Great information coywolf, very useful.
Mesa Verde is awesome.
I once made a southwest tour starting at mesa Verde, then travelling through Chaco canyon, New mexico, the ruins at both sites are amazing, and both times I was able to camp very near to them. After the ruins I headed to Canyon de Chelly, Arizona on the Navajo reservation to plant peach trees. While I was at the canyon to plant peace trees, I was also able to participate in a peyote ceremony, it was amazing. One of my more fondly remembered journeys.
That trip was during a point in my life where I was taking a good deal of time to work on myself, I was exploring my spirituality, spending a good deal of time alone in nature as well as visiting ancient ruins and sacred locations, and consuming psychedelics throughout the entire venture. It truly was a unique experience, and far more meaningful than than my adventures where I would spend the majority of my time in the city.
Its an amazing area to travel through. Good luck.