I have been really looking forward to going to this park. Within the boundaries of the National Park they have found over 600 pueblos that still exist in cave dwellings from around 1100. It was worth the trek through the snowy San Juan Mountains to get to the campsite. It was one with beautiful sunsets out my window.
The first day I spent hiking the petroglyph trail in the park and saw the dwellings from a distance. I hadn’t been that cold on a hike in a while, but I brought the layers back out of the winter box for the day. All I could imagine the entire time was walking these slippery rocks with a deer on my back, hoping I didn’t fall over or loose the next three meals. Humans were astonishingly fearless to me.
The second day, I had a pass to go on a ranger-guided tour down to the cliff dwellings. I chose Cliff Palace, and I was very happy with my choice. It was the first ranger-guided tour I have gone on since this National Parks tour of mine. I was excited to be alone and indulge in people watching. I heard murmurs of people discussing previous times they came when you didn’t need a ranger to access the cliff dwellings. They mentioned someone spray-painting something on one of the structures. After listening to all the speculation, I was happy to hear we aren’t allowed access freely to such a sacred land. The ranger on the tour appreciated the land as well, which made it so enjoyable. Shout out to Ranger Bonnie! It was silencing to walk among the kivas and charred rock from all the fires keeping families warm or lighting the ceremony. If you are ever in Colorado, venture here and you will not have one regret. The visitor center alone is one of the coolest I have seen so far, and also houses the research center for the park.
After a few nights we gotta just keep moving! Dobby and I saddled up and began the drive toward Great Sand Dunes National Park! But first Pagosa Springs…
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