🏜️ Mesa Verde National Park: One-Day Adventure Guide

Discover the awe-inspiring ancient cliff dwellings of the Pueblo people (600-1300 AD) in Colorado’s iconic national park! 🚗 Must-Do Itinerary 1️⃣ Scenic Drives (Stop & snap pics!) Mesa Top Loop Mesa Top Ruins Road 2️⃣ Top Cliff Dwellings (May-Oct only, book at recreation.gov) 🏛️ Cliff Palace ($8) – Largest & most famous! 🏛️ Balcony House ($8) – Ladders + tunnels = adventure! 🏛️ Square Tower House ($25) – Stunning preservation ⚠️ Long House – Permanently closed 3️⃣ Best Hikes (Download maps offline!) 🥾 Petroglyph Point Trail (2.7 mi, 1.5 hrs) – See ancient rock carvings! 🥾 Point Lookout Trail (2.1 mi, 1 hr) – Panoramic canyon views 4️⃣ Don’t Miss Chapin Mesa Museum – Artifacts + cultural history 📌 Pro Tips ✅ Open year-round, but cliff tours only May-Oct ✅ Book tours EARLY – They sell out! ✅ Pack water/sunscreen – High desert = hot & dry! #MesaVerde #Colorado #NationalParks #AncientRuins #Hiking 🌵📸