Tell me about Mesa Verde National Park, CO

You might not be able to get in any of the cliff dwellings, but you can see some of them from viewpoints along the loop roads. Very short walks to some of these viewpoints. In addition, there are some mesa top structures that are also right off the road, maybe 100'-200' of walking. These are worth visiting, and while not as imposing as the cliff dwellings themselves, nonetheless give an interesting perspective as to the difficulty of life back in the day. The visitors center is definitely worth a stop also. It is relatively new and quite informative. They do have a cd you can buy that has 360 degree views of some of the cliff dwellings, including those in other parks and monuments. Maybe you can get there virtually!

To get to the cliff dwellings you'll definitely have to walk - down and up. If you can manage that - even slowly - that's great. A few ranger-led tours take you into the dwellings and one in particular you'd have to crawl through a opening and climb tall ladders. So read about the park in depth.

Mesa Verde

We went to Bandelier Nat'l Monument in New Mexico and it has a nice flat walk going by the dwellings. Again, a ladder is needed to get right up to them.

Bandelier

If you're ever around Flagstaff definitely go to Sunset Crater Volcano Nat'l Monument just north of town on Hwy 89. Right at the entrance gate is an awesome dry camping national forest campground, Bonito. On the loop drive through Sunset Crater is Wupatki Nat'l Monument and that one I believe you'd be able to enter the dwelling easily. It's a beautiful loop drive.

Wupatki

Was there less than a year ago. Visitor center and museum is interesting and worthy of a visit. Pretty strenuous walk to the cliff dwellings. All down to them and all up coming back.hovenweep is another park close to Cortez co that one can visit and see ruins without lots of hiking. You will see them from a reasonable distance, just not on top of them. Of course 4 corners is not far from Cortez either. If you have the time go.

There are several spots along a loop drive that you can get out for a short hike.
There also some that really require an effort; one trail we did we covered 99% of it without any problems but one spot required myself and another gentlemen to get my wife up as she is too short to reach the hand holds. That one was listed as moderate.

Most of it you could see there are some spots I am not sure but there are several places to drive in the park to see some of the cliff dwellings not sure it has been about 15 years since I was there.