© San Juan Silver Stage. By Leslie Doran

Mesa Verde National Park, the first park in the United States to be set aside for the preservation of works by humankind, has been named by “National Geographic Traveler” as one of the 50 must-see destinations of a lifetime.  Mesa Verde joins the auspicious ranks of other world monuments like the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall of China.

Mesa Verde also enjoys the distinction of being the first national park to protect ancient archaeological sites. The park consists of over 500,000 acres and contains over 4,000 known sites. The Ancestral Puebloans, formerly known as the Anasazi, built and inhabited Mesa Verde from 450 A.D. to 1300 A.D. They fashioned their homes on both the mesa tops and in the spectacular cliff dwellings.

Cliff Palace is the largest and most photographed of the dwellings. This grand structure has over two hundred rooms built with native sandstone rock and cliff walls. At one time, over 4,000 people inhabited the mesa.

Another dwelling worth the time of truly hardy individuals is Balcony House. The faint of heart need not try this one. This dwelling has the steepest and scariest ascent. This is a good time to point out the dangers of visitors attempting to do strenuous activity at this altitude, which varies from 6,000 to 8,500 feet above sea level.

Sometimes overlooked is Long House located on Wetherill Mesa. It is accessible only during the summer months. This is the second largest dwelling at Mesa Verde. Wetherill Mesa is named for local rancher Richard Wetherill who, with Charles Mason, discovered the cliff dwellings during a snowstorm and while looking for stray cattle. This slightly under appreciated site is well worth the visit. Tickets for Long House, Cliff House and Balcony House must be bought at the Visitor Center. Only one cliff house visit is permitted per day.

A definite bonus to visiting this area of the Southwest is the abundance of wildlife and flora. Authorities estimate that there are as many as 1,500 mule deer within the park. Visitors are often thrilled by coming upon small groups of deer feeding on the vegetation while walking from site to site.

Mesa Verde is a great gateway to other attractions in the area. The Four Corners National Monument, the only place in the United States where the boundaries of four states join, is only 38 miles from the park.

Arches National Park is two and a half hours from Mesa Verde. While Monument Valley, described as the Eighth Scenic Wonder of the World, is also only two and a half hours away.

The world famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is only one hour away and is a relaxing treat with spectacular mountain views. The amazing San Juan Skyway “America’s Most Beautiful Drive” starts nearby.

The 232 mile loop drive, which takes six to eight hours to complete, encompasses some of the most historic and superb vistas in the country. Roadside attractions include: mining towns, 14,000 foot mountains, hot springs, high-altitude desert, alpine forests, red rock canyons and cattle ranches.

Opportunities for outdoor fun and adventure are endless in this part of the world. There’s hiking, fishing, biking, rafting, horse back riding, four wheeling over stunning mountain passes rafting down cool rivers with just enough rapids to keep things fun and exciting. Mesa Verde is one hot tourist destination for singles, couples and families. The fun will make history in your life. For more information call 1-800-449-2288, or visit the following websites.

For more information on Mesa Verde visit  www.mesaverdecountry.com or www.visitmesaverde.com.