tour mesa verde national park

Guided Tours Of Mesa Verde National Park

Home to the largest cliff dwellings in north america, southwest colorados most popular destination, one of only 20 world heritage sites in the us., mesa verde tours full-service, guided tours of mesa verde national park, why a guided tour.

Sit back and enjoy the scenery while our experienced, knowledgeable tour guides with over 50 years of combined experience take you through the park. With their knowledge, you will be able to ask questions, read literature, and listen to your own private tour of Mesa Verde National Park .

Tour with us ! You get to save time, gas, entrance ticket fees and go straight to the sites with our guided tours. All of our tour vehicles are comfortable with air conditioning for those hot summer months and heated for the chilly winter months. Have special needs or specific questions about our tours? Contact us . We are here to provide you the best Mesa Verde Tour EXPERIENCE.

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Square Tower House

Mesa Verde National Park Tours

Square Tower House tours begin Friday, May 24. All reservations are available 14 days in advance starting at 8:00 am MDT.

Featuring the tallest standing structure in the park, an intact kiva roof, original plaster and paint, and plentiful rock art, Square Tower House is one of Mesa Verde's most impressive cliff dwellings. Visitors to the Mesa Top Loop can get a great view from the overlook, but intrepid hikers are treated to an adventurous and intimate look inside Square Tower House on this special ranger-led tour.

This tour starts 75 minutes from the park entrance at the Square Tower House trailhead.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

This strenuous ranger-led 90-minute tour is a 1-mile (1.6 km) round-trip along an unpaved, uneven trail that descends 120 feet (37 m), and includes steep drop-offs, switchbacks, and two 16 foot (5 m) ladders. Each hiker must be able to scramble over boulders, navigate steep gravel trails, and descend/ascend ladders unassisted. 

Wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and bring a minimum of 1/2 gallon (2 liters) of water per person. Ancestral sites are vulnerable to damage caused by rodents attracted to food crumbs. Food, gum, and chewing tobacco are not permitted within the site during your tour.

From the park entrance, drive 20 miles (32 km) to the all-way stop on Chapin Mesa. Turn left onto the Mesa Top Loop. Drive 1.9 (3 km) miles to Square Tower House parking. To make sure you arrive on time, allow 75 minutes to drive from the park entrance to the Square Tower House trailhead.

Meet the ranger at the Square Tower House trailhead at 8:45 am. Hikers depart for Square Tower House promptly at 9:00. You MUST arrive 15 minutes early for a safety and logistics briefing before your tour.  

Parking may be limited. Consider parking at the Navajo Canyon Overlook on the Mesa Top Loop, from which Square Tower House is a short walk.

Know your physical health and fitness before joining a Square Tower House tour. Elevations range between 7,000 and 7,500 feet (2134 m and 2286 m) above sea level. You should plan for all weather possibilities because conditions can vary. It's possible to begin your hike in full sun and end with a thunderstorm. Bring a minimum of 1/2 gallon (2 liters) of water per person. 

This hike may not be appropriate for young children. Each hiker must be able to scramble over boulders, navigate steep gravel trails, and descend/ascend ladders unassisted. 

Cameras are welcome, but you must be able to carry all of your gear while keeping your hands free to climb the ladders. No tripods are allowed.

May 24 to Oct 22: 9:00 am, daily.

October 23: Tours close for the 2024 season.

Tour is limited to 10 people.

Price: $25.00 per person, ages 3 and up. You MUST physically print your tour reservation at home OR download it to your phone to show the ranger before joining the tour. You will NOT be able to join the tour without a valid tour reservation presented. Late arrivals may result in forfeiting your tour. No refunds for late arrivals.

All tours will be conducted as scheduled. However, any tour may be delayed or cancelled if lightning occurs near the tour location or for a park emergency. 

All tickets are NON-TRANSFERABLE AND NON-REFUNDABLE unless the tour is cancelled by the National Park Service.

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Complete Guide to Mesa Verde’s Best Cliff Dwellings

See cliff palace, balcony house, long house and more on this architectural tour of colorado’s most historic national park..

In the Four Corners region of the Southwest, which joins Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, Mesa Verde National Park houses one of the most lauded examples of ancient architecture. Between 600 to 1300 C.E., the Ancestral Puebloan people who inhabited the region established elaborate settlements into rock cliffs and along mesa tops, building pithouses and cliff dwellings from sandstone, mortar and wooden beams. Today, 600 of these cliff dwellings still stand, including masonry towers, ceremonial centers and farming structures as well as an array of pithouses, or residences dug just beneath the surface of the ground. Home to almost 5,000 archaeological sites, Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—draws visitors from around the globe.

From one-room granaries to palaces of stone, form and function also invite architectural beauty. Mesa Verde, which means “green table” in Spanish, sits at an elevation of 7,000 to 7,500 feet surrounded by lush junipers and pinon trees—a striking backdrop for life on the ledge. The circular kivas, or underground chambers, were viewed as sacred spaces. These kivas retain the feel of spiritual and community gathering, while cliff dwellings built into elevated rock strike an air of authority over the canyons and valleys below. Use this guide to see the park’s best cliff dwellings whether it’s admiring them from the road or crawling through their tight passages on a guided tour.

How to See Mesa Verde’s Best Cliff Dwellings

Mesa Verde’s cliff dwellings and other archaeological sites are fragile. When visiting, it’s extremely important to treat them with respect. You’re visiting someone’s home and community—the Ancestral Puebloans’ descendants today live in New Mexico and consider Mesa Verde to be an important spiritual site. Don’t touch the dwellings, take anything you find in the area home, or deface the structures by doing anything like carving or digging into the walls. Tread carefully as there may be artifacts near the ground you would miss without close inspection. Pack water, hiking shoes, sunscreen and seasonal clothing, as summer and winter conditions can fluctuate. Temperatures are often extremely hot in the summer months, so it’s a good idea to plan your visit early in the morning to avoid midday sun. There are two main areas accessible to visitors: Chapin Mesa and Weatherill Mesa. Some sites can be seen on self-guided tours, others require that you visit on a ranger-led tour and others still can only be seen from designated viewpoints or the road. Tickets for all ranger-guided tours can be purchased 14 days in advance on Recreation.gov . Due to high demand, reserve your tour tickets as soon as possible.

Chapin Mesa, closest to the park entrance and visitor center, houses most of the main dwellings in the park. Highlights include Balcony House, Spruce Tree House, Cliff Palace and the Far View Sites. Don’t miss the 6-mile drive down Mesa Top Loop Road, which has an audio tour of the mesa-top dwellings recorded by Laguna Pueblo park ranger TJ Atsye. One can download the 43-minute audio tour at www.nps.gov/podcasts/podcasts-mtl-audiotour.htm to accompany the drive or even listen at home for a virtual tour. Also visible en route to Chapin Mesa is the notable Cedar Tree Tower, a rare example of an above-ground kiva.

Chapin Mesa Sites

Far view sites.

The Far View Sites are ​​roughly four miles north of the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, home to a short film on the archeological history of the park and a display of Ancestral Puebloan artifacts such as domestic tools, baskets and weavings.

The Far View area parking accommodates vehicles under 25 feet. The trail is roughly a 0.75-mile loop of level hiking along a dirt path for a self-guided tour of the sites. Interestingly, not all Ancestral Puebloans lived in the cliff alcoves and famed rock dwellings; at Far View, you’ll see evidence of a bustling community that rested along the tops of the mesas, preceding the cliff dwellings carved into stone. Pipe Shrine House, Coyote Village, Megalithic House and Far View Tower are the more conspicuous of the structures and include large, round kivas, circular towers and low-profile builds which suggest more than 30 villages and surrounding farms prospered in the area.

Cedar Tree Tower

With an ever-present nod to ceremonial significance, Ancestral Puebloan sites like Cedar Tree Tower allude to the spiritual aspects of the culture. Just south of the Chapin Mesa Architectural Museum, Cedar Tree Tower and its kiva foundation are visible from a small parking area alongside the main road. While the tower itself is roped off, visitors have access to the perimeter. The term Kiva stems from the Hopi word for a ceremonial room and the structure’s circular build was conducive to community gathering. Notable between 1100 and 1300 C.E., these kiva towers twisting upward from a circular base pose a striking presence, even from the road.

Spruce Tree House

Visible from an overlook but too unstable for open visitation, Spruce Tree House is best seen from behind the Chapin Archaeological Museum. Built between the early and late 1200s, Spruce Tree House is an extensive development that housed between 60 and 80 residents. There are ceremonial spaces across eight kivas and nearly 150 rooms, making Spruce Tree House the park’s third largest community of cliff dwellings. Nestled within a protective alcove and closed off to daily visitors, the majority of the original materials—wood, walls and plaster—still remain. A natural sandstone arch hovers over the dwellings, as though watching over those who called this area home. Due to erosion and subsequent rockfall, stabilization efforts by the National Park Service continue to ensure the ongoing safety and stability of the arch, and the area is temporarily closed.

Cliff Palace

Cliff Palace Loop Road intersects the main road between Chapin Archaeological Museum and Spruce Tree House, taking you past Cliff Palace. To see the interior of this heralded site, the largest cliff dwellings in North America, you’ll need to reserve a spot on a ranger-guided tour. The Cliff Palace tour involves navigating four ladders and traversing weathered stone steps, with an elevation shift of 100 feet. Doorway height indicates the average Ancestral Puebloan male stood no more than 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with females averaging 5 feet tall, while decorative artifacts and reddish plaster speak to a value placed on beautification. This dwelling features 150 rooms and 23 circular kivas which were home to nearly 100 residents. For a roadside view of the site, one can also see Cliff Palace from the Sun Temple and Sun Point View stops along Mesa Top Loop Road.

Balcony House

One of the most visited sites in the park, the Balcony House dwellings may be seen through ranger-guided tours during the summer season. This one-hour tour accesses the area by a 32-foot ladder and visitors will wind through narrow tunnels and passageways, some that require crawling on hands and knees. Balcony House is sure to impress even the most adventurous visitors. A medium-sized development, this archeological site is comprised of two kivas and 38 rooms, fit for no more than 30 residents. The alcoves of Balcony House face northeast, away from direct sunlight, adding another layer of mystery as to why people chose to build here.

