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Mesa Verde National Park

Another must-see attraction when you're in southwestern Colorado is Mesa Verde National Park. About a 90-minute drive from Durango, the park contains more than 4,500 archaeological sites, such as Cliff Palace, pictured here.

Another must-see attraction when you’re in southwestern Colorado is Mesa Verde National Park. About a 90-minute drive from Durango, the park contains more than 4,500 archaeological sites, such as Cliff Palace, pictured here.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park

A ranger leads a group of visitors on a tour. These miniature cities carved into the cliffs were originally inhabited by the Ancestral Pueblo people (also known as Anasazi) between 550 and 1200.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park

Cliff Palace is the largest of the park’s cliff dwellings, with 150 rooms that are thought to have housed about 100 Ancestral Puebloans. Exploring the park’s ruins is definitely not for people who are afraid of heights or feel uncomfortable in tight spots.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde National Park

Visitors can also take self-guided tours of some of the ruins, such as the Spruce Tree House, seen here.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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