Mesa Verde National Park was created in 1906 to preserve the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Puebloans, both atop the mesas and in the cliff dwellings below.  The park includes over 4500 archeological sites; only 600 are cliff dwellings.  The dwellings were occupied for 700 years, AD 600-1300.  For more info on Mesa Verde go to http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm.

We drove the entire length of the park; about 26 miles with speed limits from 20 to 45 mph. There is a rise in elevation from 6000 at the entrance to 8572 at the highest point on the road.

The photos give a good indication as to why they are called cliff dwellings. 

 Cliff Palace

 Nell and Cliff Palace

 Spruce Tree House

 Square Tower