Pictures from Mesa Verde National Park

I promised to share some pictures from our Mesa Verde trip this week. The views were gorgeous. The National Park Service even has a lodge in which visitors who do not want to camp can stay. There are no televisions but all of the other amenities are there - even Starbucks coffee in the rooms! Who needs a television, though. God's creation provides a much better show. 

The first two shots are taken from the road that goes up to the mesa, where the lodge and all of the sites are located.

 Mike Steeves

 We had gorgeous skies and clear views of the valley below.

 Mike Steeves

 Here is a moth that was happily sucking on thistles outside my parent's room. At night we sat on the balcony and watched the moths, bunnies and mice scurry around while the scenery faded with the sunset. 

Mike Steeves

 Here one of the views from our balcony in the Far View Lodge. This is the moon shining, not the sun.

Mike Steeves

 Here is another picture taken from our balcony. The peak in the center right is Shiprock, one of the holiest sites to the Navajo nation. It is in New Mexico - about 58 miles away as the crow flies.

Mike Steeves

Lisa Steeves

 Here is Spruce Tree House. It is a relatively short walk down from the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum. As you can see from the following pictures, there are many artistic views. I loved taking pictures there!

Mike Steeves

Lisa Steeves

Lisa Steeves

Lisa Steeves

Lisa Steeves

 And here is the park resident that we met walking back up to the museum. I was way too close to him. He was right on the path! Fortunately, he bolted into the bushes and didn't bite anyone. Mike took this picture with my camera because I was not going anywhere near that snake for any reason. 

Prairie Rattler, Crotalus viridus, Mike Steeves

Despite meeting the snake, we had a wonderful time. If you go, be sure to take plenty of water and pack your own food. The lodge has a restaurant that looks wonderful, but if you are on a budget it is not a good place to eat. The park also has a cafe which is probably a lot less expensive. It was nice, however, to have our own food because we were able to have a picnic lunch while we were driving around. That was very pleasant. Isn't it wonderful that we have such nice places to go?