WHY ARE WE LIKE THIS?

On our summer road trip we had planned a trip to Mesa Verde National Park.

We would be heading down from Moab and planned an early morning drive through Monument Valley, a stop at Four Corners Monument, then we planned to arrive around noon and tour Balcony House at 2:30. The day should have been a fun day of travel and adventures before reaching our next campsite.

Where We Went Wrong

The day before we had to get rescued via helicopter from Canyonlands National Park (read about that failed adventure here!) so we made the call to skip the early morning drive through Monument valley to get some extra rest.

This call was one of the hardest on the trip, but after being out on the rocks for over twelve hours the previous day we knew that if we wanted to keep up with the rest of the hikes we had planned that we would need to rest.

So we woke up and drove to Four Corners Monument- we arrived at the monument around 12:30 and I got in line for the obligatory photo op while Devon and the kids looked around at the Native vendors. While the photo line was moving steadily it ate through more time than we had anticipated, taking about 40 minutes for us to get through. After the photo we went to Grandma’s Fry bread and grabbed a few tacos to go and got right back on the road.

We were feeling pretty good. Maps said we’d make it with a little time to spare and for the first time all day it felt like we were back on track.

Then I pulled out our tour confirmation one last time.

Always Read the Instructions

My stomach drooped.

I’d read the email weeks earlier, but somehow my brain had completely ignored one crucial detail: the meeting point wasn’t at the visitors center- it was 75 minutes past the park entrance.

There was absolutely no way we were making it.

Plan B

Once we arrived I did a quick check-in at the visitors center to see if there were any other available tours. Unfortunately, they were booked for the next several days.

This was a real bummer and after Canyonlands hadn’t gone according to plan, it kinda felt like getting kicked when you’re down. But, the show must go on!

We did not get to go inside any of the structures but we made it to the museum before it closed, took the park road to see the mesa top structures, sun temple, and amazing views of the structures built into the sides of the canyon walls. Even without touring the cliff dwellings, it was incredible to see the entire communities tucked beneath the canyons overhangs. Photos really don’t capture how massive and well preserved they were.

Travel rarely goes exactly according to plan. Sometimes you get rescued by helicopter. Sometimes you miss the tour you’ve been looking forward to for months because you skimmed an email.

But those imperfect days often become the stories you laugh about the most or lessons that help you plan better in the future.

If we visited again, here’s exactly what we’d do:

1. Enter the park by 8:00 AM.
2. Tour Balcony House or Cliff Palace first.
3. Read ALL of the information about your tour so you can show up on time and in the right place!
4. Explore Mesa Top Loop Road afterward.
5. Visit the museum before leaving.
6. Budget a full day for the park.