In arid New Mexico is this lesser know gem. It is well cared for, has excellent trails and interesting guides and exhibits. Indigenous people lived here during the Stone Age and for over 2 hundred years. They built these amazing cliff dwellings, accessible now by ladders. Their thick walls protected the people from the heat. This is the view from across the canyon of some of their homes. No one knows why they abandoned the site, but there are many conjectures. Spring and fall are the best times to visit, unless you really like triple digit heat.
Sincerely,
Mesa Verde National Park
This World Heritage Site preserves more than 600 cliff dwellings typical of the Ancestral Puebloan culture, which lasted from about 450 to 1300. The allure of this park is not only the remarkable ruins, but also the mystery of the people who inhabited them.
State(s): Colorado
Established: 1906
“They contain the history of our race, provide homes for wildlife, and educational experiences for children to learn to respect for our past and all the creatures that share our planet.”
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