USA South West Mesa Verde National Park

Introduction Empty

Vital information Empty

Phil's log

1,300 people lived and flourished in communities throughout the area, eventually building elaborate stone villages in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls. Today most people call these sheltered villages cliff dwellings. The cliff dwellings represent the last 75 to 100 years of occupation at Mesa Verde. In the late 1200s within the span of one or two generations, they left their homes and moved away. The archeological sites found in Mesa Verde are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States. The descendants of the people who once lived in the cliff dwellings still live in the southwest today. 24 Native American tribes in the southwest have an ancestral affiliation with the sites at Mesa Verde.

Established by Act of Congress	June 29, 1906
Boundary changes	June 30, 1913 May 27,1932 Dec. 23, 1963
Wilderness designated	Oct. 20, 1976
Designated a World Heritage Site	Sept. 6, 1978
Acreage	Federal	51,890.65
	Nonfederal	231.28
	Total	52,121.93
Wilderness area	8,100

Mesa Verde is a World Heritage Site.

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Directions	The Mesa Verde National Park entrance is midway between Cortez and Mancos, CO off U.S. Highway 160. From Cortez, travel 9 miles east to the park entrance. From Durango, CO travel 36 miles west on Route 160 to the entrance. It is 21 miles from the entrance to park headquarters and the Chaplin Mesa ruins. Morefield campground is 4 miles from the entrance; Far View Visitor Center is 15 miles. Allow at least 45 minutes for the drive to Chapin Mesa. Map of the park Map of headquarters and museum area Map of Chapin Mesa Map of Wetherill Mesa

Operating hours	The visitor center is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm most times of the year. For detailed schedules including guided tours, please refer to the park's schedule.

Admission fees	Adults	USD 10.-- per private vehicle
	Cards honored	Golden Eagle, Golden Age, Golden Access Passport

Address	Mesa Verde National Park PO Box 8 Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330 Mesa Verde National Park

Phone	(970) 529 44 65

Email	Unknown If you know the Email Address of Mesa Verde National Park, Please tell me.

Official home page	http://www.nps.gov/meve/

Other links	Desert USA GORP Great Outdoor Recreation Page American Southwest Area parks network ARAMARK site ARAMARK operates the lodging sites in Mesa Verde NP List of movies filmed in Mesa Verde NP

Phil's visit to Mesa Verde NP

Date

Sunday, September 17, 2000

Best Western Sands
1120 East Main Street
Cortez CO 81321

Phone	(970) 565 37 61
Fax	(970) 564 93 20
Internet	Click here
Cost per night	USD 59.63
Distance from park	10 miles (park entrance) 24 miles (visitor center)
Travel time to park	0:15 hrs (park entrance) 0:35 hrs (visitor center)

The first thing you see on the way from the park entrance to the visitor center is the huge area that was burned by wildfires in summer 2000. Even though I had seen the fires on TV, I was very impressed when I actually saw the vast areas that were affected by these fires.

At some days, Wetherill Mesa can not be visited by private vehicle - you have to join one of the guided tours that take you to Wetherill Mesa by bus.

Even if you don't want to go on a guided tour, you must be aware that visiting the park takes a lot of time - be prepared to spend at least a day here. All the ruins you can visit on self-guided walks, the short hikes to various viewpoints and, last but not least, the sometimes long distances you have to drive in between the ruins all take time.

My pictures of Mesa Verde National Park

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