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The Colorado Plateau is everything an outdoor enthusiast could dream of. Its mesmerizing canyons, out-of-this-麻豆AV red rock cliffs, ancient volcanic mountains, rejuvenating hot springs, and lush alpine forests make for endless and unforgettable outdoor adventures. But the spellbinding natural wonders are not the only treasures in the Colorado Plateau. Nestled into the beauty of this treasured region are historic towns that are still doorways to America鈥檚 past. Here are 8 of them guaranteed to transport you to another place in time.

Taos, New Mexico

Not many American towns can trace their history back 1,000 years, but this little town in the north-central region of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is one of the few that can. Just a mile north of this historic town is Taos Pueblo, the oldest continually inhabited structure in the United States. The most prominent structure in the Taos Pueblo is the reddish-brown adobe multi-storied residential complex, which is said to have been built between 1000 and 1450. The structure, backed by the Sangre de Cristo range, is a sight to behold, untouched by modernity and time.

You can then switch historic gears from the ancient to the 18th century and beyond in the town of Taos itself. You can choose to visit eclectic artist homes like the Nicolai Fechin House, the Leon Gaspard House, and the Ernest Martin Hemmings House, or take a walk into Taos鈥� Downtown Historic District, where you鈥檒l find examples of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival, Pueblo Revival, and Territorial architecture.

Telluride, Colorado

Time traveling back to a Victorian mining town in Colorado鈥檚 Rocky Mountains is possible if you visit Telluride鈥檚 historic district. The 80-acre historical district features well-preserved late-boom town architecture in buildings like The Senate, a former saloon and gaming room, and the Sheridan Opera House, a Vaudeville theatre and cultural center. The historic district also includes the Lone Tree Cemetary, the town鈥檚 first cemetery.

If you want a window into life in a Victorian mining town in the late 19th century, visit the Telluride Historical Museum, or for a spookier historical experience, take a scenic six-mile drive south of Telluride to the Alta Ghost Town. Around 20 buildings remain in this former mining town that famously premiered Nikola Tesla鈥檚 alternating current electricity transmission system.

Mancos, Colorado

Ranching is still a way of life in Mancos, so don鈥檛 be surprised to see cowboys, cattle drives, horse-drawn carriages, and stagecoaches when you visit this town. It has retained the spirit of the Old West and is located East of the Mesa Verde National Park. To get into the true rancher spirit, take advantage of the numerous horseback riding tours in Mancos that lead you through scenic trails overlooking hundred-year-old rangeland and the La Plata Mountains.

You can also take a trip through time in Mancos鈥� historic downtown, where you鈥檒l see well-preserved late 19th- and early 20th-century buildings like the Bauer Bank Building, the Mancos Opera House, and the Victorian-styled Wrightman House. This town is great for a day trip before exploring the Mede Verde National Park, which is why it鈥檚 famously known as the 鈥� Gateway to Mesa Verde.鈥�

Gallup, New Mexico

This town is a gateway to America鈥檚 ancient past. It鈥檚 situated on the Trails Of The Ancients Byway which features archeological and prehistoric sites of the Ancestral Puebloans, and the Navajo, Ute, and Apache people. You will witness a mix of canyons, sandstone buttes, and spellbinding rock formations. The trail is a treasure chest of archeological evidence of hunter-gatherer communities and ruins of Native American agricultural communities.

The town of Gallup is also a great place to immerse yourself in history as it鈥檚 home to three unique museums. The Gallup Cultural Center, The Navajo Code Talker Museum, and the Rex Museum. They collectively exhibit the history of Indigenous people in the areas surrounding Gallup, the history of the Southwest, the town of Gallup, the Navajo Code Talkers of 麻豆AV War II, and the historic Route 66.

Bluff, Utah

Bluff is a unique and charming historical town by the San Juan River. If you鈥檙e a traveler interested in the history of the first Mormon pioneers of Utah, Bluff Fort will offer you a glimpse into the lives of pioneers in the late 1800s. This restored fort still houses one of the original cabins and one of the original wagons used in the famous Hole in the Rock expedition that Mormon pioneers trekked through before reaching Bluff.

The Bluff Fort is part of the Bluff Historic District that also includes restored Victorian homes from the late 1890s and early 1900s such as the James Bean Decker House, Jens Nielson House, and the John Albert Scorup House. You also can鈥檛 leave Bluff without visiting the picture-perfect Navajo Twin Rocks, named after hero twins in Navajo legend who fought monsters and giants to protect their people.

Jemez Springs, New Mexico

Jemez Spring may seem like a hidden gem, but people have been visiting this town in Sandoval County since the 1800s because of its natural mineral hot springs. Historically, the Jemez people have used the hot springs for healing and spiritual activities for centuries. Today, you can still carry on the tradition of past spiritual and chill seekers by enjoying these natural springs under the sun or on a clear night filled with stars.Jemez Springs is also home to the Jemez Historical Site, which preserves the remains of a 700-year-old Native American Pueblo prehistoric village of Giusewa and the San Jose de los Jemez Church. This rare ruin is surrounded by a picturesque landscape and is considered one of the most beautiful historic sites in the Southwest.

Winslow, Arizona

Being a Route 66 town is not the only thing that makes Winslow rich in American history. It also has a railroad legacy dating back to 1882 and is rich in Navajo and Hopi culture. One of the major landmarks in Winslow is the La Posada Hotel, one of the last grand railway hotels in the United States, built on the historic Route 66. Then there鈥檚 the Old Trails Museum, providing visitors with even more nostalgia about Winslow鈥檚 Route 66 and railroad past and its rich Hopi and Navajo influences.

You also can鈥檛 leave this historic town without taking a picture at Standin鈥� On The Corner Park, which was made famous by the Eagles and Jackson Browne鈥檚 hit 鈥�70s song 鈥淭ake It Easy.鈥� This park features a trompe-l鈥檕eil mural, a classic Ford flatbed truck, and a bronze statue that resembles Browne. The picture possibilities are endless.

Ouray, Colorado

Ouray is a town in Colorado, but the mountain backdrop surrounding it and the Victorian and Italianate buildings in its historic district might trick you into thinking you鈥檙e somewhere in Europe. But Ouray is actually just a former mining town with a well-preserved history. You can take in all its history by walking through its 114-acre historic district and marvel at 19th-century buildings like the Wright Opera House, St. Elmo鈥檚 Hotel, and The Ouray County Courthouse.

Or you can take it up a notch by embarking on the Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour, which will lead you through tunnels and shafts, giving you a taste of what life was like for a mineworker in Ouray. Once you鈥檝e absorbed your fair share of history, don鈥檛 forget to unwind in one of the many historic hot springs littered throughout the town.

The historic towns of the Colorado Plateau are usually overlooked by the urge for adventure on its beautiful wild terrain. But understanding the spirit of this untamed region requires diving into the history closely guarded in these historical towns. It鈥檚 a spirit etched by people who took risks amidst harsh landscapes, overcoming the elements for adventure, the development of community, and civilization. So, the next you鈥檙e seeking outdoor adventures in the Colorado Plateau, don鈥檛 forget to pay homage to the towns that shaped this truly unique part of America.