Mesa Verde National Park
Experiencing the views and valleys of Mesa Verde National Park
USA
Located in Southwestern Colorado, at an altitude of more than 2600 meters, Mesa Verde National Park is a must see. At this park you can view and experience the cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Pueblo peoples who lived there for more than 700 years. The intricate cliff dwellings, pit houses, pueblos, masonry towers and mesa top villages were built around 450-1300 A.D., when people migrated to the area.
Because we had little Aliya with us, we didn’t join the ranger-guided tours to go into the cliff dwellings such as Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House, as it was required to climb a few sets of ladders on the side of a cliff to go into these dwellings. But if you are interested in doing the tours, be sure to reserve your tickets on the National Park Service website well in advance, as there are only a small number of tickets available.
Another tip is to bring along a good pair of binoculars. We were able to see the inside of the cliff dwellings from the viewpoints at a distance.
Aside from the cliff dwellings, there were many other archaeological sites to visit throughout the park such as the Badger House community, the Cedar Tree Tower, the Far View Sites Complex, and the Sun Temple. As we ventured into these sites, we were transported into ancient times and couldn’t help but be amazed by the hardiness and resourcefulness of this ancient civilization.
A mix of natural beauty and history, a visit to this World Heritage Site should be on your bucket list! Happy exploring!
