I didn't do my research on Mesa Verde and didn't really know what to expect. I had no idea how huge it is--52,000 acres of mountainous terrain. The switchbacks through the mountains made for some slow driving, so there were some parts of the park we just didn't have time to get to. But we ate lunch at the highest point in the park--8500 feet and saw plenty of cliff dwellings, pit houses, and other structures left by the Ancestral Pueblo people from approximately 500 to 1300 AD. Unfortunately, we didn't realize we would need to buy tickets for tours of the two biggest cliff dwellings, so we didn't get there in time to get tour times that would work. It would've been hard on the kids, anyway, with all the ladders and small spaces to crawl through. But it also meant we didn't get very close to the cliff dwellings. Fascinating to see, regardless!
These pictures don't do justice to how high off the ground these cliff dwellings are. I would've just been stuck in my house forever rather than braving the ascent or descent.
One of the most advanced pit houses, built around 1000 AD.
Again, looks like it's practically on the ground. But definitely not on the ground.
Second of two group shots we took this whole trip. Hard to wrangle all of us often.
The GPS map of just part of the drive through the park. Just a few twists and turns...
Panoramic view from 8500 ft.
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