A Pictorial Guide to Mesa Verde National Park

Synopsis

ENTERING THE PARK: Entering Mesa Verde is a breathtaking experience. Spectacular views confront the visitor as the road ascends for 5 miles to a high valley. This valley is an important activity center—the MORFIELD CAMPGROUND-VILLAGE complex. Just off the entrance road are 500 individual and group campsites, a 1500 seat amphitheatre, horseback riding and a shopping center. Approximately 10 miles past Morfield the road reaches another important point of activity. The National Park Service has located there the NAVAJO HILL VISITOR CENTER.

On the gentle summit above the visitor center is the FAR VIEW MOTOR LODGE. On the road one mile south is Far View Ruin, a large surface pueblo important to the interpretation of Mesa Verde. The final four miles of the road descend gently through the forest to SPRUCE TREE, the Park Headquarters Area. The principal interpretative activity is here overlooking Spruce Tree Ruin, the third largest and, perhaps, the best preserved of the classical pueblo cliff dwellings.

Similar Bookshelves