Due to the fact that we could not enter Arches National Park because of overcrowding, we finally drove on to our next destination. On the list was Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. On the journey to Colorado it unfortunately became colder and colder. We had snow and sleet again. We first wanted to spend the night in the park, but then didn’t because of the astronomical prices. Besides, it would have been even colder there. In the park itself it was again partly stormy and partly so cold that we could not stay outside. In the park itself were also again many sights closed but fortunately there were quite few visitors.
Mesa Verde National Park, located in the American Southwest, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ancient cliff dwellings ruins. The park is home to over 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings structures, built by the Ancestral Pueblo people between 600 and 1300 AD. It offers a unique look into the lives of the people who lived in the area over 700 years ago.
The most popular attraction in the park is the Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in the park. Visitors can take a ranger-guided tour of the Cliff Palace, which is located on a cliff face and offers a look into the lives of the people who lived there. The tour includes a visit to the kivas (ceremonial chambers), living spaces, and storage rooms.
Another popular attraction in the park is the Balcony House, which is a smaller cliff dwelling that requires visitors to climb a ladder and crawl through a narrow tunnel to access the site. The tour of the Balcony House offers a more intimate look at the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people and the architectural features of the dwelling.
The park also offers a variety of hiking trails for visitors to explore, including the Petroglyph Point Trail which offers a look at ancient rock carvings, and the Prater Ridge Trail which offers panoramic views of the park.
Mesa Verde National Park also offers a chance to learn about the Ancestral Pueblo people through ranger-led programs and the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, which features exhibits on the history, culture, and daily life of the Ancestral Pueblo people.