Colorado - Days 13 - 15

Saturday

We arrived around 4:00 pm at Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Park located just outside of Mancos, Colorado, directly across the highway from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park.  We were in a pull through site, way in the back.  The pull-through sites were definitely a little close to each other, but the view was great!

We decided to go to the Visitor Center at Mesa Verde National Park and spend some time there looking around, and get our National Park Passports stamped. However, since it was getting late, we decided not to drive the rest of the way through the park until the next day.

We needed to make a Wal Mart run and get groceries, and there was a Wal Mart in Cortez (about 10 miles away).  Since we were going there, we decided to pay a visit to the Cortez Cultural Center.  It is a museum/art gallery/gift shop.  The side of the building had an amphitheater, and the entire side of the building was painted to make it look like a pueblo, but it was actually a flat wall.  

They have Native American dancers in the amphitheater every night except Sunday in the summer, and we arrived about 15 minutes before they were to start.   The dancers we saw were a husband and wife.  In addition to dancing, they also explained  lot about the various dances and traditions.

After that, we went to Wal Mart.  Always having to restock.  RV refrigerators and freezers are so small. The don't hold much!

Sunday

We got up early, as David has signed up for a tour of the Cliff House at Mesa Verde.  Jesus and I decided not to try the tour, since it involved climbing several ladders.  Later David said it was actually pretty easy and we could have totally done it.  Maybe next time.  We were impressed with the view of Cliff House, just from the overlook.  (this was without a zoom lens)


Cliff Palace

Cliff Palace overlook was in the Cliff Palace loop, so when David was done, we drove that loop.  I so wish I hadn't left my telephoto lens back in the RV.  But, If you look really close, you can see some of the dwellings in the cliffs.

House of Many Windows

Cliff Canyon Overlook

Soda Canyon Overlook

Another cliff dwelling view from Soda Canyon Overlook

After that, we drove the Mesa Top Loop.  Mesa top look is about a 6 mile drive with 12 sites.  Most of them are either very close to the road or a short hike away.

Pit House (A.D 600)

Navajo Canyon View

Square Tower House (A.D. 1200-1300)

Pit Houses and Pueblos (A.D. 700-950)

Mesa Top Sites (A.D. 900-1100)

Sun Pont Pueblo (A.D. 1200s)

Sun Point View (A.D. 1200-1300)

Oak Tree House (A.D. 1250)

Fire Temple/New Fire House (A.D. 1250)

Cliff Palace View

Monday

The next day we came back to visit the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum.   We walked down the path that would have been to the Spruce Tree House, but you can no longer get all the way there.  It used to be a self-guided tour, but due to the falling rock, no one is allowed there now.  Luckily, there were still good views of Spruce Tree House from that accessible part of the trail.

Then we drove to the Far View Sites.  The Far View Sites include the Far View House, four other villages, and a dry reservoir (you have to hike 3/4 of a mile to see this).

Far View House

Pipe Shrine House

Coyote Village

I wish we had more time to spend here.  I would have liked to have come back and seen the other side - Wetherill Mesa.  I guess I need to plan to come back to Colorado again, too.  I really, really enjoyed visiting this park.  I found the cliff houses to be absolutely amazing.  The detail that went into these ancient buildings just amazes me.


RV and Camper Info

Overall, this was a pretty nice park.  Owners bought it 5 years ago and have made many improvements.  The free Wifi was great!  They had 3 towers throughout the park, and you connected to the one you were closest too.

 As I said above the views were beautiful, but in the pull-through sites, you were really close to your neighbor. There were no trees in that area, but they have planted some, so in a few years (if they are fast growing) there may be some shade.

Had really nice sites for tents, and for smaller RVs (back in sites).  There was plenty of open space, and a large playground for kids.

Tent Site

Playground

The office also hosted a cute little store.  The showers were nice.  The laundry room was nice, but a bit pricey ($2 for wash and $2 for dry)   They also had a pool, hot tub, and a really nice miniature golf course (but we did not play).  Miniature golf was $3 per person to play. 

Location was everything, as it is directly across the highway from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park.  The pull-through site was $39 a night (plus tax, etc., of course!)

There was no cable tv, but TV from the antenna was great.  

There was a large dog park, but it was clear at the front of the park and we were clear at the back, so we never actually took Mari to it.