With travel restrictions starting to ease, Mesa Verde National Park has started to reopen. While most services remain closed, some roads, viewpoints and restrooms have been reopened. Since it is a relatively short drive from our current base in Cortez, we have made a couple of drives to and through the park.
Approaching Point Lookout shortly after entering the park.
One edge of the mesa
After a while, you start noticing evidence of structure remains in many places along the cliffs.
Sun Temple Pueblo at the edge of a point on top of the mesa
But what makes Mesa Verde National Park famous are a few large cliff dwelling complexes which are much more intact.
Square Tower Ruin
One of the most famous ruins is Cliff Palace.
Cliff Palace from across the canyon
From the Cliff Palace Viewpoint
This is the canyon below the ruin. It must have been a challenge getting to and from the dwellings
This slab left a very neat hole when it slid out.
One of the many ravens
A few of the wildflowers out
Mule's-ear Sunflower
Yucca blooming
Mallow
Cactus blossom
Penstemon
