Mesa Verde National Park

I’m just gonna let the photos tell the story tonight, words cannot describe the awe one feels when seeing Spruce Tree House or Cliff Palace for the first time.  Ranchers looking for lost cows first discovered these ruins and as early as 1913, people were making the arduous trek by wagon and foot to view the ruins.  It is mind boggling what these early Indians accomplished under the overhangs of the sandstone cliffs.  Most of the dwellings face south to gain warmth from the sun and are sheltered under the overhanging cliffs. 

This time of year there are no guided ranger tours and many of the park facilities are closed.  Tours don’t start until mid April but we didn’t feel as if we missed out on anything—we watched a short movie in the museum about the ruins and at Spruce Tree House which you can visit on foot, there was a ranger to answer questions. 

Views forever from the 8600 foot highest point in the park.  You can see four states from this point.

First view of Spruce Tree House from the upper portion of the trail.

 

This is Square Tower House, at 26 feet, the tallest structure in the park.

 

And this is the largest of them all, 150 rooms at Cliff Palace.  Rangers lead tours of this dwelling starting later in the season.

   

We are so glad we took the time to come here.  National Geographic Traveler named Mesa Verde as one of the fifty “must-see” places of a lifetime and we agree!