Mesa Verde National Park
Location: Southwestern Colorado. Area: 77 square miles. Season: June 15 to September 15. Address of Supervisor: Mancos, Colorado.
Railroad Connections
Mesa Verde National Park is on the narrow-gauge division of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and is best reached from Mancos, Colorado, 31 miles from the camp in the Park. Although this Park is farther from the main transcontinental railroad lines than any of the other Parks, the railroad route through the San Juan Mountains is one of great scenic beauty. The routes and fares from Denver are as follows:—
Denver to Mancos via Alamosa, and Antonito, returning same route, or returning via Telluride and Gunnison, $25.00.
Denver to Mancos via Alamosa and Antonito, returning via Durango, Silverton, Ouray Toll Road, Ouray, Montrose, and Gunnison, $30.40.
The automobile fare from Mancos to the camp is $10.00 for the round trip.
The trip from Denver to Mancos requires about 40 hours, one night being spent on the road and one night in Durango, or Telluride, or Montrose.
Passengers holding transcontinental tickets via Denver & Rio Grande Railroad may obtain stopovers at Grand Junction on the standard-gauge line, or at Montrose on the narrow gauge line, and make side trip to Mancos at the following rates:—
Grand Junction to Mancos and return via Telluride, $23.30.
Montrose to Mancos and return via Telluride, $18.90.
Passengers holding transcontinental tickets via Denver & Rio Grande Railroad may make the trip between Denver and Grand Junction by way of Mancos on payment of $20.00 additional.
Automobile Routes
From Denver the best route is by way of Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Walsenburg, Alamosa, South Fork, Durango, and Mancos; distance, about 400 miles. Permit for an automobile costs 50 cents for a single trip or $2.00 for the season. The speed limits range from 10 to 15 miles per hour.
Camp
There is only one camp in Mesa Verde National Park, at Spruce Tree House. This camp is maintained by O. L. Jeep, and the rates are $3.00 per day. Guides and camping outfits may be obtained at Mancos.
Trips
There are no regular tours in this Park, as trips to the ruins are made on foot from the camp near Spruce Tree House. The distance to the important ruins are as follows:
| Distance and direction | ||
| Spruce Tree House | ¼ mile | W. |
| Cliff Palace | 2 miles | S.E. |
| Balcony House | 2½ miles | S.E. |
| Community House | 2 miles | S.E. |
| Poole Cañon | 4 miles | S. |
| Peabody House | 3 miles | S.W. |
| Long House | 2¾ miles | S.W. |
| Tunnel House | 6 miles | S. |
| Sun Temple | 2 miles | S. |
The three principal ruins are Spruce Tree House, Cliff Palace, and Sun Temple.
Clothing
Ordinary clothing may be worn, as there are no extended trips or hard climbs. As the nights are cool, a sweater or light overcoat will be convenient. As the auto stages carry only 50 pounds of baggage free, arrangements should be made to store all heavy pieces at Mancos. Such pieces may be taken to the Park by special arrangements with the auto stage company.