Thursday, September 19, 2013
The distance from Moab, Utah to Durango, Colorado was only 158 miles, but we wanted to take our time to drive a scenic route and stop at Mesa Verde National Park.
High Cliffs Outside Moab
We drove south along Route 191 for about 35 miles and came upon Wilson Arch. The sun was rising behind the arch and a man stood under the huge rock formation. Of course, we pulled over to take photographs.
Man Standing Under the Arch
Abajo Mountains West of Monticello, Utah
We drove east onto Route 491 at Monticello where the land flattened out to shrub covered desert. As we continued, the land changes to beautiful ranches with cattle grazing. We saw the high mountains of Colorado in the distance.
Sign Along the Road
The Mesa Verde
360 Degree Views
One View From Park Point
Spruce Tree House Cliff Dwelling
Closer View of the Spruce Tree House
At the Tree House
A Kiva
Interior View
Another View
Amazing Place
Tourists Under the Cliff
We climbed out of the Spruce Tree Cliff and slowly walked back up the path, panting all the way because of the altitude. We stopped briefly in the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum to see the artifacts left by the Pueblos who had lived in the cliff dwellings. Then we drove around the Mesa Top Loop Road. We did not stop at the other sites which were open to the public because we felt they were too difficult for us. They involved climbing ladders and crawling between rocks to reach the dwellings.
Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado
It was a short drive from Mesa Verde to Durango and we arrived in time to check into out hotel before dark and walk around the Historic District.
Lobby of the 1887 Strater Hotel
Victorian Interior
We had dinner at the Diamond Belle Saloon complete with live Honky Tonk music performed by a piano player “not a player piano”, as the sign read.
Interior of the Diamond Bell Saloon
Honky Tonk Music