Mesa Verde National Park, Four Corners and Silverton/Durango Train
After spending the day climbing giant sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park, it was time to head to our next destination—and one we had been looking forward to for a long time. Mesa Verde National Park ended up being one of the biggest highlights of our entire trip.
Tripp Details:
Where: Mesa Verde National Park
Campsite: Ancient Cedar RV Resort
Length: 3 days
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Travel Day/Four Corners Monument
Day 2 - Mesa Verde National Park
Day 3 - Silverton and Durango Train
Highlights:
Paige: The train was a blast and the cliff dwellings was cool to walk through.
Charlotte: Walking through the Cliff Palace and learning about them.
Mary: Learning about the cliff dwellings and kivas was a fun experience.
Aaron:
Before arriving at the park, we spent the morning packing up camp and making the drive west. Since we were so close, we made a quick stop at Four Corners Monument, the only place in the United States where four states meet. It's one of those places you don't necessarily spend all day at, but it's definitely worth stopping to say you've stood in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah all at the same time!
The following morning was our full day in Mesa Verde National Park, and we were fortunate enough to score tickets for the Cliff Palace Tour. If you're planning a visit, I highly recommend booking these tickets as soon as they're available—they sell out quickly, and it was easily one of the most memorable parts of our visit. Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America and was home to about 120 people.
Walking down into Cliff Palace felt like stepping back in time. Photos simply don't do it justice. Standing inside a cliff dwelling that was built more than 800 years ago (built between 1190 and 1280 CE) gave all of us a much greater appreciation for the people who called this place home. It's incredible to think about the craftsmanship, planning, and community it took to build an entire village tucked beneath the overhanging cliffs.
One of the things we enjoyed most was learning how the Ancestral Pueblo people adapted over the centuries. They first lived in pit houses, which were built partially underground. Over time, they transitioned to pueblos built above ground, and eventually many communities moved into the remarkable cliff dwellings that Mesa Verde is famous for today. Seeing that progression helped us understand that these weren't just "ruins"—they represented hundreds of years of innovation and changing ways of life.
We also learned about kivas, the circular underground rooms that served as gathering places for ceremonies and important community events. Once you know what you're looking for, you begin spotting them throughout the villages, and it adds another layer to understanding how these communities lived together.
The park itself is beautiful to drive through, with incredible overlooks and canyon views around nearly every corner. We found ourselves stopping often—not just to take pictures, but to simply admire the incredible landscape that these families called home.
As amazing as Mesa Verde was, we still had one more unforgettable experience waiting for us.
The next morning we headed to Durango to board the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This train ride ended up being a favorite for everyone in our group.
The train follows the Animas River through the San Juan Mountains, winding past towering cliffs, forests, old mining sites, and breathtaking scenery that you simply can't experience by car. The kids loved leaning out the open-air cars, touching the trees and boulders that went by, and watching the steam engine work its way through the mountains.
This was a much needed experience since it allowed us to simply slow down and enjoy several hours together as a family. The Silverton train was worth every minute. Looking back on the trip, it's one of those experiences we'll all remember for years to come.
If you're planning a trip to southwestern Colorado, we'd put both Mesa Verde National Park and the Durango & Silverton train near the very top of your list. Together, they offered the perfect combination of history, adventure, and spectacular mountain scenery—and became one of our favorite stretches of the entire journey.
Ice cream, badges and games, oh my!
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