Colorado Vacations
Vacation Planning Guide for Visiting Colorado with the Kids
Family Travel in Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde Overview:
Families tour the homes of ancient Puebloan spirits at Mesa Verde National Park.
A World Heritage Site, this area protects and showcases the architectural feats and prehistoric culture of some of Colorado's first citizens.
Families tour the homes of ancient Puebloan spirits at Mesa Verde National Park.
A World Heritage Site, this area protects and showcases the architectural feats and prehistoric culture of some of Colorado's first citizens.
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Mesa Verde National Park Travel Guide For Families:
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTIONS IN MESA VERDE
RANGER PROGRAMS FOR KIDS IN MESA VERDE
PICNIC AREAS AND RESTAURANTS IN MESA VERDE
CAMPGROUNDS AND LODGING IN MESA VERDE
TOWNS NEAR MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
MESA VERDE QUICK GEOLOGY GUIDE
MESA VERDE QUICK WILDLIFE GUIDE
MESA VERDE QUICK HISTORY GUIDE
TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
CONSIDERATIONS FOR FAMILIES IN MESA VERDE
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Did You Know? Every room in Mesa Verde's Far View Lodge has a private balcony. Views from those balconies stretch more than 100 miles. In the early morning, forest animals, including wild horses, can be seen and heard in the rugged landscape surrounding the lodge. |
Photo: Visitors gather in Mesa Verde's Cliff House for a Ranger Talk.
Bird's Eye View: Bony Fingers
Near the southwest corner of Colorado, the La Plata Mountains shoot up to 12,500 feet above sea level. The Mancos River and its tributaries drain those high peaks. The snowmelt pours over the Colorado Plateau, carving out canyons and wide basins.
Between those wide valleys, flat-topped mesas rise. These, in turn, are notched and carved by smaller streams until the tablelands resemble arthritic hands with gnarled and bony fingers above the valley floors. Mesa Verde is one such high area.
Within Mesa Verde as a whole, two of these long, thin plateaus have archeological sites that you can visit. They are Chapin Mesa, where the many of the most famous ruins are, and Wetherill Mesa, where Long House and Step House are. The ruin areas are clustered at the ends of the fingerlike tablelands.
Mesa Verde’s turn-off is on US Highway 160, between Durango and Cortez. From the entrance station, it is 4.5 miles along a two-lane road to the campground and Morefield Village. It is another 10.5 winding miles to the Far View Visitor center and Far View Terrace, which has and snack bar. Far View Lodge is also located in this area. 12 more miles of scenic curves will take you out to the Wetherill Mesa sites. The end of Chapin Mesa is almost 6 miles from Far View.
Next Page>>> Best Family Attractions in Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park Travel Guide For Families:
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTIONS IN MESA VERDE
RANGER PROGRAMS FOR KIDS IN MESA VERDE
PICNIC AREAS AND RESTAURANTS IN MESA VERDE
CAMPGROUNDS AND LODGING IN MESA VERDE
TOWNS NEAR MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
MESA VERDE QUICK GEOLOGY GUIDE
MESA VERDE QUICK WILDLIFE GUIDE
MESA VERDE QUICK HISTORY GUIDE
TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
CONSIDERATIONS FOR FAMILIES IN MESA VERDE