Site visit Log : The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map:

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Mesa Verde - Sun Temple

Date Added: 5th Jun 2012
Site Type: Ancient Temple Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 28th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: A large somewhat mysterious pueblo site on the lip on the canyon overlooking the Cliff Palace and about a dozen other sites. What you see is a restoration, although when the mound of collected dust, dirt, and fallen masonary was removed and examined, it was obvious that the building never had a roof. In that and other features, tt's quite different architecturally from any other sites at Mesa Verde or other places in the area.
You'll see photos showing visitors walking inside the massive outer walls, using ladders to climb in and out of the site, but this doesn't seem to be allowed any more.

Mesa Verde - Square Tower House

Date Added: 14th Jun 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 27th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Observed from overlook. Short trail to the overlook from the road is not paved, fairly level.

Mesa Verde - Spruce Tree House

Date Added: 5th Jun 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States
Visited: Yes on 26th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Spruce Tree House is an especially interesting cliff dwelling to visit because in the summer time it is open all day and you can spend as much time as you like there. You can basically walk along the front of the dwelling, and at specific points, between some of the buildings. There is more light shining on this dwelling in the afternoon.
If you get to talking with the rangers they are happy to point out features that may be more difficult to see - like the hand print an ancient plasterer left in contrasting color on a house wall, or the incised bird footprints (turkey tracks) someone made in the floor of one of the rooms.
I rated this "A longer walk" simply because the paved path is quite steep in places, even though the total elevation change is only about 100 feet. There are no ladders or steps. However, like all Mesa Verde sites, the elevation change will be very noticeable to someone who is from lower elevations or is unused to substantial exercise. However, you can also see much of the site from an overlook that is directly behind the Chapin Mesa Museum. That overlook view point is a short walk on a paved footpath and definitely wheel chair accessible.

Mesa Verde - Cliff Palace

Date Added: 5th Jun 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 28th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in the park. It faces west and gets maximum light in the late afternoon. You are allowed to walk along the restored retaining wall (now a walkway) and around several kivas in front of the square tower. We were invited to look up into the Sqare Tower to see the plastered wall mural on the thrid floor, which I was itching to do since I knew it was up there. This access is only as part of a tour, although you can look from two different overlooks to your heart's content, sans guidance.
There are simple tour guides available, and a great many web and other media resources you can absorb ahead on your visit. The ranger will give you a substantial amount of information on the current archaeological thought about why the cliff dwellings were built and later abandoned, as well as the history of excavation and resoration. How well they do this probably varies, although I was very satisfied with my tour's leader.
This is one of the most visited on Ranger Led tours. (These tours are for a very small additional fee over the park entrance fee, but they limit the number of people who can visit the site.) The rangers will warn you (for all tours) about the number of steps, ladders, and the impact of altitude. If you are used to hiking and are moderately healthy, this tour is not difficult, even accounting for the altitude.
The tour is advertised as 1 hour long, although this stretches in the shoulder season when there are fewer tours scheduled farther apart.

Mesa Verde - Balcony House

Date Added: 5th Jun 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 29th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: Balcony House is in an alcove directly below a road where people park to take the tour. As a result, you cannot see it from that location. If you cannot take the guided tour (which is possibly the most physically demanding of the short Ranger Led tours) you can take a short hike (about 3/4 of a mile, one way) to the Soda Canyon overlook of Balcony House.
The hike is relatively flat on a well defined sand and dirt track. When you get to the Soda Canyon edge, Balcony House is clearly visible, but binoculars are needed to see the details of the building. There are also several other, much smaller cliff dwellings in the canyon walls and visible from points on the trail.

Mesa Verde

Date Added: 5th Jun 2012
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 27th Apr 2012. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: Once you are in the Park there are many ancient sites you can visit on your own and without additional fees. Everyone wants to see the spectacular cliff dwellings, but don't neglect the many mesa top dwelling and farming sites that are actually much more typical of occupation at Mesa Verde.
The drive from the main entrance to the Visitor Center, muesums, and the nearest sites takes about 30-45 minutes, the distance to nearby towns and lodging is another 30 minutes minimum. So if the campground or lodge are open, it may be worth it to stay there.
Major forest fires have destroyed substantial portions of the mesa top trees, leaving a bare and not particularly pleasant landscape in a majority of the park, with living plants limited to scrubs and ground cover. However, there are still terrific views down into the canyons and across the horizon to the San Jaun Mountains, Shiprock, and other landmarks.