Those who want a glimpse into Mesa Verde’s less-visited sibling, the Ute Mountain Tribal Park, will have a golden opportunity next weekend at the thirteenth annual tribal park open house. The event is held in conjunction with Historic Preservation Month.
On May 25, visitors can tour the Porcupine House ruin and see historical Ute pictographs, see ancestral Puebloan sun calendars and learn about the geology of Mancos River canyon, enjoy free Native American entertainment and view museum exhibits.
The half-day sun calendar/geology tour departs at 9 a.m. from the tribal park visitor enter, 20 miles south of Cortez at the junction of U.S. Highways 160 and 491 (which is eight miles south of the Ute Mountain Casino). The cost is $29 per person, and the group will return by 1:30 p.m.
The Porcupine House/pictograph tour will depart at 9:10 a.m. and return at 3 p.m. The cost of that tour is also $20 per person.
Transportation for both tours is available on a first-come, first-served basis in 15-passenger tribal park vans. There will be no charge for transportation. Visitors may also take their own vehicles or carpool with others, although they must stay with the group. Participants need to dress for hiking and provide their own drinking water and lunch. The tours are not handicapped accessible and may be canceled by bad weather.
Back at the visitor center, there will be Native American entertainment between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. Museum exhibits will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and free refreshments will be available.
The Ute Mountain Tribal Park Visitor Center does not accept credit cards, so bring cash, personal checks or travelers checks.
For more information, visit www.utemountainute.com, call (970) 565-3751, ext. 330, or (970) 565-9653.