Mancos Campground

The Great Outdoors

No matter where you’re RV camping in Colorado, there’s something amazing to do outside. Just south of Mancos is Mesa Verde National Park, one of the oldest protected areas in the National Parks System. The main attraction here is the 600 or so cave dwellings that were inhabited by the Pueblo civilization, which disbanded some 200 years before Christopher Columbus visited North America. Most of the park’s hiking trails are fairly short, and some of them can be done with a guide, who can more thoroughly explain the purpose of the cliff houses.About an hour's drive to the west of Mancos is the massive Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, one of the most archaeologically significant regions in the country containing thousands of ancient ruins from the Puebloan people. Canyons also surround Hovenweep National Monument, which is managed by the National Parks System rather than the Bureau of Land Management. Facilities in Canyons are pretty basic, with an emphasis on keeping the region wild. There are several nice trails worth exploring, though, each six to ten miles in length and visiting the ancient pueblos.When you book an RV in Montezuma County, another good spot for water sports when motorhome camping near Mancos is McPhee Reservoir, about an hour's drive from the RV campground, near the town of Dolores. The massive lake never feels crowded, and there are several spots where you can launch a kayak (rentals available in Dolores) along with miles and miles of excellent locations on the bank to set up for fishing. The waters can be pretty cold for swimming most of the year, but the cooler temperatures are perfect on a hot summer day.

Exploring the City

The closest town to Mancos State Park is, of course, the town of Mancos. It’s pretty tiny; however, its location near Mesa Verde and Canyons of the Ancients has allowed it to develop as a charming tourist attraction. The Kilgore American Indian Art Gallery houses hundreds of beautiful pieces created by the nearby Navajo and Hopi tribes. You’ll find dozens of roadside stands selling similar artwork and more pieces inside the gallery, and there’s the opportunity to learn about the significance that designs and symbols have to their creators.For a more offbeat art attraction, check out Dave Sipe’s Folk Art Display on Highway 160 between Mancos and Mesa Verde. Set up by a resident woodcarver, the exhibit has everything from bears and eagles to Uncle Sam and the Grinch. You probably won’t be taking home one of his sizable creations when you camp in an RV near Mancos, but the display is worth of an hour or two of your time if you’re heading west.But for anything resembling urban attractions, you’ll need to make a trip to Durango when you rent a camper near Mancos State Park. The restaurant options are considerably more diverse, and you can even do some shopping beyond buying groceries. However, one of the most popular activities here is the scenic railway tour to Silverton – a two-hour journey through the Rocky Mountains aboard a steam-powered train. Silverton is brimming with souvenir shops, and it makes for an interesting stop at one of America’s more famous mining towns.