Just when Kali-cat was getting comfy in the Mesa Verde Lodge we left for the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Located in Colorado, a bit off the beaten path, there lives some massive American sand dunes. I've always wanted to visit this park but since we were with feline we couldn't really spend too much, or really any, time in the sandy backcountry. After stopping by the Visitor's center, we drove to a parking-lot nearby and set out onto the dunes. It was sandy. These dunes are crazy-big. Lots of sand-boarding surfer types. See the little specs of people in the picture above? Epic sand. So, about the Park being the almost greatest. It's just we're a little partial to the Bruneau Dunes in Idaho we recently visited (and declared most beautiful sand dunes in the USA). Did we declare a winner too early? Is Great Sand Dunes National Park the greatest after all? More careful examination of this park is definitely in our future…just not on this trip. I blame the cat (as usual). Off to the Ozarks! ~Paul, Amber, Kali ETC P.S. Take notes: essential Everyone's Travel Club camping materials pictured below.
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Our last little trip in Mesa Verde National Park was to the highest point in the park, the Park Point fire lookout. Below is a picture of the actual fire lookout building at the top. When we were there their was someone working inside, doing whatever fire-lookout people do. The building was restored back in 2009 (link to restoration article). You can also hike from here, a 2.2 mile trail heads down from the viewpoint. Check here for a list of trails in the Park.
We had such a great visit to Mesa Verde National Park. Staying at the lodge within the park was a perfect fit for us. Although the guided cliff dwelling tours weren't really our style (crowded & wifey's afraid of heights), there was enough to explore without dangling over a 100 ft cliff:) The summer weather was mild, sunny by day, with thunderstorms at night. Thanks for traveling with us as we recap our epic US summer road trip! Next stop: Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve…! ~Paul, Amber ETC After a day of climbing ladders at the Balcony House, Amber and I turned our attention to another day of Mesa Verde adventure. It started with us investigating the popular Cliff Palace tour…more ladders…not really the wife's style. We skipped it and took these shots from above! To be honest, the make-a-reservation-and-tour-with-a-guide-and-tons-of-people thing is OK, but not really our style. Because this park is one big archeological dig, it can't really be done any other way (or it would surely be destroyed by the thousands of annual visitors). We decided to check out a nearby trail (no guide) to the Soda Canyon overlooks. Next we made it to the self-guided (in the summer anyway) Spruce Tree House. This 1/2 mile round trip tour starts at the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. It's a nice cliff dwelling experience without all of the ladders and wifey feelings of death-below! We've got one more hike from Mesa Verde National Park coming at you this Thursday, and then we're off to some mega sand dunes in Colorado. Thanks for traveling with us!
~Paul & Amber ETC |
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