FOUR CORNERS, HOVENWEEP NM &
MESA VERDE NP
4-6
Apr
We
are camping at Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Resort in Mancos, CO across the highway
from Mesa Verde NP. There is a great view of the Mesa to the South and off to the East is snow cover mountain
tops. The view alone is worth stopping here for the night. While here we will be making trips that included Four
Corners, Mesa Verde NP and an unexpected stop a Hovenweep NM. Anytime when we
can add another National Park to our trip it just icing on the cake.
4
Apr
Buckled up and strapped in for what I thought was going to be a 4 ½ hour drive, but really almost 7
hours. My navigator and Google map was off by 2 ½ hours. We took 98 to 160 and
after 3 hours of driving and no sign of a rest stop we pulled over on a pullout to take a break to eat lunch. Mountains surrounded us on both sides, we had a prefect view to eat lunch (sorry no pics… what wrong
with me!).
The
downside to planning a trip with paying in advance for reservation is if you find
something you did not expect to find there is no time to stop, we had to pass on stopping at Monument Valley. However, we did see some of it from the road.
These are the times I want to kick myself in the a$$.
Finally,
we got to our first stop of the day at Four Corners Monument. This is the only
place in the US where four states meet at one point. Located on Navajo land and a fee is $5.00 a person to enter.
½ hour out from our RV Park, I saw a sign boards for $.99 strawberry
shortcake at Ute Mountain Casino and just had to stop. Strawberries were sweet
and my taste buds were thanking me. I only had a few bits so I could save the
rest after we ate dinner. Hiromi thought I stopped for her… let's keep that our little
secret.
We
arrived at Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Resort just across the highway to the entrance of Mesa Verde NP. The RV park just changed owners and a new name (A & A Mesa
Verde was the old name). Weather is in the mid 60’s during the day and low 30’s
at night. Worst part is our electric space heater died so we are using our central
heater.
Having some fun playing with Mesa Verde
5
Apr
Easter
Sunday and no sign of the Easter Bunny…. Where are my black jelly beans? As we
were driving in yesterday, we drove pass the sign board to Hovenweep NM. It is within our 2 hour drive requirement for a day trip, so we made the 1 ½ hour drive
on back country roads. Like any back country roads you see thing that you will never see on the main highways.
Hovenweep translated as deserted valley. There is no fee to enter this National Monument. We ate our packed lunch before hiking the 2 mile trail that had 11 ruins covered throughout the mountain rim. All the ruins were blocked off, but we could still get close to them. We were so busy looking around at the view while walking; we almost walked in front of a Midget Faded Rattlesnake. If not for it giving us its warning rattle, who knows what would have happened to us.
We had to stop for cow crossing.
A group of Elk was staring at us
Hovenweep translated as deserted valley. There is no fee to enter this National Monument. We ate our packed lunch before hiking the 2 mile trail that had 11 ruins covered throughout the mountain rim. All the ruins were blocked off, but we could still get close to them. We were so busy looking around at the view while walking; we almost walked in front of a Midget Faded Rattlesnake. If not for it giving us its warning rattle, who knows what would have happened to us.
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
The snake was longer than this, but I had to edit 2 pics to make this.
6
Apr
Our Last day here, we only had to drive across the street to arrive at Mesa Verde NP. I believe this will be the shortest drive we ever take to get somewhere. There is a $10 fee, but our national Park Pass cover the fee. We had to drive 20 miles into the park before arriving at the museum located just above Spruce Tree House. Like always, we ate our packed lunch before heading out on the trail.
We were now ready for the ½ mile hike to Spruce Tree House. All the other site of cliff dwellers were closed for the season and open in May. Spruce Tree House is the most preserved cliff dwellers with most of its structure still standing. There was even a Kiva open that we could climb down into. Of all the cliff dwellers we have visited, this is hands down the best.
Ancient Cedars has a pizza cooker in their community room which is a log cabin. We picked up a pizza yesterday and tonight was pizza night.
What next?
Albuquerque, NM
Our Last day here, we only had to drive across the street to arrive at Mesa Verde NP. I believe this will be the shortest drive we ever take to get somewhere. There is a $10 fee, but our national Park Pass cover the fee. We had to drive 20 miles into the park before arriving at the museum located just above Spruce Tree House. Like always, we ate our packed lunch before heading out on the trail.
We were now ready for the ½ mile hike to Spruce Tree House. All the other site of cliff dwellers were closed for the season and open in May. Spruce Tree House is the most preserved cliff dwellers with most of its structure still standing. There was even a Kiva open that we could climb down into. Of all the cliff dwellers we have visited, this is hands down the best.
Open Kiva off limits
Inside the covered Kiva
Ancient Cedars has a pizza cooker in their community room which is a log cabin. We picked up a pizza yesterday and tonight was pizza night.
What next?
Albuquerque, NM
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