Square Tower House

Ranked as one of Mesa Verde’s most impressive cliff dwellings, Square Tower showcases the tallest structure in the park. There’s two ways to see this cliff dwelling: drive up to the overlook on Mesa Top Loop or take the 1-mile ranger-led hike. Don’t be fooled by the short distance. This hiking trail is steep, unpaved and uneven with drop-offs, plus requires climbing two ladders and bouldering over large rocks. Visit Recreation.gov for more information about hiking tours.

Wetherill Mesa

Note: Due to the construction of a new visitor station and waterline, Weatherill Mesa will be closed for the 2023 season and possibly part of the 2024 season. Check www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/closures.htm for updates.

Located just past Chapin Mesa, through a deep ravine and up the other side, the small developments around Weatherill Mesa see less visitor traffic. Before driving to Wetherill Mesa, reserve your spot for a two-hour ranger-guided tour on Recreation.gov of the area, which includes Long House and Step House.

To reach Wetherill Mesa, you’ll turn off the main road around mile marker 15 and drive 12 miles along the narrow and winding Wetherill Mesa Road (at road’s end, you’ll find restrooms and a snack bar). The route accommodates vehicles under 25 feet in length and is closed from October to May.

The Step House trailhead is accessed from the Wetherill Mesa Kiosk. Though the trail is short— 1 mile roundtrip—wear your hiking shoes: it’s a winding path with a steep 100 foot up and down section. Open spring through fall, Step House is accessible to visitors via a self-guided tour, though rangers are on-site to answer questions.

Step House features six pithouses, or structures built into the earth, which date back to 600 C.E. The existence of these pithouses tells the story of the earlier inhabitants of the park, as the structures were built centuries prior to Mesa Verde’s world-famous cliff dwellings. Intricate woven baskets were also discovered at this site (more examples of aesthetic importance) and the term Basketmaker came to describe certain generations of Ancestral Puebloans.

In the mid 1100s to 1300 C.E., another generation—known as Pueblo III—also inhabited the area. Their masonry pueblo contains three kivas, 27 rooms and was built nearly six centuries after the Basketmaker III generation built their pithouses. Notable in the park, Step House includes relics from two distinct eras of Ancestral Puebloans.

Badger House Community

There are four separate sites within the Badger House Community, reached by a 1.4-mile roundtrip hike from the parking area, just south of Step House. Accessible via a self-guided tour, Badger House was constructed in the 1200s. It’s made up of multiple rooms and has two distinct kivas, one of which is connected to a nearby tower via a 41-foot tunnel. Though inaccessible to visitors, sections of the tunnel still remain. One site contains a pithouse from 650 C.E., while another site houses a large kiva from a generation later. The fourth site, known as the Twin Raven House, contains a noticeably small kiva and an array of lower profile rooms.

Located across from Badger House Community, Long House is the most well known of Weatherill’s dwellings and the second largest community in the park. The two-hour ranger-led tour navigates two 15-foot ladders, a 2.25 mile hike and an elevation gain of roughly 130 feet. Like Cliff Palace, Long House is notably large with 21 kivas and 150 rooms, as well as additional rooms for storage. There’s an event space of sorts, as well a large plaza around which nearly 175 people may have gathered. With that sizable gathering space and the multitude of kivas, Long House likely served as a ceremonial hub and town center for the Ancestral Puebloans who lived in this area of the park. You’ll find benches and vaults which suggest people also gathered for markets.

Why Build at Mesa Verde?

The Ancestral Puebloans were farmers who stayed close to their squash, bean and corn crops. As they farmed the mesa tops, they continued to expand and maintain their settlements and colorful plaster along wall surfaces, though quick to fade, denotes an aesthetic quality to the build.

While theories suggest cliff life afforded protection from invaders and/or proximity to resources, the exact reasons for building these structures high above the Earth’s floor are still unknown. Perhaps the rock held spiritual significance, or living alongside its grounding energy made the Ancestral Puebloans feel secure.

With such elaborate and intentional architecture, it remains a mystery as to exactly why, in the 1300s, the Ancestral Pueblos ultimately abandoned their homes. Some speculate discord or threats from wildlife may have contributed to the exodus, as well as the growing need to find water. In the late 1200s, as droughts plagued the region in the late 1200s, farmers may have decided to abandon their city in the rock.

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Touring cliff dwellings at mesa verde national park.

While there are thousands of archaeological sites at Mesa Verde National Park, just four cliff dwellings are regularly open for tours: Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Long House, and Step House.

It's both amazing and unfortunate that while there are hundreds of cliff dwellings within Mesa Verde's boundaries, just those four are open on a regular basis for visitors.

Maps of the mesas included within the national park's boundaries are dotted with ruins -- Double House, Sun Point Pueblo, Square Tower House, Sun Temple, Fire Temple, Cedar Tree House, Kodak House, and Jug House. And those are just the ones with names. There also are sites denoted simply by numbers -- 1644, 1645, 1676, 1452, 1801, 1291, and 1595 just to name a few.

The problem of opening these to the public has been a lack of money and manpower. Money to both stabilize ruins enough so they can be safely toured, and manpower to provide the tours and the ongoing stabilization and monitoring work. And then, too, there's the issue of access. Some sites are just too remote and difficult to reach to make public tours realistic.

Cliff Palace and Balcony House all are located on Chapin Mesa, while Long House and Step House are located on Wetherill Mesa.

Cliff Palace and Balcony House are popular ranger-guided cliff dwelling tours. During periods of high demand, you may be asked to choose only one of these tours per day. A tour of Long House, located on Wetherill Mesa, can be taken on the same day as the Cliff Palace OR Balcony House tours.

Tour tickets are $3 per tour, per person, regardless of age.

Purchase tour tickets at:

•Far View Visitor Center

•Morefield Ranger Station

•Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum (from October 21 to November 10 ONLY)

•Colorado Welcome Center, Cortez

Balcony House

This one-hour tour involves climbing a 32-foot (9.8 m) ladder, crawling through a 12-foot (3.7 m) long tunnel, and climbing up a 60-foot (20 m) open cliff face with stone steps and two 10-foot (3 m) ladders to exit the site.

Tour begins at the north end of the Balcony House parking lot, a 10-mile (16 km), 25-minute drive from the visitor center.

May 25 to September 3 -- Every half-hour: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

September 4 to October 20 -- Every hour: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October 21: Closed for season

Cliff Palace

This one-hour tour involves descending uneven stone steps and climbing five ladders for a 100-foot (30 m) vertical climb. Total walking distance is 0.25 miles (0.4 km). Tour begins at the Cliff Palace Overlook, an 8-mile (12.9 km) drive from the Far View Visitor Center.

May 25 to September 3 -- Every half-hour: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

September 4 to October 20 -- Every half-hour: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October 21 to November 10 -- Every hour: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

November 11: Closed for season

This tour starts with a tram ride to the trailhead. This 90-minute tour involves climbing two 15-foot (4.6 m) ladders within the site. The round- trip hike is 0.75 mile (1.2 km), with a 130-foot (40 m) gain in elevation exiting the site.

Tour begins at the Wetherill Mesa kiosk, a 12-mile (19 km) drive from the Far View Visitor Center. Allow 45 minutes for this drive. Vehicles over 25 feet (8 m) long are prohibited on the Wetherill Mesa road.

May 25 to September 3 -- 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

September 4: Closed for season

Spruce Tree House is closed

Mesa Verde’s best-preserved and third-largest cliff dwelling, Spruce Tree House was constructed between A.D. 1211 and A.D. 1278. The site contains 130 rooms and 8 kivas built into a natural alcove. It is thought to have been the home to about 60 to 80 people. Unfortunately, issues with the stability of the rock ceiling to this dwelling led to its closure to the public in 2015 . Check with park staff to see if it's been reopened.

Allow 45 minutes to one hour for the 100-foot (30 m) descent and ascent on a winding path. Total walking distance is about 0.8 mile (1.3 km). The loop trail begins near the Wetherill Mesa kiosk. A ranger is available for questions. Step House is unusual in that two separate occupations exist in the same alcove; Modified Basketmaker, dating to A.D. 626, and a Classic Pueblo masonry pueblo dating to A.D. 1226. Trail to Step House open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Site closes at 5 p.m.

From late spring into early September the park offers special guided tours to Square Tower House and Mug House.

Meet at Cliff Palace Overlook. Tour is limited to 20 people.

Price: $10 per person Tickets sold ONLY at the Far View Visitor Center.

This strenuous 2-hour, 3-mile (4.8km) round-trip hike offers the opportunity to see a rarely visited cliff dwelling. Mug House, built about A.D. 1150, was likely home to approximately 80 to 100 people. The hike traverses an unpaved, uneven trail that descends 100 feet (30 m), and includes steep drop-offs, switchbacks, and scrambling up and down boulders. This hike may not be appropriate for young children or children carried in backpacks. Each hiker must be able to scramble over boulders and navigate steep gravel trails unassisted.

May 27 to September 2 -- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10 a.m. Meet at the Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk. Tour is limited to 10 people. $25 per person

Square Tower House

A strenuous 2-hour, 1-mile (1.6 km) round-trip hike leads to a stunning and surprisingly intimate cliff dwelling. Unusual aspects of Square Tower House include an original kiva roof and the Crow’s Nest, both features that cannot be seen from the overlook. The hike involves exposed cliff edges, scrambling down rocky slopes, and climbing a 20-foot (6.1 m) ladder and two shorter ladders to visit a spectacular cliff dwelling. This hike may not be appropriate for young children or children carried in backpacks. Each hiker must be able to scramble over boulders and navigate steep gravel trails unassisted.

May 26 to June 16 and September 4 to October 6 -- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8 a.m.

Meet at Square Tower House Overlook (MesaTopLoopRoad). Tour is limited to 10 people. $25 per person.

