We just got back from spending the day at Mesa Verde in SW Colorado. We live near by and have been there a number of times. This is their 100th anniversary of being a National Park and there are lots of special events going on all year.
We have viewed the major cliff dwellings { Spruce Tree house, Balcony House and Cliff Palace before, so today we decided to go to Wetherill Mesa.
It is about a 45 minute drive from the visitors center, as a result, many people don't bother going there. We were told that only 1 in 10 visitors go out there. We bought tickets {$3 each} for a ranger guided tour to see Long House [it is the only way you can see it]. We got tickets for the 12:30 tour. We first went to watch Hopi Corn Dance at Far View Terrace and check out the Indian Craft Market. We then drove out to Wetherill Mesa where we parked our car. We got there 1 hour early and walked down to Step House. It was really special as it has 2 different types of dwellings in one cliff side site. That took about 45 minutes. We then had a snack and waiter for the tram to take us to Long House.
There were only about 25 people in our group and had a very knowledgable park ranger. You are actually allowed to walk in among the various rooms and to go "behind the scenes" to see things as the Ancestral Puebloans saw them. It was amazing. And there were no other groups there at the same time. Apparently the 12:30 tour is the last one until 2 pm, so we had the place to ourselves. No crowds, despite it being July 4th weekend! We got to climb ladders, see where they got their water, and view all of the rooms and kivas that they used.
All four of us, who live in the area and had seen the other "major" sites agreed that this was the most impressive and since we got to go in...the best of all sites. And no crowds was an extra bonus.
So, if you are headed to Mesa Verde, check this out. And for the record, the tours all had tickets available for almost all of the time slots. I know a number of people on here were asking about buying tickets in advance...you can get them up to 2 days ahead, but we had no trouble. We got there around 9 am.
Hope this helps...
Debi
MESA VERDE- A Secret too good to keep!!
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Sounds marvelous, Debi. Thanks for posting.
I never knew Mesa Verde was a secret.
Perhaps I was fortunate to know to visit there in the 1960's before it got so popular!!
(That was the first visit; I have been back 4 times since then.)
I did not mean to imply that Mesa Verde itself was a secret...the many posts and inquiries on here are proof that many know about it.
What I meant as the secret...was going to Wetherill Mesa and seeing Long House since so few visitors go out that way.
I also forgot to mention that once you are done visiting Long House, there is a self-guided tour nearby called Badger House Community where you can see examples of the various types of dwellings that existed before the cliff dwellings. They are in an easy to walk loop.
Debi
I love the Wetherill Mesa area and Long House is one of my favorite ranger lead tours....but with our motorhome, there are restrictions and we can not drive out on that road.
Utahtea
~~ topping~~
Shhh!!! If you keep telling everyone, the Anasazis will just abandon their cliff dwellings and disappear!
starrsville: HA HA HA!!!!!
If they aren't there when I get there this weekend I'm going to be really ticked!
Shhh, everyone - Puhleese! Keep the secret!
(Thanks AuntAnnie
ttt
Topping for kassanna!
Also, use the search feature at the top of the page. Type in Mesa Verde or Ouray and see all the recent threads with great info.
Debi
Dang! Keep sharing the secret!
I did learn that "Anasazi" is no longer considered appropriate or honorable to their ancestors. Preferred is "The Ancient Ones" or "The Ancestrals". (Something to do with the misuse of the translation of the original word - having to do with "enemy".)
I've never understood why Mesa Verde isn't one of the most heavily visited National Parks. I think it is fascinating.
Thanks for the tip about visiting Wetherill Mesa. I haven't made it there yet on my two visits to the park, but hope to some day!
One year later, it is still true!
topping
Debi
Debi,
I hope you see this - I am wondering what the weather would be like at Mesa Verde mid-October? Chance of snow? Are things open? My kids have a fall break & thinking maybe we could drive down for a few days (from Denver). Let me know what you think, Betsy
October is simply beautiful here! Sunny days with mild temps perfect for hiking and exploring and night cool enough for a fire in the kiva.
Wetherill Mesa will be closed -- it closes Labor Day due to the potential for snow [they do not maintain that particular road]. However, the rest of Mesa Verde will be open and it should be fine for a visit.
There can be snow in the high elevations by mid September but not lower down [7500 ft] and if there is any, it melts quickly.
Come! You will love it and so will the kids.
Debi
Thanks for the quick response. If we decide to come, I may get back with you for ideas.
Betsy
Well, it is almost 2 years later and we have just gotten home from another wonderful day at Mesa Verde.
We hiked the Petroglyph Trail which runs about 3 miles. It was a perfect day, low 70's and sun most of the time. We did have a few clouds, and a few drops of rain.
I have posted pictures of the trail here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/DebitNM/MesaVerdeMay2009
After the hike, we returned to Wetherill Mesa. We did not do the Long House tour as we came over here on impulse and hadn't bought tickets. We did take the tram and re visit the Badger House, Step House with stops at Kodak House Overlook and stopped at the Long House overlook.
It was just as wonderful as before. We had dinner at Far View Lodge, at the Metate Room. I have read so much about it on here and other online sites but never ate there. I'll post a sep. thread on that so that the search will find it [maybe]..
Being on the mesa, with virtually no one around [still early in season], with the wind whispering through the canyons is such a spiritual thing, it is a priviledge to live here and have the chance to wonder where the Puebloans roamed over 1000 years ago.
Deb
Thanks for posting Deb. We'll be there next weekend. Nice to read this again right before we go.