
There’s also Hawkins Preserve, another great hiking experience. Cortez has a park system of more than 250 acres of golf, tennis, swimming, hiking trails, and much more.
And, for those picky taste buds, Cortez has restaurants that will please every family member, no matter their taste.
Here’s a list of other reasons for moving to Cortez and, if you decide to move here and buy a house, here’s a local, well-trusted insurance agent to help you.
Hit the Trails with Your Family
There’s probably no better family bonding experience than hiking, and the Cortez area has some of the most breathtakingly beautiful hiking trails in the world. Here you’ll find hikes that will suit every skill level.
There’s Boggy Draw that’s open to hikers and mountain bikers and the famed Mesa Verde National Park with its hundreds of miles of hiking trails.
Hike the Sand Canyon Trail System and view its stellar rock formations and cliff dwellings. Another hiking favorite is the Chicken Creek trail system. Here’s a link where you can find all the trails listed.
Go Mountain Biking: Fun for the Whole Family
If you’ve never tried the sport of mountain biking, you don’t know what you’re missing. The Cortez area has been described as “a mountain biker’s heaven,” especially with the famous Phil’s World mountain bike trail system located nearby.
The trails of Phil’s World are well-built and offer an exciting experience for all levels of riders (a plus is that these trails are one-directional so you don’t have to worry about other bikers coming toward you).
Other excellent mountain biking venues are the Carpenters and the Boggy Draw trails near Dolores. The Mavericks Loop of the Boggy Draw is what is known as a relatively “mellow ride,” and it’s perfect for families.
Get out Your Skis!
The Cortez area of the Four Corners is a base camp for skiing adventures. There is no experience quite like cross-country-skiing past an Ancestral Puebloan site and word-class downhill skiing is nearby at Purgatory at Durango and Telluride.
Closer to home, Hesperus Ski Area is ideal for beginning skiers and snowboarders. Best of all, Hesperus offers night skiing, something the whole family must try.
Explore Ancient History with Your Family
A family trip to Mesa Verde National Park with its many historical sites and ancient ruins is a must. Just a stone’s throw away from Mesa Verde lies the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument with its 8,000 recorded sites to explore.
Another historic gem close by is the Hovenweep National Monument and its famous Square Tower Group with its large collection of Ancestral Puebloan dwellings will astound everyone in the family.
After visiting this area of the Four Corners, your children will have a healthy respect for history and the people who came before us.
Other Outdoor Activities to Enjoy with Your Family
In addition to McPhee Reservoir and Hawkins Preserve and the area’s many historical and archeological sites, there is a wealth of other outdoor activities the whole family can enjoy. Fishing is a year-round activity in this area of the Four Corners.
The area attracts a wide spectrum of resident and migratory birds, making the area very much a premier birding destination.
There’s no better way to go back in time than putting on a cowboy hat and exploring the area on horseback.
And for those looking to experience the thrill of big game hunting, this legendary area is known the world over.
Family Time in the Cortez Area
In Cortez, Colorado, it’s all about family. Visit or move here and see your family grow and blossom, surrounded by friendly, caring people who have a true appreciation of nature.
