It was recommended to us that we make an early start for Mesa Verde to avoid crazy crowds and to visit at a cooler time of the day. We left the hotel 8:30 am. I'm not sure we managed to avoid the heat, but the crowds did increase as the day progressed.
We arrived mid morning and from the visitors center just outside the park, we still had a twenty minute drive to reach the top of the mesa.
We spent most of the morning checking out the ruins and cliff dwellings on the Chapin Mesa, starting first on the Cliff Palace Loop. Since all ranger-guided tours were canceled due to Covid-19, we only had the luxury of looking at each of the sites from a distance.
Cliff Palace
Soda Canyon through the telescope
After a stop for lunch, we explored the Mesa Top Loop with the featured Square Tower House. I found myself wondering how the Pueblo people climbed down to their homes using small footholds and ladders? What about small children? Did these homes keep intruders out?
There were markers at different locations noting three different fires over the years. Much of the mesa top was pretty barren and dreary.
