What is Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado?
The Park Point Fire Lookout is the park's highest point, which overlooks the canyon. This view is awe-inspiring in late Fall when the foliage has fallen. This park also features a visitor's center and museum. The park is also open year-round.
The Cliff Dwellings are one of the park's major attractions. Visitors can explore this site on foot or by car. There are three main areas to hike through.
The Badger Community Trail has four excavated mesa-top villages. The trail begins at the end of Cedar Tree Tower Road. The trail winds through a pinyon-juniper forest. It ends near the ancient check dams.
The Far View Sites trail is a half-mile round-trip. It features the Far View House and other ruins. The trail passes by other ancestral Puebloan homes and farms. The trail has incredible views and teaches about the life of the Puebloans.
The Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America. The Park Point Fire Lookout and the Long House are the two other park sites accessible to visitors. The Long House is the second largest dwelling in the park, with 150 rooms. It has two 5-foot ladders to access the dwelling. It is also possible to climb down a 17-foot tunnel and crawl through it.