Montezuma County topographic maps

The early Archaic people living near Mesa Verde utilized the atlatl and harvested a wider variety of plants and animals than the Paleo-Indians had while retaining their primarily nomadic lifestyle. They inhabited the outlying areas of the Mesa Verde region, but also the mountains, mesa tops, and canyons, where…

Average elevation: 7,044 ft

Average elevation: 6,880 ft

According to the United States Census Bureau, Mancos has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), all of it recorded as land. The town is located in the Mancos River valley at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet (2,100 m). The Mancos River was named by Spanish explorers (Rio de los Mancos - "River of…

Average elevation: 7,080 ft

Average elevation: 7,612 ft

Average elevation: 5,381 ft

Average elevation: 7,241 ft

Average elevation: 8,192 ft

Cortez has a dry-summer continental climate (Köppen Dsb), though it borders on a semi-arid climate (BSk) due to low precipitation. The city has hot summer days and cold winter nights, the latter a result of its elevation.

Average elevation: 6,132 ft

Average elevation: 5,935 ft