Sacred Southwest Journey 2026: Part 2: Mesa Verde National Monument- Cliff Palace
Updated: 1 day ago
Day 3
It was a two and half hour drive from Chinle, Arizona to Cortez, Colorado. On the way, it rained and gave the red rocks a vibrant color.
We set up our camper at the RJourney RV Park. We had water and electric hookup. We hung out watching the sunset over the mountains, looking towards the Mesa Verde National Park on the other side of the mountains.
Day 4
After breakfast and enjoying our morning coffee outdoors, we drove to Mesa Verde National Park Welcome Center and purchased tickets for the ranger led Cliff Palace tour. It was an hour and a half drive to the parking lot for the tour. We ate snacks with the ranger on a park bench in the shade.
When we began the hike down to the dwellings, I was amazed by the older people and people with physical challenges (using canes, walking sticks, orthopedic boot, etc) hiking this trail of many steps and steep inclines. This shows us the human spirit is driven even with difficulties and prevails to reach a goal.
The Pueblo lived here for 750 years from A.D. 550 to A.D. 1300. They lived on the mesa above, planting, growing and harvesting their crops.
Cliff Palace is the largest known cliff dwelling in North America.
There are over 150 rooms and 23 ceremonial kivas.
The hike is 1/4 mile with four ladders, uneven stone steps, for a total of a 100 foot elevation change. The hike is worth the magical feeling you experience.
For me, in this photo, I see a cat in the middle, and other faces on the wall. The photo below shows spirits dancing by the fire.
If you plan to take a tour of the Mesa Verde dwellings, you can download the recreation.gov app on your smart phone and purchase tickets.
Part 3: Mesa Verde National Park: Long House…
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