Mesa Verde National Park, CO (7-3-08) - dwhike

Balcony House (A.D. 1180-1270)

Mesa Verde is a place truly umatched by any other in the country. The area was occupied by native Puebloans between 600-1300 A.D. Within the park are literally hundreds of ancient structures from ancient pit dwellings to the cliff dwellings the park is most famous for. We only had a short day but were fortunate to be able to auto tour most of the park as well as enjoying two guided tours (Cliff Palace & Balcony House). The combination of the stunning scenery and historical sites a millennia old make this the most spectacular park I've ever toured...

Mesa Verde National Park, CO (7-3-08)

Mesa Verde National Park Entrance
Welcome to Mesa Verde!!!
Mesa Verde National Park Map
Point Lookout
Point Lookout (8,427') stands guard above the entrance to Mesa Verde...
Mesa Verde Park Road
You have to follow the park road for 15 miles inside the park before you reach the visitors center at Far View...
Mesa Verde Park Road
The only tunnel inside the park...
Montezuma Valley Overlook
The original access road to the park ascended the edge of these cliffs and passed here...
Montezuma Valley Overlook
Mesa Verde Park Road
The surprisingly green interior of Mesa Verde NP from the park road...
Park Point Trail
We have to visit the highest point!!
Park Point
Heading up the Park Point Trail...
Park Point
The skeletal remains of trees burned in recent fires reach up above the new growth...
Park Point
As we neared the top of the trail views opened up in all directions...
Park Point
Looking along the North Rim over the Montezuma Valley from the Park Point Trail...
Park Point
The Park Point Overlook...
Park Point
The park road heads south beneath Park Point...
Park Point
The panoramic view of Mesa Verde, looking south from Park Point...
Unknown Flower
Hunting for a name yet for this interesting little flower...
Bristle Thistle (?)
A Bristle Thistle, I believe...
Far View Visitor Center
Far View Visitors Center, which we'd be visiting after our tours...
Mesa Verde Park Road
Continuing south from Far View amongst the fire-scarred forest...
Spruce Tree House
Our intro to the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde would be here, at Spruce Tree House...
Spruce Tree House Trail
The trail to Spruce Tree House was quite steep in spots...
Spruce Tree House
Spruce Tree House was constructed between 1200-1276 A.D. and contains 114 rooms...
Spruce Tree House
One of the 8 Kiva's (places of worship) at Spruce Tree House...
Spruce Tree House
Originally, all kiva's had roofs. The park service has restored this one to give you an opportunity to get down inside one...
Spruce Tree House
Inside the reconstructed kiva at Spruce Tree House. Ceremonial objects would likely have been set along the shelves seen here. A fire would have been also lit infront of the grated vent. The small wall directed smoke out the entry hole so those in the kiva would not be gassed...
Spruce Tree House
Looking up at the museum from Spruce Tree House...
Spruce Tree House Trail
This little Salamander was sunning himself along the trail as we hiked back out...
Spruce Tree House Trail
A beautiful cacti bloom along the Spruce Tree House Trail...
Pithouse (A.D. 600)
Before moving into the cliffs the ancient Puebloans lived atop the mesa in these pithouses...
Navajo Canyon
Navajo Canyon View...
Navajo Canyon
A closer look at Navajo Canyon...
Square Tower House (A.D. 1200-1300)
Containing about 80 rooms, Square Tower House was one of the later structures built by the ancient Puebloans...
Sun Point View
These canyons were among the most heavily populated in Mesa Verde between A.D. 1200-1300...
Sun Point View
Our first look at Cliff Palace, which we'd be touring shortly, from Sun Point View...
Oak Tree House (A.D. 1250)
Contained 50 dwellings and 4 kivas. From Sun View Point...
Fire Temple (A.D. 1250)
This was likely a place of ceremony and was not inhabited. It is located adjacent to New Fire House (see next photo)...
New Fire House (A.D. 1250) - From Sun Point View
This large dwelling was built on two levels. To get from one to another one had to use hand and toe holds to ascend the cliff...
Sun Temple
Our next stop was at Sun Temple which was an important ceremonial site for the ancient cliff-dwellers...
Sun Temple (A.D. 1250)
This structure was likely used for important ceremonies and contained 30 rooms. Archaeologists believe that the structure was never fully completed...
Sun Temple (A.D. 1250)
Cliff Canyon from the Sun Temple...
Sun Temple (A.D. 1250)
A look inside the Sun Temple. This was through a window, no visitors are allowed inside the structure...
Cliff Palace (A.D 1200-1300)
This is the largest structure in Mesa Verde containing 150 rooms and 23 kivas. Guided tours, like the one we were about to take offer a great opportunity to get up close to this wonder...
Cliff Palace (A.D 1200-1300)
Heading out on the tour...
Cliff Palace Trail
The trail to Cliff Palace as it drops off the top of the mesa...
Cliff Palace Trail
Looking down Cliff Canyon as we descend to Cliff Palace...
Cliff Palace Trail
A particularly narrow section of trail on the way to Cliff Palace...
Cliff Palace Trail
More cliff dwellings could be seen across the canyon as we neared Cliff Palace...