2016 National Parks – Part 1

This year we celebrated the centennial of the founding of America’s National Parks Service. We took a twelve day vacation and visited five of the National Parks in July 2016 and drove west.

Part 1 — Philmont and Mesa Verde National Park

After stopping our first night in Raton, New Mexico, we passed through The Philmont Scout Ranch for a tour of the Villa Philmonte, and stopped in Taos for lunch on our way to Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

20160721_110020 — The Philmont Training Center

Mesa Verde National Park was next with Native American cliff dwelling and petroglyphs. The hike was a bit more than we expected but very rewarding.

20160723_135520 — Dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park. Click photo to enlarge.

20160723_102958 — Hiking the Petroglyph Trail

20160723_113211 — The Petraglyphs at Mesa Verde National Park. Click on photo to enlarge.