The Ancient Ones
The Ancient Ones is an artwork in Colorado, at a modelled elevation of 2,120 m. Hesperus Mountain stands 4,033 m to the east-northeast, 19 miles off. The nearest named place is Speed Demon Park, a park 1.8 miles away. San Juan Skyway runs past it.
What the record says
- Built
- 2012
- Height
- 6.15 m
- Material
- cast_bronze
How to reach it
- On the San Juan Skyway, National
Named places within 25 miles
- Lone Cone: 2.2 mi
- Moccasin Mesa: 4.4 mi
- Park Point: 4.9 mi
- Weber Mountain: 5.8 mi
- Whites Mesa: 6.6 mi
- Painted Kiva House: 10.3 mi
- Cedar Tree Tower: 10.4 mi
- Sandal House: 11.1 mi
- Spring House: 11.7 mi
- Step House: 11.9 mi
- The Knife Edge: 2.9 mi
- Megalithic House: 8.4 mi
- Far View Reservoir: 8.5 mi
- Far View community: 8.6 mi
- Far View Archeological Site: 8.6 mi
- Speed Demon Park: 1.8 mi
- Cottonwood Park: 5.9 mi
- Northside Park: 6.2 mi
- Riverside Park: 6.2 mi
- Mancos Wayside Park: 6.6 mi
- East Rim: 5.9 mi
- North Rim: 7.5 mi
- Flint Rock Point: 7.8 mi
- Grouse Point: 10.4 mi
- Echo Cliff: 12.8 mi
- Rock Springs: 11.2 mi
- Horse Springs: 12.6 mi
- Valley View Spring: 13.7 mi
- Caviness Spring: 14.2 mi
- Caviness Spring: 14.3 mi
- Pioneer Museum: 6.5 mi
- Rio Grande Southern Railroad Museum: 8.9 mi
- Anasazi Heritage Center: 12.3 mi
- Historic Battle Rock School: 23.8 mi
- Wyatt Picnic Area: 10.4 mi
- Comfort Station: 12.7 mi
- CDOT Rest Area: Cortez: 2.3 mi
- Mesa Verde National Park: 6.1 mi
- Goose Statue: 9.2 mi
- Mayday: 18.2 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 22.8 miles of The Ancient Ones. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hesperus Mountain | ENE 67° | 4,033 m | 19.0 mi |
| Mount Moss | ENE 68° | 4,022 m | 19.4 mi |
| Lavender Peak | ENE 68° | 4,020 m | 19.3 mi |
| Spiller Peak | ENE 70° | 4,000 m | 18.7 mi |
| Centennial Peak | ENE 67° | 3,981 m | 19.7 mi |
| Babcock Peak | ENE 71° | 3,968 m | 19.3 mi |
| Diorite Peak | ENE 70° | 3,889 m | 20.9 mi |
| Burwell Peak | ENE 71° | 3,857 m | 18.4 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:18 | 18:51 | 19:26 |
| June solstice | 05:54 | 19:59 | 20:38 |
| September equinox | 07:02 | 18:38 | 19:12 |
| December solstice | 07:25 | 16:19 | 17:00 |
Local time (America/Denver).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Sep.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 26 | 30 | 38 | 44 | 52 | 62 | 68 | 66 | 58 | 47 | 36 | 27 |
| Precip in | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Mancos 1SW, 5 mi away.
Inside the official boundary of Mesa Verde National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Jan and Feb; busiest: Jun.
NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap element node/12085422575
Day trips start here
- Mesa Verde National Park · 7 mi
Take the scenic way to The Ancient Ones.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.