ποΈ USA | Colorado | Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park (Check my album for a detailed 9-day Colorado road trip itinerary! ππ¨) "Mesa Verde" means "green table" in Spanish. In the 18th century, Spanish explorers entering Colorado saw a flat green land surrounded by sheer cliffs, rising like a table above the canyons β hence the name. For centuries, these canyons remained uninhabited, yet hidden within them lay magnificent ancient structures, largely unknown until the late 19th century. Today, the park is famed as the cradle of the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) culture. According to archaeologists, between 550 and 1270 AD, Indigenous peoples lived here in cliff dwellings, accessing their homes via ladders. From 1276 to 1299, a severe 24-year drought forced them to abandon the area and migrate east in search of water. The park now preserves around 4,000 archaeological sites, once home to up to 5,000 people. β Main Attractions: Cliff Palace: The largest structure (currently under maintenance β). Long House: Requires advance reservation + guided tour (1β2 hours, $8 per person). Step House: A smaller site β open for self-guided exploration. We joined the Long House tour ποΈ, then drove the Mesa Top Loop to see: Spruce Tree Terrace Pit House Sun Temple Distant views of Cliff Palace Donβt miss Park Point Overlook for panoramic fall colors π β the park is vast and stunning from every angle! #USTravel #Colorado #NationalParks #MesaVerde #IndigenousHistory #FallVibes #RoadTrip #AncientWonders #ExploreAmerica ποΈπΈ