There also are other cliff dwellings that can be seen from park roads.

Mesa Top Loop Road

A 6-mile (10 km) driving tour has short, paved trails to 12 easily-accessible surface sites and views of cliff dwellings. High- lights include Square Tower House and cross-canyon views of Cliff Palace. The road is open 7:30 a.m. to sunset. Allow 45 minutes to one hour.

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Mesa Verde Tours: The Best Way to See Cliff Dwellings

Article Summary: Mesa Verde Tours

Mesa Verde is one of the most famous National Parks in the country, and for good reason. The park was home to an ancient Native American civilization that left behind over 600 cliff dwellings. These cliff dwellings are among the best-preserved in the United States.

Located in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 and remains one of the best ways to learn about Native American cultures. Indigenous people continue to return here to pay their respects to their ancestors and study their heritage.

Mesa Verde tours are available for visitors who want to explore these incredible archaeological sites. Visitors can take guided tours with a park ranger or go on self-guided tours through these astonishing structures.

Which adventure will you choose? Read on to learn all about the different cliff dwelling tours in Mesa Verde National Park.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, view my privacy policy .

Table of Contents

How to Get to Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde is located near Cortez, CO on Highway 160. It’s about 20 minutes from Cortez and about an hour from Durango.

The closest airports include the Durango-La Plata County Airport, the Cortez Municipal Airport, and the Grand Junction Regional Airport. The Denver International Airport, the closest major airport, is about 7 hours away.

Where to Stay Near Mesa Verde National Park

There are several options near Mesa Verde for visitors to stay the night. These include familiar chains such as Super 8 , Econo Lodge , Hampton Inn , and Baymont . There are also locally-run places to stay, such as the White Eagle Inn , Mesa Verde Farm & Studio , Cozy Inn , and Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch .

There is also one hotel within the park, the Far View .

Camping in Mesa Verde

Camping options inside Mesa Verde National Park are limited to just one campground , but there are plenty of other camping options nearby. Learn more in our Mesa Verde Camping Guide .

When to Visit Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is open every day of the year, 24 hours per day. Certain roads will close at sunset in order to protect the cultural resources in the park.

While the park is open daily, the visitor center is closed on holidays. This includes New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, and Memorial Day.

Mesa Verde tours are offered year-round, but some cliff dwellings are only available in the summer. Ranger-led tours begin in the early summer and continue throughout the season until late fall.

Things to Know Before You Go

The elevation is an important consideration when planning your visit to Mesa Verde. Hiking to the cliff dwellings may be difficult for visitors who are not acclimated.

There is no reliable reception in Mesa Verde National Park. Once you have your Mesa Verde tour tickets, print them out or take a screenshot of the ticket on your phone. You’ll need to show either of these reservation confirmations to the park ranger before you begin your tour.

In order to save money, I would recommend purchasing a  national parks pass . These cost $80 and are valid for a full calendar year (from the date of purchase) at all public lands in the United States. After you visit 3 national parks, it’ll have paid for itself. It also makes a great gift for national park enthusiasts ! Learn more about park entry fees .

Mesa Verde Tours

The cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park are a sight to behold and it is best for visitors to have plenty of time to explore each site.

With a park ranger, visitors have the opportunity to partake in guided Mesa Verde tours at several sites throughout the summer months, while self-guided tour opportunities will be provided year-round.

Self-guided tours through the cliff dwellings are a great way to learn more about these ancient peoples. Self-guided Mesa Verde tours are also a great option for visitors who did not plan ahead and purchase tickets in advance.

Mesa Verde tours are one of the best ways to see the park, and there are many options. If you’re not sure which one is for you, consider the following as you continue to read about the Mesa Verde tours:

• 1) Do you want to go with a ranger?
• 2) Is it important to see sites other than cliff dwellings?
• 3) What level of difficulty would be appropriate for your hiking experience and physical fitness?
• 4) How much time do you have?
• 5) Are there children in your party who might need more assistance on hikes?
• 6) Does anyone in your group have accessibility needs such as mobility limitations or visual impairments that require special accommodations?

Ranger-Led Mesa Verde Tours

Cliff palace & balcony house.

Cliff Palace was recently closed, but is now open for tours again! Beginning in mid-May, rangers will lead groups on a 45-minute tour of this ancestral site, once home to over 1,000 people.

Tours are generally offered every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a lunch break from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

You will need to climb over 100 feet down a steep stone staircase. The full tour also includes climbing 8 to 10-foot ladders.

Reserve your tickets on Recreation.gov .

Considered a ranger-assisted tour rather than a guided tour, visiting Long House is done at your own pace. This allows for social distancing and lowers crowds on sensitive cultural resources.

Yet, visitors are still able to talk to park rangers and learn more about the Puebloan people and their homes. On this ranger-assisted tour of Mesa Verde, park rangers are located along the trail and ready to answer questions.

Long House is the second-largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park. Visitors will see kivas, a small spring, a dance hall, and majestic canyon views.

Tickets are required for this timed-entry experience and can be purchased on Recreation.gov . Tickets are $8 per person.

Tours are offered daily from Memorial Day through late October. Tours occur every half hour between 9:30 and 3:00 with a break from 11:00 to 1:00.

Long House is located on Wetherill Mesa about 1.5 hours from the park entrance. Visitors will need to descend 130 feet to the cliff dwelling, climb two 15-foot ladders, and ascend 130 feet back to the trailhead. The roundtrip hike is 2.25 miles (3.6 km).

Twice per day, rangers lead a backcountry tour to this quiet cliff dwelling. Along the way, visitors can also experience an Adobe cave, rock art, and spectacular canyon views.

Mug House was once home to 80-100 residents. When discovered, three mugs were found hanging from a rope made of yucca in one of its rooms, giving the dwelling its name.

The hike to reach Mug House is considered strenuous. The trail includes a section of rock scrambling over boulders along the 2.25-mile roundtrip journey. The trail also has steep drop-offs and switchbacks as it descends 100 feet.

Tickets are required for this timed-entry experience and can be purchased on Recreation.gov . Tickets are $25 per person.

Spring House

Mesa Verde tours to Spring House are offered occasionally throughout the summer, usually only a few days per season.

Spring House is the largest unexcavated cliff dwelling in the park. It contains 86 rooms and 7 kivas. Because of its extremely fragile nature, visitors on this tour will not enter the site. It’s similar to the nearby Yucca House National Monument, another of the national parks in Colorado , in its unexcavated nature.

At the end of your 4-mile (one-way) trek, you’ll end at a spectacular view over the dwelling from a platform. The 8-hour adventure does include views of other cliff dwellings as well as you traverse mesas and canyons on this very strenuous hike. The trail also includes one short ladder.

Tickets are required for this timed-entry experience and can be purchased on Recreation.gov . Tickets are $45 per person.

Square Tower House

Square Tower House includes the tallest standing structure in the park, a 4-story tower constructed by the Puebloans. Additionally, you’ll find rock art, a kiva with an intact roof, and original plaster and paint. All of this makes Square Tower House one of the most impressive cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde.

The hike is a strenuous 1-mile roundtrip walk that takes about 90 minutes. Visitors will descend 100 feet on an uneven path with two ladders, switchbacks, and steep drop-offs. There may also be rock scrambling.

Each summer, tours are offered once every morning. It’s important to plan ahead and get your ticket for this special experience.

If you’re unable to get a ticket, you can also view Square Tower House from above along the scenic Mesa Top Loop Road.

Self-Guided Mesa Verde Tours

Cedar Tree Tower

Open from 8 a.m. to sunset every day, the Cedar Tree Tower features the tower and a kiva complex. This is viewable from a small parking area near the Farming Terrace Loop Trail. The trail is a short 1/2-mile roundtrip and will take hikers to ancient dams.

Spruce Tree House

Unfortunately, due to concerns about rock falls, this cliff dwelling is no longer accessible. You can still view it from the Museum on Chapin Mesa.

Located on Wetherill Mesa near the Long House trailhead is Step House. Currently, this is the only cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde that you can enter without a park ranger.

There’s a short trail through the dwelling as well as a short ladder used to peek into rooms.

It takes about one hour to walk the trail and explore the dwelling, so plan accordingly. Plan to hike about 1-mile roundtrip with a 100-foot descent. Step House may not be open during periods of low staffing.

Mesa Top Sites

Additionally, there are a few things to see besides cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde that you can explore on your own.

The Badger House Trail on Wetherill Mesa showcases surface sites where the Puebloans lived above the canyon. Similar sites can be seen at the Far View Sites Complex and along the Mesa Top Loop Road.

Pin Our Overview of Mesa Verde Tours

Mesa Verde features a variety of tours and activities for visitors, including several different ways to experience the cliff dwellings. We hope this post helped you decide which Mesa Verde tours are best for you during your visit. If you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send us an e-mail. Safe travels!

Riley has been visiting national parks for as long as she can remember. Her newest passion is sharing her love of national parks with the world by planning trips, writing about her travels, and offering advice. One day, Riley hopes to visit all 429 national parks.

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The Ultimate Guide to Mesa Verde National Park — Best Things To Do, See & Enjoy!

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Table of Contents

How to get to mesa verde national park, getting around mesa verde national park, what to see and do in mesa verde national park, best times to visit mesa verde national park, where to stay in and near mesa verde national park, where to eat in mesa verde national park, mesa verde national park facts, final thoughts.

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Mesa Verde National Park is in southwest Colorado, perched on the Mesa Verde Plateau. This phenomenal park showcases the remnants of the Ancestral Puebloans who thrived in this area for over 700 years.

Visiting Mesa Verde National Park is like stepping back in time to see where these tribes settled in this area. From cliff dwellings to petroglyphs to historical artifacts, Mesa Verde National Park brings in over 550,000 visitors who explore this remarkable park annually.

Where Is Mesa Verde National Park?

Mesa Verde National Park is located in southwestern Colorado in Montezuma County. The park covers 82 square miles and stretches over a desert landscape with multiple canyons. This incredible park is near the Four Corners area where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet.

