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Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde National Park
BEST
for
KIDS
ADDRESS
Ruins Road
Mesa Verde National Park
Colorado 81330
Mesa Verde National Park
Colorado 81330
CONTACT
ACTIVITIES
Ancient Ruins
Spruce Tree House may not be Mesa Verde's largest cliff dwelling but it is the best preserved. Roughly 90% of this 114-room dwelling is original. Quite remarkable when you consider that Spruce Tree House was built by the Ancestral Puebloans between 1211 and 1278 A.D. As you tour the ruin consider the life of the Anasazi. Where did the 60 to 80 people that are believed to have lived here sleep, work and play? How did they enter and exit their homes? What was it like in the cold? What were the kivas used for?
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Getting There
Spruce Tree House is located 5 miles (8km) from the Far View Visitor Center and roughly 20 miles (32km) from the main entrance of Mesa Verde National Park. Allow 15 minutes for the drive from Far View Center and 45 minutes from the park entrance.
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- Google Maps
- Mesa Verde Map
- National Park Service
Getting Around
The paved trail to Spruce Tree House begins at the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum. The 0.5-mile (1km) round trip hike has a 100ft (30m) descent and ascent.
- Map of Chapin Mesa
- National Park Service
Hours & Times
Spruce Tree House is open daily 8:30 - 18:30 from late May to early September, 9:00 - 18:30 from early September to mid October and 9:00 - 17:00 from mid October to mid November. Opening hours for the remainder of the year are ranger and weather dependent. The trail is self-guided from late May to November and ranger-guided the remainder of the year.
Admission & Fees
Entrance to Spruce Tree House is included in the park admission fee.
Things to Keep in Mind
Brochures are available at the trailhead. Restrooms are located near the car park.
BEST
for
KIDS
A must see
Submitted on 30 October 2007 by snowedunder from Monza, Italy
This self-guided tour enables families to visit an Anasazi ruin at their own pace. And the well-preserved structures aren't lost on the kids. The brochure, available at the trailhead, provides insight to the more than the cliff dwelling. Pick out topics of interest to your kids rather than read the small booklet from cover to cover. Be sure to take the ladder into the kiva. It was a hit with our 8-year-old daughter as well as our 18-year-old niece.
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