Yucca House National Monument — Attraction in Cortez

This monument is located on National Park Property on a County Road across from the farm of a local Ford dealer who shares the easement (he purchased the property knowing the Monument was there) and has a history of trying to keep people out illegally. You ARE allowed to visit this monument, just park respectfully and close the gates as stated on the National Park website.

There is a guest book at the entrance fence but no paperwork, BUT if you go to the Mesa Verde visitor center they have an info sheet and a passport stamp for Yucca House. Though the only visible feature is an exposed wall that was excavated and stabilized in the 60s, the rest of the compound is covered by vegetation and more apparent via Google Maps aerial view (select features in red).

Stop hating on this monument and actually take a second to do some research. There have been some private excavations but a lack of park resources have prevented further research and exploration. Honestly, people should be thrilled a site has remained untouched from vandals or looters since 1919, and is just waiting for future archaeologists to make discoveries. From what little they know, the complex contains an estimated 600 rooms and over 100 kivas, plus a large great kiva, making it a huge center for this ancient community.

Use your imagination, be respectful, and...

There is not much to see here at first glance, but there is a pamphlet at the check in station that provides a lot of interesting information!

A few things to note: To get the passport stamp for this national monument, you need to go to the Mesa Verde National Park visitor center To get to the actual national monument, you have to drive down a gravel road that essentially leads to a private farm where you can park. It is very passable with any vehicle. You'll take a wooden boardwalk to the entrance/check in gate where you register your visit and take an informational pamphlet. The ruins are unexcavated, so you have to use your imagination (and the pamphlet!) to interpret the site. You can walk around the grounds a bit and stretch your legs (which is what we did on our way back from Mesa Verde NP) We spent around 20 minutes here...and you'll likely be the only ones exploring (at least based on our experience/the...

Having been to 40+ National Parks and Lord knows how many National Monuments and Historical Sites, this one has to be the most disappointing.

You literally drive up to a farmhouse. Parking is between the garage and house. Not really a lot, just a wider area of the road.

Upon entering the site, there was a registration book and small storage area for flyers. However, none were to be found.

There are a couple of gates, a small boardwalk (we got wet as the sprinklers were on) and then a short walk to an "L" shaped crumbling wall. Nothing else.

There is documentation (although not on site) showing what the area used to look like. However, with a farmer driving a tractor nearby, the atmosphere didn't lead to much imagining of the past.

I can't even say this was worth the short trip out of Cortez and it is sad to say that for one of these types...