Our last stop in Colorado was Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde was named a National Park in 1906 by Teddy Roosevelt (Thank you Mr. President) and contains some of the best preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the United States. All the sites are on top of a Mesa that stretches on for miles.
The last of the Puebloans to live in this area were here in the 11th century. They left behind the cliff dwellings that the park is so famous for.
In order to enter one of the cliff dwellings, you had to take a ranger led tour. Our tour involved a 32 rung wooden ladder and a 12 foot long tunnel that you had to crawl through. Yikes! They had samples of both the ladder and the tunnel in the visitors center so you would know where you were getting into!
We had a lot of rain the week we spent in the area, but by watching the forecast, we picked the perfect day to visit Mesa Verde. This National Park is definitely worth a visit!
We were also in the Four Corners area. Four Corners is the only place in the country where four states meet, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
Of course, we had to visit the monument erected at the Four Corners. It is out in the middle of nowhere on reservation land and is run by the Native Americans. You are charged $5 per person (cash only) to visit.
One other fun place we discovered in Cortez, Colorado (the main town outside of Mesa Verde) is the Burger Boy. It’s a drive in – car hop – burger joint. The burgers were good, but the funny part is Jim had just watched the movie Overboard with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. In the movie, it’s stated that the characters met when Goldie was working at the Burger Boy. That was an omen, we just had to try the place.
It’s time for another bird picture! This BIG guy was sitting outside our RV windows. At the National Park I saw a display that identified it as a Magpie.
After a week at Mesa Verde, we headed south. There is a very prominent land formation called Shiprock. It’s on the Navajo Reservation and is revered by them. It was given its name because it’s said to resemble a 19th Century Clipper Ship. Use your imagination.
That concludes Colorado. Next stop…New Mexico.
Glad that you enjoyed Mesa Verde. Brings back memories. Such a neat place. Don’t remember long lines at the Four Corners but —– that was many moons ago — at least 35.
You could give US suggestion on where to visit!!!
Mesa Verde was truly Brilliant!
Reawakened the great lesson of
The trail of tears Epic story we as a nation
Never learned, I’m still waiting to alert
My hero Ken Burns to document this
History still relevant today!
Magpies are the surprise bird species
Greeting all who take time to See!
So you and Ken Burns are buddies? 😉 The Magpies were fun to watch. Happy is the traveler!
I climbed that wooden ladder with Tim in a backpack on a very windy day about 38 years ago. Looking down wasssss very scary!
Uncle Tom
Wow!! That ladder was there even back then? It was hard enough climbing with just me. I can’t imagine doing it with a squirming baby in a backpack!