Nearest Airports to Mesa Verde National Park

The 2 airports most used when traveling to Mesa Verde National Park are Albuquerque International Sunport and Cortez Municipal Airport. These airports both have unique offers for travelers. Let’s discover which airport will work best for your national park experience.

Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)

Albuquerque International Sunport is the closest international airport to Mesa Verde National Park. This airport is a 4-hour drive from the park, with lots to see along the way.

ABQ serves over 20 major cities, each with worldwide connections. This airport serves 8 major airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United.

Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ)

The closest airport to Mesa Verde National Park is Cortez Municipal Airport in Cortez, Colorado. This airport is only 15 miles from the park. Cortez Municipal Airport offers affordable daily flights connecting to Denver International Airport (DEN) . Cortez Municipal Airport is served exclusively by Boutique Air.

Driving to Mesa Verde National Park

A road trip to Mesa Verde National Park is an experience that will create memories to last a lifetime. There are several routes for arriving at Mesa Verde National Park. Where you’re coming from will determine which route to take. Below are 3 routes to Mesa Verde National Park to help determine how you will get to the park and start your Mesa Verde experience.

From the North to Mesa Top Ruins Road

If you’re coming from the north, utilize US-491 South to West Empire Street, followed by State Street. US-160 East will lead you to Mesa Top Ruins Road which will take you to Mesa Verde National Park.

From the East to Mesa Top Ruins Road

Visitors from the east take US-160 West toward the Mesa Verde National Park exit. This exit will take you to Mesa Top Ruins Road and the park.

From the South to Mesa Top Ruins Road

Travelers arriving from the south drive US-491 North and then access Interstate 160. Once on the interstate, taking the Mesa Verde National Park exit will lead you to Mesa Top Ruins Road and the park.

Taking the Train to Mesa Verde National Park

A trip by railway is always an exciting way to explore a new place. Letting someone else take care of the stress of driving while you sit back and enjoy the ride sounds like a great way to get a bulk of travel out of the way.

Mesa Verde National Park has no direct train service, but Amtrak can get you close. The Flagstaff, Arizona station can get you within a 4.5-hour drive from the park.

Taking the Bus to Mesa Verde National Park

Taking a bus trip to Mesa Verde National Park is another option for arriving without your car. Greyhound Bus Lines has an excellent option for those who want to travel by bus.

There isn’t a bus terminal in Mesa Verde, but there is one in Durango, Colorado. It is only a 40-minute drive from Durango to Mesa Verde National Park. Taking a bus to Mesa Verde National Park allows you to enjoy the scenic drive without worrying about the stress of driving.

Driving a personal vehicle is the most popular way to get around in Mesa Verde National Park. Several scenic drives offer amazing views along the way. The main scenic drive is Mesa Loop Road, which will take you to 12 major attractions in the park.

Another way to explore Mesa Verde National Park is by bicycle. Some trails are bike friendly, but most are not. For those who cycle through the park, preparing for steep roads and poor pavements is important.

Hot Tip: The National Park Service provides a wide variety of printable and interactive maps on its website for mapping out your Mesa Verde itinerary.

Mesa Verde National Park is brimming with sights and attractions to explore. From ancient cave dwellings to archaeology museums, there’s no shortage of things to see and do. Let’s check out some of the most popular attractions at this incredible national park.

Balcony House

Balcony House is a must-see attraction in Mesa Verde National Park. This site showcases a mid-size village with 38 well-preserved rooms, kivas, and plazas. Balcony House is a tribute to the ancestors of the Pueblo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico who built and occupied the area in the 13th century.

Today, Mesa Verde National Park offers adventurous tours through this dwelling. Visitors can tour the attraction by crawling through tunnels and climbing ladders, including a 17-foot ladder to exit the site.

Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum

The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum was built in 1922 and is one of the oldest in the national park system.

Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum was constructed using Cliff House Sandstone, like the other cave dwellings that can be seen in the park. The museum showcases galleries of artifacts from the Ancestral Puebloans, including ceramics, jewelry, and sandals. Visitors can watch a 25-minute film to learn about the archeology found in Mesa Verde National Park.

Bottom Line: Stopping by to visit the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum will reward park guests with a wealth of knowledge about Mesa Verde National Park and the archeology found in the area.

Cliff Dwelling Tours

Park rangers lead tours through the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park from May to October each year.

Participating in a ranger-led tour is a remarkable way to get an up close and personal experience of these early homes and settlements in the park area. All cliff dwellings are ranger-led or assisted, other than Step House, the only dwelling that can be toured without a park ranger.

If you had to choose a single must-do activity when visiting Mesa Verde National Park, a ranger-led tour of a cliff dwelling would be the best choice. This experience would help you get a true reflection of what life was like with the Ancestral Pueblo people.

Cliff Palace

Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park. This site was built by Ancestral Puebloans in the 1200s and had over 150 rooms and 20 kivas, which were rooms used for religious rituals.

This cliff dwelling was rediscovered in 1888 by ranchers and is presently one of the most photographed structures on earth. Ranger-guided tours are offered regularly from 8 a.m. to sunset.

Four Corners Lecture Series

Several organizations sponsor guest speakers during the Four Corners Lecture Series . This lecture series has an array of presentations, including topics such as archaeology, Native American culture, natural resources, the history of Mesa Verde, and the Four Corners area.

This is a spectacular time for park guests to gather and learn about the Four Corners region from local experts. The Four Corners Lecture Series has gatherings just about every month of the year, so be sure to check out the schedule when you plan to visit Mesa Verde National Park.

Hiking is a popular activity for park visitors in Mesa Verde National Park. There are nearly 30 miles of park trails for adventurers to hike. The hiking trails at Mesa Verde National Park take visitors over expansive vistas, up and down sloping mesas, and through rugged canyons.

The trails are broken into different park areas, including Morefield Canyon, Chapin Mesa, and Wetherill Mesa. Some popular hiking trails include point Lookout Trail, Petroglyph Point Trail, Longhouse Loop, and Farming Terrace Trail.

There are several critical notes to remember if you plan to hike during your Mesa Verde adventure. Hiking in Mesa Verde National Park is a unique experience as Mesa Verde is a sacred ancestral home to 26 tribes. Hiking off-trail in Mesa Verde National Park is illegal. It is crucial to stay on the designated hiking trails.

Also, the high elevation and hot, dry climate can cause dehydration and altitude sickness immediately. If you plan to hike in Mesa Verde National Park, be prepared with plenty of water and salty snacks.

Long House is located on Wetherill Mesa, the second largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park. Touring Long House includes a 2-mile hike and climbing several ladders. This 60-minute ranger-led tour offers stunning views of the park’s landscape, the distant canyons and mesas, and the active seep spring in the dwelling.

Mesa Top Loop

Mesa Top Loop is a 6-mile scenic drive that takes adventurers to 12 viewpoints in Mesa Verde National Park. Some sites along this road include Navajo Canyon View, Oak Tree House and Fire Temple, and Sun Temple. This scenic drive is a 1-mile loop and takes up to an hour to complete. This loop is available from 8 a.m. to sunset.

Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center

The Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center is near the park entrance. Making this visitor and research center your first stop when arriving at the park is a great way to plan your Mesa Verde adventure.

Visitors can learn about the park through numerous exhibits and collections that teach about the culture and natural history of Mesa Verde. The Visitor and Research Center also houses a bookstore for guests to purchase guides, maps, and books to learn more about the park.

Petroglyph Point Trail

Petroglyph Point Trail is 2.4 miles long, taking visitors along a narrow, rocky footworn path that Ancestral Pueblo people traveled.

Petroglyph Point Trail enters Spruce Canyon and connects to the Spruce Tree House . Adventurers can see the petroglyphs showcased on a large panel covering an area of over 35 feet. Some markings displayed on the petroglyph panel include human and animal figures and handprints.

Bottom Line: Walking Petroglyph Point Trail gives park guests a glimpse into the past and allows them to see if they can determine the meaning behind these ancient images.

Spruce Tree House Overlook

Spruce Tree House was built in the 1200s and is the third-largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park. This dwelling is the best-preserved site in the park, as most of the materials displayed are original pieces from the 1200s. The Spruce Tree House Overlook is located near the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum.

Step House is the only cliff dwelling accessible without a ranger-led tour. This area is unique in its archaeological artifacts showing 2 different occupations of the early inhabitants, including a basketmaker and a pit house community.

The Step House can be visited before or after the Long House tour. While this is a self-led tour, park rangers are available nearby to answer any questions you may have while visiting.

Wildlife Viewing

Mesa Verde National Park is home to many animals . Coyotes, turkey vultures, jackrabbits, foxes, and bears reside in this park. Some wild cattle and horses might also be spotted if you look in the right area, but your best chance to see wildlife is by driving around the park at dawn or dusk.

While it is intriguing to see the animals that live in the park, feeding or trying to touch the animals is never a good idea. Observe these creatures in their natural habitat or take photos to capture the moment.

Mesa Verde National Park is a remarkable place to visit, no matter what time of year you plan your trip. There are better times than others if you hope to experience particular events or specific types of weather. Let’s discover the best times to visit Mesa Verde National Park.

Best Time To Visit Mesa Verde National Park in Winter

Visiting Mesa Verde National Park in winter is a magical way to view the park and its archeological features. December is the best winter month to visit the park, as it is warmer than the rest of the cold months and still showcases the park in its winter glory.

The daytime high temperatures are typically around 46 degrees, and the lows dip into the low 20s. The park offers an exciting list of winter activities for those who venture there during these icy months.

Best Time To Visit Mesa Verde National Park To Avoid the Crowds

Mid-October is a beautiful time to visit for a less crowded experience at Mesa Verde National Park. Mid-October visitors see fewer guests, and most park sites and activities are still open for exploration.

Bottom Line: An October trip allows visitors to explore and discover the beauty of Mesa Verde National Park at their own pace and with less stress.

Best Time To Visit Mesa Verde National Park for Good Weather

June is a great time to visit Mesa Verde National Park. The weather in June is ideal, with temperatures ranging from 52 to 83 degrees. The days are long and filled with sunshine, which makes it the perfect weather for exploring the park.

