The Mancos Valley Chamber of Commerce runs the visitor center for this small southwestern Colorado town, the gateway between the San Juan Mountains and Mesa Verde National Park. Stop in for maps, trail and road conditions, and firsthand pointers on where to eat, where to camp, and what's happening in the valley that week. Staff and volunteers know the back roads and the local calendar, so it's a good first stop before you head out.

Mancos sits along the Mancos River with a walkable main street of galleries, a brewery, and shops, and the chamber helps connect visitors to the businesses and events that keep the town ticking. The center points travelers toward the surrounding public lands too, from Mesa Verde a short drive west to the national forest and mountain passes to the east.

The chamber is a nonprofit, and the visitor center keeps seasonal hours: open April through October, Monday through Saturday, 10am to 3pm, and closed November through March. Plan around those months if you want to catch someone at the desk.