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We ran into a late winter storm in part one of this National Parks Tour story after leaving Four Corners Monument. Since it was the middle of May and we were surprised by this storm, I located an RV park in Cortez, Colorado, to hunker down until the storm passed. We had to stay there for two nights, waiting for the storm to end. High winds shook our Unity, and rain, sleet, and snow. Overnight temperatures dropped below freezing, but we were warm and toasty inside our coach.
In this part of our National Parks Tour, we will visit Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, Hovenweep National Monument in Utah, Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, and Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.
Mesa Verde National Park was only a few miles from the Cortez RV Resort. Although it was cold and windy, the scenery was breathtaking and worth braving the cold weather to see.
National Park Number Six: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
The Mesa Verde National Park is a World Heritage Site that provides a glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here over 700 years ago. The Native Americans of this area built large community dwellings on the cliffs and mesas in western Colorado.
This National Park contains the ruins of 27 Pueblos and is also considered an International Dark Sky Park. The scenic views and amazing cliff dwellings make this park a must-see.
The highest elevation in Mesa Verde National Park is “Park Point,” at 8,572 feet above sea level. From this vantage point, you can see the surrounding area for miles. It is worth a stop when visiting this park.
National Park Number Seven: Hovenweep National Monument, Utah
Hovenweep is situated on the border of Utah and Colorado. The park is a monument to six prehistoric villages home to over 2,500 people dating between 1200 and 1300 A.D.
Tai adjusted his Komo rear storage while at the visitor center in Hovenweep. Jim was supervising and providing moral support.
The buildings and towers built on canyon rims and balanced on large boulders are a testament to the skill and innovation of the people living during this time. Hovenweep National Monument is a drive time of about 2 hours, 75 miles from The Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.
National Park Number Eight: Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
Natural Bridges National Monument demonstrates the power of wind and water in a place where water is usually unavailable. These natural bridges were formed below the surface of the desert and can only be seen from a viewpoint just above the area or by hiking down into the narrow canyons.
Natural Bridges National Monument includes Anasazi ruins, pictographs, and narrow canyons. Three bridges named “Kachina,” “Owachomo,” and “Sipapu” are located there. This park was made a national monument in 1908 and honors the ancestral Anasazi.
National Park Number Nine: Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Capitol Reef National Park protects and preserves a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) stretching nearly 100 miles (ref National Parks App). This park is about the scenic views where pictures alone are not enough; it must be seen in person to fully appreciate it.
Capitol Reef has a wide variety of geologic attributes, including narrow canyon rivers, cliffs, cliff dwellings, canyons, domes, and natural bridges, which testify to the power of nature. The views are breathtaking, and this park should be added to everyone’s bucket list.
Capitol Reef is also rich in human history. The Mormons settled here in the 1800s. They planted orchards and established farming communities in the narrow canyons cut out by rivers.
In our next segment of the four part series on our National Parks Tour 2024 we will explore the northern end of Glenn Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, and Arches National Park, Utah.
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