Cheapest Time To Visit Mesa Verde National Park

The cheapest month to visit Mesa Verde National Park is in September. A mid- to late-September visit can save you hundreds of dollars. Once school returns from summer vacation, the number of visitors also drops. This leads to lower prices for flights and accommodations.

Annual Events in Mesa Verde National Park

Various events take place each year in and around Mesa Verde National Park . There’s always some form of excitement in this beautiful area, from art shows to music festivals. Let’s explore some of the top events that happen in and near Mesa Verde National Park.

Luminaria is a holiday tradition at Mesa Verde National Park and usually takes place in early December. Visitors worldwide come to the park to see the lantern-lit homes of the Ancestral Pueblo people.

This event offers opportunities for visitors to see the dwellings lit up and enjoy the unique perspective provided by Mesa Verde National Park during the holiday season.

Hot Tip: The event has been canceled since 2020 for a variety of reasons (COVID-19, storms, construction, staffing shortages), so make sure to check the park’s website before making concrete plans.

Star Party takes place in September at the Morefield Campground Amphitheater. This event is a time for stargazing under the exceptionally dark skies of Mesa Verde National Park.

The event has astronomy presentations, discussions on the Navajo star stories, and night sky viewing with telescopes. This is an enchanting time to learn about and explore the night skies of Mesa Verde National Park.

Winterfest is an incredible event that takes place in January in Mesa Verde National Park. This is an excellent opportunity for winter sports enthusiasts to visit the park and enjoy snowy activities like hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. All these thrilling activities are offered at night so guests can have a magical experience in the moonlight of Mesa Verde.

Visitors can find the perfect place to stay during their Mesa Verde National Park vacation, whether they decide to remain on the park’s property or in one of the nearby towns. Let’s explore some amazing lodging options in and near Mesa Verde National Park.

Inside the Park

Mesa Verde National Park has in-park lodging available. Whether you desire camping in the great outdoors or staying in a comfortable lodge, the park has you covered.

Far View Lodge

Far View Lodge is centrally located in Mesa Verde National Park, just 15 miles from the park’s entrance. This lodging option offers spectacular views over Mesa Verde and into Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The lodge is open during the spring, summer, and fall and offers incredible amenities for those who visit the park. With a wonderful dining room, gift shop, and lounge, guests can rest assured that their dining and shopping needs are met.

The rooms at Far View Lodge include complimentary Wi-Fi, private balconies, and a kitchenette for added convenience. Far View Lodge is ideal for parkgoers who want to stay there during their vacation and have hotel-style accommodations.

Morefield Campground

Morefield Campground is the perfect choice for outdoor enthusiasts who want to stay on the park’s property during their national park vacation.

This campground is 4 miles from the park’s entrance and has 267 campsites for RV and tent camping. Adventurers enjoy setting up camp in the grassy canyon and appreciate the natural beauty of the oak trees , native flowers, and wildlife, including the turkey and deer that meander through the campground.

Morefield Campground offers plenty of amenities during your stay, including a laundromat and camp store, showers, firepits, and picnic tables.

Towns Near Mesa Verde National Park

The 2 towns near Mesa Verde National Park make a fantastic choice for setting up a home base near the park. From campgrounds to luxury hotels, these nearby towns have something to offer every type of traveler. Check out what the towns of Cortez and Mancos have to offer.

Cortez, Colorado

Cortez, Colorado, is just 10 miles from Mesa Verde National Park and is an excellent option for visitors who want to stay near the park. This town was named after Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes. It is popular for tourists and adventurers because of its proximity to popular destinations such as Mesa Verde National Park.

Cortez is known for its incredible outdoor adventure, culture, and archeology opportunities. The town has many trails for those who enjoy time in the great outdoors, including hiking trails, biking trails, and trails to explore ancient ruins.

Cortez has numerous places for lodging, including budget and luxury hotels, dude ranches, campgrounds, historic hotels, and charming bed and breakfasts. No matter your accommodation preference, you can rest assured that you will find precisely what your heart desires in Cortez.

This town is also booming with places for a delightful culinary experience. There are amazing restaurants that serve authentic cuisine from around the world, local restaurants that serve regional and local favorites, and gourmet restaurants that feature unique dishes by renowned chefs.

Bottom Line: Cortez is a superb choice for those planning a base camp during their Mesa Verde National Park adventure.

Mancos, Colorado

Mancos, Colorado, is called the Gateway to Mesa Verde and is about 10 minutes from the park. This small town thrives with Western culture, recreation, and amazing places for lodging and dining.

The historic downtown Mancos is excellent for boutique shopping and visiting the galleries that line the streets. Other popular sites in Mancos include the historic Opera House and the Mancos Common Press. Mancos has abundant lodging options available for those visiting Mesa Verde National Park. There are campgrounds, bed and breakfasts, guest ranches, hotels, and cabins near the park.

Food enthusiasts are in for a treat when staying in Mancos. With dozens of restaurants serving local and regional favorites, the most challenging part of dining in Mancos is choosing where to eat. This town’s restaurants serve various cuisine, including Asian, Mexican, Italian, and American fare.

For guests who enjoy outdoor adventure, Mancos is in an optimal location for horseback riding, hiking, cycling, and cross-country skiing. Mancos offers everything a traveler could desire during their national park experience. This town is ideal for setting up a home base while visiting Mesa Verde National Park.

Mesa Verde has several options for dining right inside the park property. Whether you’re looking for a casual spot to grab a sandwich, a fine dining establishment, or a place to grab a drink with friends, you can find just what you’re looking for at Mesa Verde National Park. Let’s look at some of the dining options at this national park.

Far View Lounge

Far View Lounge  is an incredible dining choice if you want to enjoy a good meal, a relaxed atmosphere, and breathtaking views.

This pub-style restaurant offers an array of signature cocktails, beer, and wine, along with outstanding appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Favorite dishes include the Korean barbeque chicken wings, the short rib grilled cheese, and the Mesa burger. Far View Lounge is ideal for visiting with friends and family or catching a game on one of the big-screen TVs.

Far View Terrace Cafe

If you are looking for a quick and casual restaurant while visiting the park, be sure to stop by Far View Terrace Cafe .

This restaurant is in a food-court setting and serves a breakfast buffet, lunch, and coffee. Visitors love creating one-of-a-kind omelets at the omelet station and making the perfect cafe drink at the Mesa Mocha Espresso Bar. Far View Terrace Cafe is ideal for those looking for a quick and delicious meal during their national park trip.

Metate Room

Metate Room is located in the Far View Lodge. This restaurant offers an exquisite culinary experience. The menu features a variety of dishes with a modern Southwestern twist.

The restaurant offers freshly caught seafood, wild game, and organic produce sourced locally. Visitor favorites include the braised short rib and the honey garlic salmon. Metate Room is an excellent place to refuel and relax after visiting attractions in the park.

Spruce Tree Cafe

Spruce Tree Cafe is located near the park headquarters and Chapin Mesa Museum. This restaurant is open seasonally for afternoon meals inside or on the patio.

Spruce Tree Cafe serves a menu of American favorites and southwestern specialties. Popular meals include the Mesa burger and house-made chili. This cafe is the perfect place to stop for a quick bite, a refreshing drink, and a little rest when visiting Mesa Verde National Park.

1. It Became a National Park in 1906

Mesa Verde National Park was established on June 29, 1906. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the declaration that this park was established to preserve the work of man. This was the first national park designated as a tribute to the work of a particular people group.

2. The Park Houses Thousands of Protected Ancestral Sites

Mesa Verde National Park has 4,700 archaeological sites, including over 600 cliff dwellings. All attractions are protected and preserved by programs such as the Stabilization and Structural Engineering Program and the Archaeological Site Conservation Program.

3. You Can Tour a Magnificent Palace

Cliff Palace is one of Mesa Verde National Park’s most prominent cliff dwellings. This is one of the American Southwest’s best examples of ancestral dwellings. This feature has 150 rooms and was home to approximately 100 people. In comparison, most other cliff dwellings only have between 1 and 5 rooms. Cliff Palace is believed to have been a place of high social status and ceremonial rituals at its peak use time.

4. Mesa Verde Is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1978, Mesa Verde National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park received this honor for preserving the settlements distinctively. UNESCO reports that the park regularly communicates with local representatives from at least 26 Native American tribes that consider the land their ancestral home.

5. It’s an International Dark Sky Park

Mesa Verde National Park was declared the world’s 100th International Dark Sky Park. The park’s incredible night sky allows for numerous opportunities for park guests to learn about astronomy during their visit.

6. There’s an Abundance of Animals

Many animals make their home in Mesa Verde National Park. There are at least 74 mammal species, 200 bird species, 16 types of reptile species, 5 amphibian species, and 6 species of fish that can be found in the park. On top of all these animals, over 1,000 different types of insects live in the park for at least part of the year.

7. A Large, Threatened Owl Is Protected in Mesa Verde

A significant bird that can be found in the park is the Mexican spotted owl . This owl lives in the park and is listed on the threatened species list by the U.S. and Mexico governments.

The Mexican spotted owl is one of the largest owl species in America. Visitors frequently spot these interesting birds during their visits. There are 2 protected activity centers and 3 breeding areas in Mesa Verde National Park for the Mexican spotted owls.

8. The Ancestral Puebloan Departure Is an Unsolved Mystery

Research has shown that the Ancestral Pueblo people inhabited the park area. Still, a mystery that remains unsolved is why these people left. It is suspected that in 1300, the Ancestral Pueblo people completely evacuated Mesa Verde and relocated to more southern areas in Arizona and New Mexico. Some theories of why these people left include droughts and crops not thriving in the area.

9. Its Name Means Green Table

Mesa Verde National Park has a Spanish name. Mesa Verde means “green table” in Spanish. It is believed to have been named Mesa Verde due to its flat landscape and lush forest areas.

