Long ago in southwest Colorado was a group of Ancestral Puebloan people who, after living on top of the mesa for 600 years, built homes beneath the overhanging cliffs. The best preserved cliff dwellings in North America are in Mesa Verde National Park.

We were excited to go check them out.  Harmony and the kids drove out to the park to check it out,  and learned that all tours require a ticket.  Tickets can only be purchased at the park, not online or by phone, so that increases your chance of getting the tour you want because you don’t need to plan too far in advance.  We purchased tickets for the next day.  The tickets are $5 per tour and everyone needs a ticket, even carried babies.  There are several tours to choose from and great descriptions of the tour at the visitor center.

So the next morning Harmony, Anthony and Colin headed out in the morning for their tour.  The tours all take about an hour to get to from the front of the park where the visitor center is located.  It is a gorgeous scenic drive with several pullouts to enjoy the view.  They got there early enough to quickly check out the museum before going on the tour. 

The tour we chose was the balcony house tour.  It is the most strenuous of all the tours.  We had to climb a 30 foot ladder, walk up and down several steps and crawl through a narrow tunnel.  The tour takes about an hour.  It is in a cliff dwelling, so of course, it’s up high…right on the edge of a cliff.  As the tour guide said “it’s not OSHA”.  They don’t have safety harnesses or guard rails on most of the tour, so you need to be aware of your surroundings.  Some of the areas had a brick wall near the ledge and every time someone would lean on in the tour guide was quick to remind them that the wall is over 800 years old and it a long fall.

After the tour Harmony and the boys at some lunch in the car as they headed back to the RV.  On the way they stopped for Anthony and Colin to get their Jr. Ranger badges. 

Now it was time for Doug and James to go on their tour.  We took turns going so that someone could stay with Emmett.  He isn’t fond of heights or ranger led tours where he needs to be still and quiet.  And we aren’t fond of trying to entertain him near steep cliffs while trying to listen to a ranger.  It was in the best interest of everyone to just let him stay home and play.  On Harmony’s tour someone brought a baby who was unhappy, cried most of the time, and made it hard to hear what the ranger was saying.  We felt bad for the baby and for all the people on the tour.  So while all ages are allowed, they may not be recommended.

James is afraid of heights, but wasn’t one bit scared climbing the ladders or being near the cliffs.  We all really enjoyed the tour and learned a lot.  It was fascinating to see how and where these people were able to live and survive for so long.