Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

At a glance

Visual character

“Colorado's mesa country: juniper-pinyon plateaus, deep canyon cuts, 6,000+ ancient Ancestral Puebloan sites. Rich russet tones, dramatic sky, and cultural depth. Ideal for period and indigenous narrative films.”

About

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in southwestern Colorado protects the highest known density of archaeological sites in the United States — over 6,000 recorded Ancestral Puebloan structures across a landscape of juniper-pinyon mesa country, canyon cuts, and wide Colorado Plateau skies. For indie filmmakers, the layered cultural history adds extraordinary depth to any frame. Tower ruins, kiva depressions, and petroglyph panels appear throughout the terrain, offering authentic historical backdrops without the crowds of Mesa Verde. The BLM monument office at the Anasazi Heritage Center manages commercial film permits. Cultural protocols are required — no filming inside or on archaeological structures without specific authorization. Managed entirely by BLM. Allow 2–4 weeks for permit processing. The adjacent Hovenweep National Monument (NPS) provides additional ruin cinematography with coordinated permits.

Where you'll be