I'll be traveling in early July with my wife, my son and daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren ages 14, 9, and 1. In discussing Mesa Verde, Fodor's mentions step downhill hikes and multiple ladders. Just how strenuous is a visit to this area?

First thing you have to take into consideration is the altitude here. That in and of itself tends to impact some folks, depending on where they come from. Read about it here:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34865407

That said -- if you and your family are in decent shape, you should have no problem with the hikes, just be sure to take your time and drink lots of water. It really isn't the downhill that could be an issue, but the climb back up.

Next, the ladders. Not all of the cliff dwellings have them, so it is possible to to avoid them and still see amazing sites. If you can climb a typical ladder up and down, this too won't cause a problem.

If anyone has a physical limitation, that is, of course, another matter. The 1 year old will most likely need to be pushed in a stroller or carried in a backpack thingy for the hikes.

And there are lots of things to see by drving and stopping and getting out of the car.

If you need more specifics, please ask away [this is one of my favorite places and I am fortunate to live 10 minutes away]. Also, email me direct if you'd like if you have other Q's about MV or accomodations/restaurants or other sites in the area.

Hope this helps...
Debi

There are some steep cliffs. Personally, having a toddler there would have made me very nervous.
I think the hiking is moderate; I have some knee problems but I had no troubles.
I agree with DebitNM about the stroller or backpack for your 1 year old.
It is an awesome place. I was so moved by it. Have fun!

We took our toddler last year and traded off on the ones requiring ladders. I wish I remember the names now but we did take her to one of the locations that required some trail hiking but she did fine in our Kelty kid carrier/backpack. Her favorite experience was seeing the wild turkeys. We also did the bus tour which she loved. We also enjoyed a wonderful birthday dinner with her at the fine dining restaurant at Far View Lodge (maybe called Metate?).

You can tailor it to your needs. It is a magical place--a not to be missed.

It's one of my very favorite places in the world.

Nothing to worry about.There's always a Park ranger with the group to help. We're both seniors and did not have any problems.Paul