Colorado - From sand dunes to mountains
Colorado is one of the most beautiful states in the western part of the US. Of the hundreds, if not thousands of things to do, visiting the public National Parks is a must. Here are just a couple of the parks you can visit in Colorado:
Mesa Verde National Park, in Colorado, is celebrating its centennial status as a national park this year. To celebrate there are many special events that are scheduled including concerts, newly opened hiking trails and talks filled with information about the park. The park is home to ancient Ancestral Puebloan dwellings. News has it that these homes built high into the cliff walls are some of the most unique history in the world. The dwellings are well preserved and have been sparking interest about the ancient culture for over one hundred years. Ladders give access to guided tours as park rangers give educated and informative talks focusing on the daily lives of the Pueblo tribe and their amazing culture. Some of the newly opened trail ways in Colorado lead to places that have not been open in decades. Few have traveled these historic trails and you can contact trained guides who will lead you to Oak Tree House and Mug House, 2 extremely reclusive dwellings. If driving is your style in Colorado, be sure to check out the Trail of the Ancients or San Juan Skyway. You’ll be able to get a feel for the land that the people of this ancient culture survived upon and will undoubtedly find numerous photo opportunities.
Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is another spectacular image of beauty. Within the one hundred and fifty thousand square acre park sits thirty square miles of dunes that are of the highest in the United States. The tallest of the dunes stretches seven hundred and fifty feet into the air at a distance of eight thousand and seven hundred feet above sea level. Regardless of the time or year in Colorado or whether there is snow or not, here you’ll find adventurers strapping on skis and snowboards, clutching tightly to sleds and hitting the sandy dunes. For those who prefer four-wheeling in Colorado, the 25 mile off road route that starts within the park and ends at the town of Gardner may be more to their liking.
These are only two of the parks that can be visited and only a few of the current things you can do while in Colorado. Of course there is camping, hiking and nature observation in these remote wilderness areas where you may catch a glimpse of the pronghorn antelope, found only in the United States or possibly a herd of white tail deer. Whatever your outdoor desires are in Colorado, you can find them in the beautiful national parks in this state. Search for more in an information directory of links right here on the web. You don’t even need a map!