Self-Guided Rainy Day at MESA VERDE National Park - What Can One Do? | Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado is known for excellent Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings, however, reservations are needed to tour many of the ruins. On an impromptu rainy day, we checked out just what can be accomplished on a self-guided visit.
Much of Mesa Verde National Park can be experienced on guided tours. While fantastic for learning and absorbing facts about the sites and people who lived there, it is not ideal for the everyday vlogger or someone who randomly stops by the park while in the area. Reservations are needed and coming the day of might mean visitors miss out on the opportunity to take tours.
Curious as to what options there are for those in that predicament, we set out to see just how much one can accomplish. In general, the park has two houses that are open to self-guided tours - the Step House and the Spruce Tree House. At the time of our visit, the latter was closed off due to ongoing projects in the park. In addition to the houses, there are a number of walking trails to several overlooks which provide a fantastic look at the houses from afar. One can really take in the full view of these ruins.
Apart from these activities, there are three houses that require a tour ticket. Make sure you plan in advance.
Finally, to say the park is vast would be a great understatement. Be sure to budget plenty of time during your visit as the drive into the park to some of these sites is much longer than one might expect. But be sure to also take your time as the drive is well worth it. Plenty of stops and overlooks make for fantastic picture-taking moments - especially when the weather takes a turn and puts on a dramatic show as we experienced!
VIDEO FILMED: 07/29/2022
▬▬ R E L A T E D V I D E O S ▬▬
⚪ CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK - Uncovering the MYSTERY | Chaco Canyon, New Mexico - • CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL...
⚪ ISLAND IN THE SKY Must See Viewpoints | Canyonlands National Park | UTAH - • ISLAND IN THE SKY Must...
▬▬ L O C A T I O N I N F O ▬▬
⚪ MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm
⚪ Directions to MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - goo.gl/maps/qS5WyXkBdXCSQ7Et5
▬▬ T I M E S T A M P S ▬▬
00:00 Intro to Mesa Verde
01:30 A Fantastic Drive & Amazing Overlooks
08:26 The Step House
13:23 The Long House Overlook
17:15 The Weather Turns Crazy!
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
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⚪ See where we've been - www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mi...
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Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking and day trips as well as campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!

[@pennysaufley8974]

So, seeing fog or clouds always reminds me of this: Carl Sandburg wrote: The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on. March came in like a lamb on the Vineyard, a soft, fuzzy, foggy lamb. That was an inspiring video!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! And thank you for sharing that quote! ☺️

[@angelinatucker3904]

The pandemic really changed things more guided tours what a shame. Thank you for your videos I love them I started to watching them this morning your so formidable.

[@CactusAtlas]

Our pleasure! Glad to hear you're enjoying them! 😄

[@SoonerGirlTravels]

Such a great trip

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! 😊

[@vickiehowland4458]

Thanks for all your hard work while I lay on the couch.

[@CactusAtlas]

😂 Any time. Happy to provide. 😊

[@Jane-nc2fr]

Your videos are very informative and pleasant. Thank you.

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh thank you so much! That is so very appreciated. 😊

[@joywyse6996]

Thanks Glenn. This is a great way to start a day with your videos. Enjoyed every minute of Mesa Verde. I have never been there but has been one place I've wanted to go. I live 30 miles north of the San Juan Mountains so it's pretty close. Thanks again.

[@CactusAtlas]

Awesome! Definitely a place to hit up before moving. If you do, hopefully the weather will behave better than it did during our trip. 😅

[@SomeplaceOrAnother]

Lots of amazing views 😀👍

[@CactusAtlas]

They impressed us too. 😊

[@sheakatnerrn1469]

Hi Glen, thanks for doing this video. It was great! Wish I ran into you!😊

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! 👍

[@Raptor-gd6sk]

Meza Verde is beautiful.. I visited it 6 years ago couldn’t do much due small kids.. gotta go back !

[@CactusAtlas]

We feel the same way because of the weather. Too much left unseen. 😊

[@tpseeker3367]

Thank You Glenn & Amy. Another video that has left me awestruck.

[@CactusAtlas]

Our pleasure! 😊

[@Lwof1025]

Best photography is the clouds!

[@CactusAtlas]

Agree! Always changing... light can do cool things... Love to always get some in a photo. 😊

[@margaretarross1712]

It was a beautiful drive. The rain made it totally enchanting. Thanks for sharing it.

[@CactusAtlas]

Our pleasure! 😊

[@gstiles7]

Growing up in Colorado I am totally not surprised by that weather. It builds up on one side of the mountains and then dumps when it comes over the other side. Still ended up being a great trip, with very scenic views!

