Top Scenic Attractions in Mesa Verde, Colorado

• Mesa Verde is known for its cliff dwellings.mesa verde image by Mariusz Blach from Fotolia.com
  
  Mesa Verde is a national park maintained by the National Park Service of the United States. Mesa Verde is home to pueblos built over 700 years ago by the Pueblo peoples. The park itself has over 4,000 archeological sites within it, including cliff dwellings built by the Pueblo people.
  
  

Cliff Dwellings

• The cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde are the best preserved in the United States, according to the National Park Service. There are several especially popular and interesting cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, including Balcony House, Cliff Palace, Long House, Spruce Tree House and Step House. Balcony House is reachable only after climbing a 32-foot ladder, a very adventurous feat for most tourists. Cliff Palace is another remarkable site, with over 150 rooms made of wood beams and mortar. Guided tours are available for purchase at the Far View Visitor Center. Individuals can only enter a pueblo when accompanied by a park ranger with purchase of ticket at $3.00 each in 2010.
  
  

Hiking Trails

• Mesa Verde Park is a very popular site for hiking enthusiasts and novices alike. There are several trails in the park available to visitors, although visitors must stay on designated trails. Popular trails include Point Lookout Trail, Soda Canyon Overlook Trail and Petroglyph Point Trail. All trails are under 10 miles and are clearly marked for visitors convenience. These trails are home to wildlife including bighorn sheep, chipmunks and deer, as well as various species of trees and cacti that grow in and around the park.
  
  

Ruins Road

• Ruins Road is a scenic drive that gives individuals a view of the pueblos and the surrounding cliffs, as well as a view of the plains leading up to the cliffs. The road spans six miles, so it makes for a good bike or car ride.