10. Mesa Verde Preserves Deteriorated Dwellings

Mesa Verde National Park dwellings deteriorated from the 13th century to the 1880s due to natural causes such as wind and water erosion, freezing and thawing cycles, and animal disturbances. In the late 1880s, frequent visitation and exploration caused the deterioration to accelerate. Once Mesa Verde was declared a national park, preserving the park became a priority.

11. Livestock Has To Be Removed From the Park

Mesa Verde National Park is working to remove the livestock that makes their home near the park. Some horses, cattle, and mules have entered the park. Still, they need to be removed and sent to a different location to preserve the architecture and landscapes of Mesa Verde National Park.

12. Archaeologist Dr. Jessee Fewkes Influenced Preservation in Mesa Verde

Jesse Fewkes was an American anthropologist, archeologist, and naturalist that made quite the impression at Mesa Verde National Park. Dr. Fewkes worked for the Smithsonian Institute and significantly impacted preserving the archaeology at Mesa Verde.

Fewkes also became the first to hold evening campfire programs at Mesa Verde National Park in 1907, a tradition that continues today.

These evening campfire programs are held at Morefield Campground and last 45 minutes to an hour. Visitors can listen to park rangers explain the history of Mesa Verde National Park.

13. The Original Dwellers Were Resourceful

The native people of the Mesa Verde National Park area were hunters, gatherers, and farmers. Many crops were grown in the Mesa Verde area, including beans, corn, and squash. The native people hunted animals that lived in the area, such as squirrels, deer, and rabbits. They also gathered plants that were safe to eat that grew in the area. This group was resourceful and did what was needed to survive and thrive.

14. Virginia McClurg Influenced Mesa Verde’s National Park Status

Virginia McClurg led the way to Mesa Verde becoming a national park. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Virginia gave lecture series and began a petition to protect and preserve the ruins of the Mesa Verde area.

Thanks to Virginia McClurg’s endless efforts, we now have Mesa Verde National Park. She worked tirelessly to bring awareness to this campaign and paved the way for it to become a national park in 1906.

Mesa Verde National Park is filled with thousands of archeological sites with over 600 cliff dwellings from the Ancestral Pueblo people. This national park has so much to offer visitors and helps them learn about history, culture, and nature.

Visiting Mesa Verde National Park will give you a look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people and help you to learn about the rich history of Mesa Verde.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days should i plan to visit mesa verde national park.

A day trip would be ideal for visiting Mesa Verde National Park. This would allow for touring the cliff dwellings, sightseeing, and stopping to visit major attractions like the visitor and research center and the archeological museum.

How much does it cost to enter Mesa Verde National Park?

The entrance fees vary depending on what time of year you visit Mesa Verde National Park. If your visit is from October to April, the cost is $20. It will cost $30 to enter the park from May to September.

What is the weather like in Mesa Verde National Park?

The weather varies throughout the year at Mesa Verde National Park. The lowest winter temperatures reach 18 degrees, and the highest summer temperatures reach the upper 80s. During the winter, you can expect snow and icy conditions; in the summer, it is very hot and dry.

Can children participate in the cliff dwelling tours in Mesa Verde National Park?

Mesa Verde National Park doesn’t have any age restrictions for visitors. As long as a child is mobile and can follow directions, they can enter the dwellings. Infants must be secured in a child carrier backpack.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Your Guide to the Mesa Verde National Park Tours in 2022

Mesa Verde is a U.S. National Park known for its Cliff Dwellings and ancient architecture that goes back years ago. So history and cultures buff will surely appreciate the park, and the best way to do that is to join a tour or two with the park ranger. 

Table of Contents

Mesa Verde Self-Guided Tours: Can You Tour Mesa Verde On Your Own?

Mesa verde tours.

• Cliff Palace
• Balcony House

How Long Does Each Tour Take?

• The Cliff Palace tour takes approximately 30 minutes. 
• The Balcony House  tour takes approximately 60 minutes. 
• The Long House tour takes approximately 60 minutes.
• Driving time . Mesa Verde National Park is huge; believe me, most of your time will be spent driving.  
• You are required to show up 15 mins earlier before each tour to go over the safety information. 
• There may be delays or any unforeseen circumstances during your tour or after. 
• Sometimes, the tour can go longer than anticipated . 
• 2 hours between the time you book this Cliff Palace tour and a Balcony House tour (i.e., 9:00 AM CP and 11:00 PM BH).
• 3 hours between the time you book this Cliff Palace tour and a Long House tour (i.e., 10:00 AM CP and 1:00 PM or later LH).
• 4 hours between the time you book this Long House tour and a Cliff Palace tour (i.e., 10:00 AM LH and a 2:00 PM or later CP). This will allow you a little extra time to enjoy the sites at Wetherill Mesa and drive to Cliff Palace.

Mesa Verde Tour Cost

• General Admission: $8
• Infant (age 2 and under): $1
• Cancellation Fee: $1 per ticket

How Difficult Is Each Tour?

It’s not so much about hiking to do each cliff-dwelling tour at Mesa Verde National Park. However, each tour requires climbing up and down to go through a cliff dwelling, and the effort can be anywhere from easy and moderate to difficult , depending on your physical conditions. Therefore, the tour is not for you if you have mobility issues or concerning physical health. So plan accordingly before purchasing any tour tickets. 

Best Cliff Dwelling Tours at Mesa Verde

• The Cliff Palace  tour is the easiest and fastest tour, and it’s also the most popular cliff dwelling picture you see when you google Mesa Verde National Park. You go through the tour listening to the ranger’s narrative and move through the cliff dwelling without touching anything. 
• The Balcony House tour requires a better fitness level and takes an hour to complete. It’s also the hardest tour to get tickets because they only offer 3 tours per day with a limited amount of tickets sold. It is one of the most adventurous tours in the park as you move through the cliff dwelling by claiming tall ladders, squeezing your way through a narrow tunnel, etc. See the photo below. This tour lets you touch the dwelling (but not all) as you move through the site. 
• The Long House  tour also takes an hour and is a little further away to drive to it. It’s the least popular Mesa Verde National Park tour and can also be challenging to move through the cliff dwelling. 

How to Book Mesa Verde Tours?

• First and foremost, ensure the cliff dwelling or road is not closed for the date you will visit the park for your tour. 
• You can view the alerts from the official Mesa Verde National Park website .
• Go to the Recreative Gov website and create an account if you do not have one. 
• Sit down and figure out what dates and times you want to do the tour and how many tickets you will need. You can see each Mesa tour hours here:
• All tour reservations can be booked online 14 days in advance at 8 AM Colorado or Mountain Standard Time (MST) . Therefore, 14 days before your desired tour date, set a reminder before 8 AM Colorado time, and get your credit card ready. 
• I suggest you perform a “mock” reservation on a sample date without paying for the reservation to familiarize yourself with the booking process for the tour tickets and quantities you want.
• Simply go to the Recreation Gov Mesa Verde Tour website to book. 
• Remember that the  Balcony House  tour can be sold out in 2-3 minutes, so be strategic and ready to book in front of your computer if this tour is high on your list. 

Best Places to Stay Near Mesa Verde National Park

• I suggest you stay in Cortez to better use your time because Mesa Verde National Park is huge, and you will spend most of your time driving to the park entrance and each cliff dwelling site from the park entrance. 
• Durango is a more interesting town with more attractions, especially its scenic train ride between Durango and Silverton , but it can be far from Mesa Verde. Lodging is also more expensive. 
• If you want to stay in the National Park, there’s a Far View Lodge  inside the park, and they accept pets for $25 per night. 
• Holiday Inn Express Mesa Verde-Cortez – pets are not allowed.
• Hampton Inn Mesa Verde/Cortez – pet fee is $50 per stay, up to 2 pets allowed. 
• Best Western Turquoise Inn & Suites – pet fee is $20 per night, up to 2 pets allowed. However, when I called them, they said $20 per stay, so please double-check. 
• Baymont by Wyndham Cortez – pet fee is $15 per stay, up to 2 pets allowed. 
• Also, some more budgeted  Choice Hotels  are available too. Each hotel charges a pet fee per night instead of per stay, which can add up. 

Are Dogs Allowed In Mesa Verde National Park?

• Never leave your pets in the car unattended. 
• Take turns watching your pet and checking out the cliff dwelling overlook if there are two of you. The Cliff Palace overlook, for example, is not far from the parking lot, so one of you can watch your pet while the other snap a quick photo of the Cliff Palace. A few overlooks along the Cliff Palace loop are just a few steps away from the parking space. 
• Take turns doing each Mesa Verde tour by allowing ample time between switching. 
• Walk the Long House Loop with your pets. The loop is 5-mile long, but you don’t have to do it all. The path is well paved, and some archaeological sites, including the Long House overlook, are where you can enjoy the views with your pets.
• There are also dog kennels near Mesa Verde if you are comfortable. 

