Overview

The Puebloan people built their famous cliff dwellings in southwestern Colorado starting in about 550 A.D. and lived here for about 700 years before mysteriously abandoning their homes, never to return. The history of the archaeological treasure trove called Mesa Verde can best be explored spring-fall, beginning at the Far View Visitor Center, where you can purchase guided-tour tickets for three of the biggest cliff dwellings. Nearby is the informative Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, which explains life in these sandstone-cut dwellings and includes a short trail to the well-preserved Spruce Tree House and another trail to Petroglyph Point. The park is highly accessible by car, with roads leading to Weatherall Mesa with its Puebloan cliff and mesa-top villages, and Chapin Mesa, which connects to a pair of scenic loop roads, one of which leads to Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Hiking in Mesa Verde is limited to ranger-led outings or marked trails to prevent damage to the park's archaeological sites. Established: June 29, 1906 Area: 52,121.93 acres Website: [www.nps.gov/meve](http://www.nps.gov/meve)