In this new series of short Site Spotlights, rangers share insights into their favorite sites in Mesa Verde National Park. In our first episode, join Ranger Janis for a spotlight on Cedar Tree Tower. Why were towers built all over Mesa Verde and what were they for?

This audio tour is 40 minutes long. You can listen along in your car as you drive the six miles (10 km) of the Mesa Top Loop, or listen on your phone as you explore the ten stops along the way. You can also follow along from your home or school to explore Mesa Verde virtually.

The Mesa Top Loop Road is open daily, 8:00 am to sunset. Along the road, you’ll find short, easily-accessible paved trails to view twelve archeological sites, including surface sites and overlooks of cliff dwellings—the ancient homes and villages of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here for more than 700 years.