For the past several years on an irregular schedule, Mesa Verde Nat'l. Park (in conjunction with the Mesa Verde Institute) has offered backcountry hikes to rarely visited cliff dwellings. I've done several (as has Josh Hardin who wrote about them in his well written Mesa Verde Guide) and have truly enjoyed them. They keep the number of hikers low and the rangers seem much looser around this activity, which they clearly enjoy.
A new hike offered this year will be to Square Tower ruin in Sept. and Oct. This one is sure to sell out with about 20 dates offered and limited to ten people per day. More details and ticket reservation info. can be found at the Mesa Verde Institute's website.
Interesting...they also had "Photographer's Tours" of Cliff Palace when I was there a few years ago. It was limited to fewer people and there was a slower pace for everyone to get shots.
Thanks for the information. I booked a couple of tickets in October and am looking forward to seeing the ruins.
I'll be sure to check out Josh's guide. Do you have any tips on photographing this particular ruin?
Posted by Joshua Hardin on April 6, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Thanks for the reminder (and recommendation of my website) John! I need to book a tour of Square Tower House too since it's the first time that hike has been opened up. I would also recommend the Oak Tree House hike which I took back in 2006. You don't get to go when the light is that great for photos but it's a great opportunity to get close to an interesting site which is not normally opened up to the public.
I would definitely recommend one of the photo tours too. Not only do you get to photograph another site not normally opened to the public (Mug House) but you get to be at some of the other sites when the light is ideal for images (Cliff Palace at sunset!) The tour leader Gene Balzer, a photography instructor at N. Arizona U., is very knowledgeable and super nice. Rangers also help with the tour if you have other non-photo types of questions. The tours are not very large and you get quite a bit of time to photograph at the ruins without getting in the way of other photographers. For more info click on the Mesa Verde guide link on my signature.
"Do you have any tips on photographing this particular ruin?"
Not from down below, which will be a first for almost everybody. Note that there is an image from down below at the link I posted.
My recommendation on photographing any ruin is to be sure to capture images that are either in full sun or full shade due to high dynamic range and contrast issues. Images that are taken with part of the ruin sunlit and part in shade never look good, IMO.
In October, the nice morning sun may light up the entire ruin, which would be great. A cloudy day would even be better. Images from these places can look terrific in b&w, so keep that in mind while you're there.
Discussion
5 repliesA new hike offered this year will be to Square Tower ruin in Sept. and Oct. This one is sure to sell out with about 20 dates offered and limited to ten people per day. More details and ticket reservation info. can be found at the Mesa Verde Institute's website.
Thanks for the information. I booked a couple of tickets in October and am looking forward to seeing the ruins.
I'll be sure to check out Josh's guide. Do you have any tips on photographing this particular ruin?
I would definitely recommend one of the photo tours too. Not only do you get to photograph another site not normally opened to the public (Mug House) but you get to be at some of the other sites when the light is ideal for images (Cliff Palace at sunset!) The tour leader Gene Balzer, a photography instructor at N. Arizona U., is very knowledgeable and super nice. Rangers also help with the tour if you have other non-photo types of questions. The tours are not very large and you get quite a bit of time to photograph at the ruins without getting in the way of other photographers. For more info click on the Mesa Verde guide link on my signature.
My recommendation on photographing any ruin is to be sure to capture images that are either in full sun or full shade due to high dynamic range and contrast issues. Images that are taken with part of the ruin sunlit and part in shade never look good, IMO.
In October, the nice morning sun may light up the entire ruin, which would be great. A cloudy day would even be better. Images from these places can look terrific in b&w, so keep that in mind while you're there.