http-equiv='refresh'/> Tin TeePee/Log Cabin: Mesa Verde National Park

Saturday, April 2, 2011

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. 

IMG_6539 Views forever from the 8600 foot highest point in the park.  You can see four states from this point.

IMG_6549 First view of Spruce Tree House from the upper portion of the trail.

IMG_6561 IMG_6566

 

IMG_6598This is Square Tower House, at 26 feet, the tallest structure in the park.

IMG_6592 

IMG_6619 And this is the largest of them all, 150 rooms at Cliff Palace.  Rangers lead tours of this dwelling starting later in the season.

  IMG_6626 

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!

9 comments:

  1. Really beautiful pictures. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. a definite must see!..love the first photo..four states from one view point!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are right, the pictures speak for themselves. What an interesting place a definitely one I hope to see in person someday. thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is always so amazing to see how people lived & coped years ago. Apparently there are other cliff dwellings there at Mesa Verde that the public doesn't get to see. Hope we can travel through that area sometime in the next couple of years.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have been there more than once, and have enjoyed it each time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd love to see that. Can you imagine the work that went into creating those dwellings? I wonder how long it took? Don't you just wish you go back into history and be a fly on the wall?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amazing photos! Another place to add to our list of must sees!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the wonderful pictures! We will be visiting there around early May so this is a wonderful sneak peek :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the Cliff Palace! My parents took me when I was 13 and it is one of our most memorable vacations. Absolutely Amazing.

    Safe Travels,
    Kerri

    ReplyDelete

Comments to this blog have been closed. Please visit us at RestorationCowboyStyle.com

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.