Mesa Verde N.P.

OK...OK....this is the last post about ruins......I promise.............for a while.

Today we visited the huge National Park called Mesa Verde. It's about 10 miles outside of Cortez, CO and only about 20 miles from where we are parked. The day started with considerable overcast skies but cleared as the day went on.

The visitor center is located 20 miles into the park after driving up steep switchbacks that were being repaved. However, the top of the mesa and the views made the drive worthwhile.


After a quick examination of the displays inside the visitor center (no air conditioning!) we set out with our map to find some cliff dwellings.


The first place we found was the Spruce Tree House dwellings. This is the view from the top of the path before we started down the 1/2 mile trail.

At the end of the trail we were able to wander among the 114 room dwelling that is built into a natural cave measuring 216 feet wide and 89 feet deep. About 100 people lived here 800 years ago and the house has deteriorated very little due to the protection of the overhanging cliff.

One of the kivas (circular religious room) has a ladder that the public can use to climb down 6 feet into the darkened kiva. Doug could hardly wait his turn!


There was so much to see and so many questions to ask the ranger that we spent half the day in just this one exhibit.


With over 4500 archaeological sites in the park, of which 600 are cliff dwellings, it was difficult to decide which way to go next. Some of the places are only accessible by tour guide and that was not an option today. Some of the places required long hikes which again were not an option. So we chose a driving tour called Mesa Top, From Pithouse to Pueblo.

This six mile drive reveals a full range of architecture at Mesa Verde from the earliest pithouses to the latest cliff dwellings. Each stop, approximately every half mile, had a short walk to the site.

While the pithouses were interesting.....

and the pueblos were large........

it was the Cliff Palace that captured our hearts. This is one of the tour guided sites that is definitely on our list next time we visit. I haven't decided if I will do it or not. It involves descending uneven stone steps and climbing five ladders for a 100 ft. vertical climb. Ladders and I don't get along too well but my desire may overcome my fear.

We toured the museum and drove through more of the park and all of a sudden it was 7pm! Time to head back to the coach and put our feet up.