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Mesa Verde Highlights Tour

• Bottled water
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• All Fees and Taxes
• Complimentary transportation from Durango, Colorado
• Entry/Admission - Mesa Verde National Park
• Guide gratuity
• 303 W College Dr, Durango, CO 81301, USA Albertson's Grocery Store Parking Lot
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Most travelers can participate
• Minimum age of 4 years old
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at 303 W College Dr 303 W College Dr, Durango, CO 81301, USA Albertson's Grocery Store Parking Lot See address & details
• 1 Mesa Verde National Park Stop: 4 hours - Admission included Get the most out of your visit to Mesa Verde on this morning half day tour which includes a Ranger Guided tour of Cliff Palace. Our professional guides customize the tour based on your interests and make sure you experience the best features of Mesa Verde! Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

• elizabethlK2780HB 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great time at Mesa Verde We really enjoyed out Mesa Verde tour. Neil was a fantastic tour guide and taught us a lot about the area. He even took professional pictures of us at some of the key sights and sent them to us. I would highly recommend this tour. Read more Written May 12, 2024
• jlR8340EV 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Mesa Verde guided tour Our tour guide and driver Tosh Black was wonderful! It was great hearing not only the history of the area but the plant knowledge, too! I felt fortunate to be guided by a trained biologist. Read more Written June 29, 2022
• 557jacquep 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Mesa Verde is Amazing Shawn (Mild to Wild) made our half day trip to Mesa Verde so interesting wished we had spent the whole day! Read more Written June 16, 2022
• YWC3238 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Place It was amazing and view was just spectacular. The Park Rangers were great providing us historic information. Definitely recommended place to visit in Durango. Read more Written August 17, 2021
• Cgable 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Private Mesa Verde Tour We decided make our tour private so it could be customized to us and be as efficient as possible. Aaron O’Brien is an excellent tour guide. He is very knowledgeable on archeology in general and Mesa Verde I particular. He is good at articulating the information. He is very patient in answering all questions. He took us through the history in a chronological order. We saw all that we wanted to see It was a great half day tour. Read more Written June 27, 2021
• ctyounis 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Outstanding Mesa Verde National Park Tour My wife and I just had the most amazing experience taking the full-day Mesa Verde tour with our tour guide Greg! The sights were beyond breathtaking and he was able to take us places off the beaten path, which was such a special treat. He took the time to listen at the beginning of the tour and designed a day exactly what we were hoping for. His knowledge of the area and passion for what he does shines through during the entire tour. We recommend that anyone wanting to experience Mesa Verde National Park use Mesa Verde Tours and ask for Greg, you will have a great time! Read more Written May 14, 2021
• Go527118 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles What industrious and resourceful people. I toured Mesa Verde last week. The Rangers are very knowledgeable and give a good explanation of what is known about the ancestral Pueblo an people who built these dwellings, both on the Mesa and in the alcoves below. The rebuilt pit house at the Step House makes it easy to see how they lived in the early period. I really do not understand why they moved down below. This place is magical and it brings the story of these ancient people and how they lived. Read more Written October 9, 2019
• John L 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Hiker friendly The altiude and my lack of physical stamina limited me from the best this park has to offer. However, there are overlooks which provide everyone with a chance to see some the spectacular views. In order to get into some the tours you must book ahead of time. The Far View Terrace Restaurant provides cafeteria style food. The restaurant staff is friendly. Read more Written September 28, 2019
• Jason T 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Mild-To-Wild tour guide w/ Jay at Mesa Verde National Park If you want a unique and entertaining way to visit the Mesa Verde National Park, I highly recommend that you contact Mild-To-Wild and book a tour with Jay, the resident expert on Mesa Verde and the Ancient Pueblo cultures. This colorful character has a wealth of knowledge on the region and witty sense of humor that will dazzle your curious mind for a full-day trip to the famous canyon of the ancient Cliff Dwellers. Jay has a pulse on the people and their history, and your experience at this spiritual and historic place will no doubt benefit from his expertise. He knows as much (if not more) about the famous dwellings, the ancient peoples, and the region than do some of the park rangers. Jason and Cat Theriot Read more Written September 20, 2019
• THOMAS M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome experience! We were able to see and learn so much with knowledgeable and fun guides. The vistas and dwellings were amazing. One must visit to fully appreciate. Read more Written August 30, 2019
• christigray1 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Frank 7 of us had the best half day private tour with Frank Miller. He has lived in the area his entire life so he had a wealth of knowledge. Plus he was incredibly personable and funny. I highly recommend you request him. Mesa Verde is a must see place. Read more Written July 26, 2019
• anthonyo953 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome experience with Greg the guide Greg made this tour very fun and knowledgeable. His enthusiasm with the history of the Mesa and the ancestral Puebloans was contagious. Greg made this a wonderful experience for our entire family. He took a personal interest and concern for all the guests on the tour. I would highly recommend going on this historical adventure with Greg. Read more Written July 12, 2019
• Ski2117 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great trip Greg was a great guide, full of information about the park, we learned a lot from him. If you need an easy going guide for your trip ask for him. It was so relaxing having someone who knows what to see and do drive you around the park. Read more Written June 22, 2019
• Nancy C 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing! An amazing spot to see how the ancient natives once lived. We only had an afternoon to explore and was able to see quite a bit but not all. It is in our plans to go back and visit to catch the rest. Make sure you stop in the visitors center for more information on it. Read more Written January 28, 2019
• Lisa K 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tour is a must! Took the Cliff Palace tour on a semi-raining day, but it was still beautiful! Tour guide was very informative and well worth the $5 the park charges for the tour! I think a visit to the park is incomplete without taking the guided tour. It's a must. Read more Written September 28, 2018

More to explore in Durango

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Mesa Verde Highlights Tour provided by Mesa Verde Tours

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Is Mesa Verde Worth it Without a Tour? 11 Things to Do

While Mesa Verde National Park is a wonderful experience, occasionally ranger-guided tours sell out, the weather forces cancelations, or visitors have limitations and can’t hike. In these cases, people understandably wonder if Mesa Verde is still worth a visit even if they can’t tour the cliff dwellings.

Mesa Verde National Park is still worth a visit, even if you can’t go inside a cliff dwelling. The park has many different activities and amenities that you will enjoy, such as hiking, interpretive exhibits, drive tours, and more.

Here are 11 great ways to enjoy the park besides tours:

(note: All links in this article are to NPS webpages unless I say otherwise)

1. Visit the Museum & Visitor Center

The museum and visitor center at Mesa Verde should be your first stop, whether you are visiting for a few days or a few hours. The visitor center has information on tours, closures, ranger programs, and activities. It also has the usual exhibits and bookstores that you can find in most national parks.

You should also be sure to stop by the Chapin Mesa Museum , which is located some distance from the entrance and visitor center, in the Chapin Mesa area. The museum has exhibits and a film about native American lifestyles, culture, and the artifacts found in the area. You can learn about how the people moved from mesa-top villages to the cave dwellings that the park is famous for. If your kids are doing the junior ranger program, they may spend more time than you expect in the museum, filling information into their booklets. There are also hiking trails behind the museum.

2. Tour the Mesa Top Sites

Before the Puebloan people moved into the cliff alcoves to live, they built villages and farms on the mesa top. The ruins of buildings, irrigation systems, and ceremonial centers remain scattered across the area. You can visit these ruins and learn more about the ancestral Puebloan people by following the Mesa Top Loop . This short 6-mile road allows you to learn about centuries of Ancestral Puebloan history and take short trails to 12 different archeological sites such as pit houses, farming sites, and village ruins. Although this road is short, it can take several hours including all the stops and short hikes. Exactly how long it takes for your family can depend on how much time you spend reading signage and looking at the views.

3. Listen to an Audio Tour

Before you take the Mesa Top Loop, make sure that you have downloaded the audio tour so you can listen along while you drive. This will help keep everyone entertained, as this drive can take several hours if you stop at all the sites. It will also help you to learn more and enjoy the drive. The entire tour is 42 minutes long. (Remember you likely won’t have cell service inside the park, so download the tour before you get there.)

4. View Cliff Dwellings

Even if you cannot tour any cliff dwellings on your visit, you can still see them by stopping at the overlooks available around the park. Some of the best views of cliff dwellings are found along the Mesa Top Loop and the area around the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. You can also find overlooks along Weatherill Mesa Road. If you want to get in a short hike and see several cliff dwellings, the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail is a good option.

5. Get Your Junior Ranger Badge

While visiting the park, children (and adults!) can participate in the junior ranger program . This popular park program allows children to earn ranger badges for Mesa Verde by completing fun activities in a workbook as they explore and learn about the park. The booklets generally take a couple of hours to complete, and younger children have fewer activities to complete compared with older children and teens. Many children take considerable pride in their collection of Junior Ranger badges, so keep them safe by pinning them to a special vest or display at home.

If your kids want to get a head start on the program, you can print the booklets at home and they can work on them while you’re driving to the park. My kids love when I print the booklets ahead of time. They get to experience more of the park and they know more about it before they go, which makes it more fun and educational.

6. Watch for Wildlife

Mesa Verde, like most national parks, is a haven for wildlife. While you are visiting the park, keep your eyes out for the animals that live there, including many different birds, mule deer, coyotes, lizards, and squirrels. The park is also home to feral horses that live wild among the native animals.

Many children enjoy watching wildlife, especially if they have learned about the park’s animals ahead of their visit. Keeping a checklist of the wildlife you see can be a fun activity and can help encourage children to keep watching carefully to spot more animals.

7. Visit Step House

Step House is a cliff dwelling that can be toured without a guide or tickets. This is perhaps the best way to see inside a cliff dwelling if tours are sold out or unavailable. You can get to Step House by hiking down a steep one-mile trail and once you arrive you can look around at your own leisure. Expect to see a ranger on duty to protect the artifacts and buildings. This is a good time to ask any questions you have about the park and Step House.

Step House is located in the Weatherill area of the park which is a good distance from the area where the museum and visitor center are. If you have sufficient time, you can plan several things to do in the Weatherill Mesa area or dedicate one day to visiting this side of the park.

8. Take a Hike

Mesa Verde National Park is large, and much of the area is backcountry wilderness. However, even the parts of the park that don’t contain archeological sites are interesting. The park has dozens of trails that can be hiked, many of which are short and easy enough for children. A hike will allow you to enjoy the beautiful, mild weather and dry desert scenery of southwest Colorado. Many hikes will take you to interesting vantage points such as overviews of cliff dwellings, views of the valley, or petroglyphs.

If you haven’t tried it, I recommend using the AllTrails app to help you plan and locate great hikes. Here’s a link to the online version of the app .

9. Eat at a Restaurant

Enjoy a meal in the park at one of the cafes or the fine dining restaurant. Several casual eating areas are located around the park, including the Far View Terrace Cafe and the Far View Lounge, both located near the Far View Lodge, the Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe near the Museum, and the Knife Edge Cafe in the campground. The fine dining option, the Metate Room Restaurant, is located in the Far View Lodge and reservations are recommended.

Picnics are also a good option while you are exploring the park and you will find picnic areas and tables in many areas of the park.

