Mesa Verde -- highest road altitude 8571. We drove up & down these roads at 20-35mph for 15 miles just to reach the bus tour we took into the park. The motor home did great!!

The people before the cliff dwelling builders lived in these pithouses. They were dug about 4-5 feet under ground & then covered with poles & branches of juniper and then they mudded over the roof & walls to make them even warmer.

This is a kiva, used for meetings & gatherings.

Cliff dwelling probably housed about 80 people. They farmed on the plateau above.

This is the biggest cliff dwelling we saw -- estimated population 120. They used ladders to move around & they could remove them if threatened. Without the ladders, the dwellings are virtually unreachable.