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Explore the Magnificent Ruins of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Published by Jason Hussong, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

Juniper and pinon trees blanket the earth in mountainous southwestern Colorado, an area with spectacular vistas high above sea level. Hiding behind these trees is the Mesa Verde National Park: a jewel in the US National Park Service crown.

Recent forest fires have thinned the trees in the area, but the title of “green tableland,” as given by Spanish explorers seeking a route from Santa Fe to California in the 18th century, definitely still fits Mesa Verde Park. While the Park is named for its trees, it’s the ancient cliff dwellings inside that are more the attraction to Mesa Verde National Park.

Ancestral Pueblo people inhabited what is now Montezuma County in Colorado around the 7th century. Also known as the Anasazi, a Navajo word that means “ancient ones” or “ancient foreigners,” these people evolved from a hunter-gatherer culture and built the spectacular cliff dwellings around the 12th and 13th centuries. The reason why the structures were built is not entirely clear, as little evidence exists today of the Anasazi, but it is believed they were used to offer protection for a trade route, and from neighboring settlements.

The Mesa Verde cliff dwellings are generally constructed of rocks held together by adobe mud. Many of the buildings, which sit under a huge cliff outcropping, are only one single room, but some are as many as two hundred rooms in size, and multiple stories high. One of these, the Cliff Palace structure, is believed to be the largest cliff dwelling in North America; and what a grand and impressive building it is too.

The Anasazi abandoned the area, possibly forced out by a severe drought, around 1300 A.D. Mesa Verde remained hidden in the trees, unnoticed by the Spanish explorers in the 1700s, until a geological survey expedition discovered the ruins in the 19th century. Ranchers who later worked in the area discovered more of the huge complex which now occupies over 81 miles² (211 km²) in the national park.

Scandinavian archaeologist Gustaf Nordenskiold began work shortly after the discovery was made. As vandals raided the area, Nordenskiold took many items from Mesa Verde back to museums in Helsinki. Because of these problems, and thanks to a local group that worked towards protection of the area, President Theodore Roosevelt signed a law in 1906 to protect Mesa Verde as a US national park.

Mesa Verde National Park, about 9 miles (15 km) outside of the small town of Cortez, encompasses some 4,000 archeological sites (including 600 cliff dwellings) and is now marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s one of many great experiences in the Four Corners area—the only place in the United States where four states touch each other —which can be found in Colorado as well as nearby Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.

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When to Go to Mesa Verde

The best time of year to experience Mesa Verde National Park is in the shoulder travel seasons of fall and spring. The summer months can be crowded with families out on summer vacation, and the winter months can be downright frigid in the mountains of Colorado. So, while any time will possess its own beauty and particular seasonal attributes, the best times would be closer to the summer months (not during school summer breaks).

The Balcony complex is a must for a visit to Mesa Verde National Park. This can only be seen with a special ticket that must be obtained each morning. These tickets are offered in limited numbers each day, and it varies seasonally on where obtain them, so check ahead with the Park to make sure that you don't miss out on this spectacular dwelling.

Odds n' Ends

If you plan to spend any time in the area, it's a good idea to get an annual National Parks pass. With all of the great parks in southern Utah and southwest Colorado, the pass certainly helps make things more affordable if you plan to visit a few over the next year.

While in the mountains, be careful of altitude sickness (aka: mountain sickness). Drink plenty of water and try to stay hydrated as headaches and other problems really take away from such an experience. Until you're used to the elevation, refrain from too much physical activity (running around) as the area is approximately 6,200 feet above sea level.

Colorado is also known to benefit from a great abundance of sunshine, which makes sun screen a necessity when spending long hours outdoors. Being so high above sea level, it's easier to get burnt, so make sure to take the proper precautions. No great experience like this can be enjoyable as a lobster!

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Books and DVDs

Mesa Verde National Park: Life Earth Sky
Global Treasures CLIFF PALACE Mesa Verde National Park Colorado
Frommer's Colorado

Elsewhere on the Web

Mesa Verde National Park - NPS.gov

Media References

Mesa Verde National Park - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
Mesa Verde Video - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)

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