8/3 Colorado (Black Canyon, Route 550, Mesa Verde)

This was a busy day. It was a last minute decision to stop at the Black Canyon National Park, but I'm glad I did. It's a small park, but has such a deep, sloping canyon. I continued driving south along Route 550, part of which is called the "Million Dollar Highway", named so because it connects many old mining towns. I finished up the day at Mesa Verde, where numerous ancient cliff dwellings and pueblos of the Anasazi people have been discovered and excavated. Unfortunately, I arrived too late and didn't get an opportunity to tour the cliff dwellings up close.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park:

Route 550:

Looking down upon the town of Ouray.

Somebody needs to tell the Colorado Department of Transportation that this road needs more guardrails.

Mesa Verde National Park:

The cliff dwelling (top center) is the same as the one shown in the above two pictures.