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| Mesa Verde National Park's Cliff Palace |
Rocky Mountain National Park
Day hikers can circle a beautiful subalpine lake in the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park on the Bear Lake Loop. The 0.6-miles round trip trail is particular gorgeous in autumn when aspens around the lake turn gold.
High Dune Trail
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Families can day hike to the top of a sand dune that would reach half-way up the Empire State Building at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The national park boasts North America’s tallest sand dunes. Star Dune reaches 750 feet when measured from base to crest while High Dune is 650 feet high.
Cliff Palace
Mesa Verde National Park
Among the largest cliff dwellings ever constructed hundreds of years ago by the Ancient Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, is Mesa Verde National Park’s Cliff Palace. It contains 150 rooms and 23 kivas constructed of sandstone, mortar and wooden beams. The 0.25-mile round trip hike only can be done via a ranger-guided tour. Tickets typically must be purchased an hour ahead of the guided tour time.
BONUS: How to avoid, treat altitude sickness in kids
Since air pressure is lower at higher elevations, you will inhale less oxygen in mountainous areas. For most hikers, the problem begins when reaching 8,000 feet above sea level, in which acute mountain sickness can affect both child and adult.
Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks series.
