My second planned stop on the big tour-de-parks was Mesa Verde National Park.

Although the facility is situated at elevation, you have to look down to see its greatest assets–a massive network of ancient cliff dwellings built into the sides of vertical canyon walls.

According to the park service, out of nearly 600 dwellings atesa Verde, 75% contain 1-5 room and many are single-room units. In contrast, Cliff Palace is a large dwelling thay may have had special significance as a social, administrative site with high ceremonial usage.

Notice you can still see soot stains in the fireplaces..

An Unplanned Stop

En route to Mesa Verde, I almost passed by the Chimney Rock national monument. Managed by the US Forest service, it is considered a Chacoan cultural “outlier.”

According to the Forest Service:

The Chaco phenomenon was a complex system of dispersed communities bound by economic, political and religious interdependence centered in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.

The pinnacles that give Chimney Rock its name frame multiple astronomical alignments. The Ancestral Puebloans incorporated their knowledge of astronomy into the design of their community. Today Chimney Rock is one of the best recognized archaeo-astronomical resources in North America, with alignments with the northern lunar standstill, summer solstice, equinoxes and Crab Nebula.

Plans Change

As I headed down Highway 89 toward the Grand Canyon, I almost didn’t notice the sign by the side of the road that said “north rim closed.” It took me a few minutes of roadside frustration to get someone to confirm that not just the campgrounds would be closed. All the trails, programs, etc would be on hold until at least June 6th.

So, what’s a guy to do? As soon as I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know.