[@CactusAtlas]

There was a lot of rain that popped out of nowhere that whole trip. Had more Colorado plans but had to change them last minute sadly.

[@chrismoreno1627]

Nice video cant wait to go i just hope the weather cooperates with me 😅 its unpredictable out in the desert/mountain climates thanks for the video/info!!👌

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh for sure! Weather forecasts were perfect about a week prior but that weather got us that trip. We had a lot more planned to do in Colorado and it just completely spoiled that whole part so this sort of just became a quick scouting mission on the way back to Arizona. 😅 We hope to go back one day.

[@bradfordbarrettluckotheIrish]

Beautiful sites

[@kreggossmer2029]

🤠👍👍

[@SwiftyTravels]

Things have really changed since I was there! They are enforcing more guided tours now. I don’t believe we went all the way down to long house when we were there. I remember looking from that Overlook. We saw wild horses in that area too- with those dead trees. The kiva with that preserved roof is gorgeous!😮

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh, man! How much could one do before the guided tours? Kind of a shame really...

[@Lynne76]

Just found your channel and it is brilliant, I am from the UK and don't have anything like this so I was so excited when I saw this, even more exited when I found out how many I have to watch to catch up, Subscribed so I don't lose you. Thank you so much for your brilliant and informative videos. 👍

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks so much! We're both happy to have you here. 😄

[@lakefromeshippingcompany]

You've captured some remarkable weather footage there and I love those petroglyphs! I'm not a big fan of guided tours of anything. Sometimes there's no alternative but I like to get a map and discover things for myself.

[@CactusAtlas]

Guided tours are helpful from the standpoint of sometimes having things one might miss pointed out but it does limit being about to go about your own pace. Also really hard to film during them without being a bother to others. 😅

[@mrs.antihero]

The nostalgia! I've been to Mesa Verde once (2 guided tours and a little bit of self-guided exploring) and would love to go back someday- maybe stay for a week and see everything. Amazing place! I've lived in Colorado all my life and still am amazed and mesmerized by the weather and scenery! 🤩

[@CactusAtlas]

It was our first visit through Colorado and far too short. We're hoping to head back though! What would you say is one of your favorite places in the state? 😄

[@mrs.antihero]

@@CactusAtlas The national parks are amazing; Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes (with a side trip to nearby Zapata Falls), and, of course, Mesa Verde, as you've seen. I also highly recommend Colorado National Monument (like a mini Grand Canyon- gorgeous drive through it and also some trails throughout) and then drive from there down the Million Dollar Highway through Ouray and down to Silverton and Durango. Such dramatic changes of scenery on that drive! There are so many great scenic, historic, unique, interesting, fun, and even quirky and strange places here in CO, I could go on and on, but this is already long! [Edit:] Needless to say, it's nearly impossible for me to pick just one favorite. 😅

[@CactusAtlas]

All places that we really want to visit! We actually were supposed to have an overnight camping trip at Black Canyon of the Gunnison on the trip this was filmed but that last day or two... the weather just was not cooperating. 😔

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

That Long House was amazing. You’ve got to go back for a tour. We are very used to our tule fog in Central California. Mornings don’t get started until about 10am when it’s safe to drive.

[@CactusAtlas]

For certain will be returning now that we know the scope of the park and time it will require. Hopefully the weather will cooperate a bit more too. 😄

[@SidetrackAdventures]

We love going to Mesa Verde, but have never taken one of the guided tours. That's crazy they didn't have maps at the visitor center. Luckily there is so much to see without it. when the weather cooperates at least.

[@CactusAtlas]

Haha. True. The weather was definitely an issue. All the more reason to go back again one day.

[@cathymaxcy3391]

I don't remember guided tours either except for Cliff Palace. Maybe it all changed because of the pandemic. You didn't get the full Mesa Verde experience, and it's a shame that you missed so much. Go back and take the tours!

[@CactusAtlas]

We definitely plan a return in the future. Sadly, much of our Colorado plans during this particular trip got a little screwed up because of that weather system that moved through. We have many more plans for Colorado in the future though. 😄

[@cathymaxcy3391]

@@CactusAtlas Colorado's monsoon season is the same time as ours here in Arizona. Although I don't think their storms are as crazy as ours.

[@marianfrances4959]

👍😎🇨🇦

[@Taichigirl311]

Hi may I ask what month of the year your visit was.Its just I am going to visit Mesa in december and not sure what to expect regarding to weather.Thank you

[@CactusAtlas]

You can find filming information (such as the date) in the description of our videos. 😊

[@Gail-gf7km]

Being spontaneous is not a bad idea! Having every detail of your trip scripted in advance takes away so much of the sense of adventure.

[@CactusAtlas]

We certainly agree. 👍 Thanks for watching. 😊