10. Go Camping

You can camp in or near Mesa Verde National Park to experience more of the outdoors. The Morefield Campground in the park is open from April until around October and can accommodate both tents and RVs. The campground is conveniently close to the park entrance which makes it easier to access for RVs and easier to get out and pick up any supplies or groceries you may have forgotten. In addition, a gas station, a small grocery store, laundry and shower areas, and a gift shop are all located near the campground.

You can also find camping outside of the park at many private and public campgrounds. Here are some of the nearby campgrounds that you might want to consider:

• Ancient Cedars (Private)
• Mesa Verde RV Park (Private)
• Bright Star Campground (Private)
• Outback RV (Private)
• Cortez RV Journey (Private)
• Riverwood RV Resort (Private)
• Mancos State Park (Public)
• Echo Basin Cabin and RV Resort (Private)

There are also several dispersed camping areas near the park on BLM and National Forest land if that is more your style. Here is a blog post with some of these sites . If you do choose to camp inside the park, make sure you take advantage of the next item on our list!

11. Stargaze

Mesa Verde is a certified dark sky park . This means that the levels of light pollution in the park are very low, and more stars are visible to the naked eye than in most places. While you are visiting Mesa Verde, try to be in the park after dark at some point so you can experience a truly dark sky. If you are visiting during the summer, you will be able to see the Milky Way and the big dipper. Luckily, it is rarely cloudy in this part of the country, and your chances of being in the park on a clear night are high.

Read more about Mesa Verde in the rest of this series:

Visiting Mesa Verde National Park With Your Kids

The BEST Cliff Dwelling Tour for Your Kids

Do Grizzly Bears or Dangerous Animals Live in Mesa Verde?

Bonus: Visit the Canyons of the Ancients Museum

Located outside of the park north of the nearby town of Cortez, the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum is operated by the Bureau of Land Management and sits on the banks of the McPhee Reservoir. It is a bit out of the way depending on where you are staying, but it’s worth a drive. We found it to be interactive and perfect for families with children.

The entire four corners area is full of historic and cultural sites of the ancient peoples who lived here. The National Park Service, BLM, and the National Forest protect various sites outside of Mesa Verde itself and many of these are great places to go if you are looking for less-crowded and less-restored ruins and archeological sites.

Here are a few options to consider:

• Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
• Chimney Rock National Monument
• Hovenweep National Monument
• Edge of the Cedars State Park and Museum
• Aztec Ruins National Monument
• Yucca House National Monument

Michelle is a freelance writer and mother of eight. She loves to spend time exploring nature and hiking, kayaking, and traveling. After three years of fulltime travel, she wants to share her experience with other parents and encourage them to make outdoor time with their children a priority.

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Fun and Exciting Things to Do Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is the site of ancient Anasazi Cliff Dwelling ruins. These ancient people are believed to be among the first to inhabit the region of the four corners area that includes, southwestern Colorado, southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico.

The ruins found at Mesa Verde have been dated to have been created and lived in from 300-1300 AD. The north side of the cliffs rises to heights of 2,000 feet above the canyon floor, while on the south side of the canyon, the cliffs provided suitable locations for cliff dwellings.

Colorado and the four corners area of the Southwestern portion of the United States teem with ancient Indian archaeological sites. Some of the most beautiful is found in Mesa Verde National Park , southwestern Colorado, located off U.S. Highway 160, between Cortez and Durango. The park was declared a National Park in 1906 and is the only park in the United States that owes its focus to the work of human hands.

Things to Do in Mesa Verde National Park

If you want to stay active during your trip to Mesa Verde, sign up for a ranger-led walk. Although some of the cliff dwellings are accessible through self-guided trails, many are restricted to guided hikes . You can hike at your own pace throughout one of the park’s many trails, or cross-country ski if you visit during the winter.

Pinon and juniper forests sweep through the area, finally on the comeback after forest fires in the summer of 2000 raged through the area. The fires affected none of the historic dwellings, though several new sites were discovered in the aftermath of the burn.

Among some of the prolific dwellings to see in the park is the Cliff Palace, the largest and most well-known dwelling within the park. These ancient homes are multi-storied and are accessible only if you take the summer and fall guided tours. Other ranger-led tours allow visitors to climb replica ladders into the Balcony House. Two other main attractions within the park, the Step House and the Long House can only be viewed in summer. A guided tour of the Spruce Tree House can be enjoyed in the winter months, but be advised that the weather can be bitterly cold .

Active campers will find plenty to do no matter what time of year they visit, though facilities and some roads may be closed during the winter season, and you will have to camp outside the park. If you can visit in spring or autumn, you will avoid the bigger crowds but still have mild weather for hiking and wildlife watching. Summers on average only get into the mid–80s, even at their hottest so if you don’t mind the crowds, you should still be able to do outdoor activities fairly comfortably.

If you don’t want to take a guided tour, visitors are welcome to explore the park on their own. Multiple turnouts encourage visitors to view the dwellings on both sides of the canyon, which can be easily seen by the naked eye. Another treat for visitors is hiking trails that wind their way down to the bottom of the canyon, where ancient petroglyphs can be seen etched into the canyon wall by ancient hands.

Visitors can view the entire park from the comfort of a car or RV, and there is ample parking for both. For the more adventurous, multiple hiking trails are available. It is always wise to check the park before you plan your visit to make sure all roads are open and accessible.

The trails aren’t particularly difficult but are advised beforehand that the 7,000-foot altitude may tire those who aren’t used to such altitudes. Also, taking a bottle of water or two along for your hike is a good idea.

For the hiking novice, two short trails are available. The Farming Terrace Trail is a moderate one-quarter-mile jaunt that crosses over a dry riverbed and then loops back to the trailhead. The other trail, the Spruce Tree House trail, is a half-mile long, going both ways.

For those who are up to a little more, the Badger House Community Trail offers a three-quarter-mile hike on Wetherill Mesa. From this same area, a two-mile easy trail takes visitors to Site number 16, a 50-room cliff dwelling. To finish, take the one-half-mile moderate hike to the Step House vantage point.

A favorite among visitors to Mesa Verde National Park , however, is the longer Petroglyph Trail, an almost three-mile trail that winds its way down the canyon below the Chapin Mesa Museum. Follow this trail down, down, and down some more until you reach Petroglyph Point, the sight of ancient artwork by ancient people.

Be advised before you start on that particular trail, to wear good, sturdy shoes and make sure you have water with you. In some places, the trail can be difficult, especially for first-time hikers. But the reward is worth the effort it takes to get there, and then back up. At the Petroglyph, make sure you look up to see the path that will take you back to the museum.

In this area, visitors can also take the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail, a one-and-a-half-mile relatively easy hike, to overlook Soda Canyon and the Balcony House. The two-mile Spruce Canyon Trail will guide visitors to the bottom of the canyon before it loops around into a steep climb back up.

Visitors in summer will also delight in Native American crafts and dancing offered by Hopi dancers who perform in August at the Chapin Mesa Amphitheatre, but contact the Park for specific dates, as they may change.

Camping at Mesa Verde National Park

Southwestern Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park is famous for its well-preserved cliff dwellings. These archeological treasures give visitors a glimpse into the fascinating lives of the ancestral Pueblo people, who lived in an advanced society centuries ago. Mesa Verde is an excellent camping destination for active visitors, who can also hike and wildlife watching in the park. There is one campground inside the park, but you can also stay just outside its borders.

Camping Inside the Park

There is one campground inside Mesa Verde National Park. Morefield campground is open from early May through early October and has sites for tents, trailers, and RVs. The grassy canyon just outside the campground is a good place for walks and bird- and wildlife-watching. Early morning hikes are most peaceful and will give you a greater chance of spotting animals like mule deer.

Camping Outside the Park

If you don’t want to stay in Morefield, camp just outside the park, which will give you easy access to the park’s activities. One option for tents and RVs is the Cortez / Mesa Verde KOA, which has a swimming pool and is also close to Lake Totten, which offers a number of water sports, like fishing and boating. You can also tee off at the nearby Conquistador Golf Course.

If you want to stay at Morefield inside the park and have a hookup for your RV, you’ll have to make advance reservations. If you can’t do this, but still want power for your vehicle, stay at one of the RV parks just outside the park’s entrance along U.S. 160. Two options less than a mile from the park’s borders are the A & A Mesa Verde RV Park, which offers mini golf, a heated pool, and rec room, and the Mesa Verde RV Resort, with a playground, library, and pool.

Park Rangers suggest visitors come earlier in the summer rather than later to avoid huge crowds, stating that July 15- August 15 are the busiest time of the year for them. The park is located roughly 200 miles southwest of Denver and 252 miles northwest of Albuquerque. Entrance fees (Only credit cards will be accepted at this time) into the park are currently $20 per vehicle in the wintertime and $30 in the summertime be advised that the entrance gate is 10 miles off the highway. Guided tours are available for extra fees.

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News Release

Mesa verde national park expands online tour ticket reservations.

Beginning Monday, March 9, 2020 at 8:00 am MDT, visitors to Mesa Verde National Park can reserve tour tickets online at www.recreation.gov for daily cliff dwelling tours, including Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House. Tickets for the 2020 season are $7.00 per person. A limited number of same day tour tickets will be made available online and at tour ticket locations starting at 7:45 am MDT daily. Tours begin April 12 for Cliff Palace, May 10 for Balcony House, and May 22 for Long House.   Due to limited cellular service throughout the park, visitors purchasing tickets for Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House will be required to pick up hard copy tickets at one of four tickets sales locations (Visitor & Research Center, Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, Durango Welcome Center, and Morefield Ranger Station) up to one week in advance. Drivers should allow at least one hour to drive from the park entrance to Cliff Palace and Balcony House and at least one hour and 15 minutes to drive to Long House.   When making multiple tour ticket reservations, please allow at least 2 hours between tour start times to allow for drive time between tour sites. Visitors may refer to the table of drive times on our website https://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm for more detailed information.   The National Park Service has used www.recreation.gov as its tour and camping reservations system since the late 1990s. Mesa Verde National Park began using the system for backcountry tours in 2012. Recent upgrades to the system have enabled the park to expand reservation offerings. This will greatly enhance visitors’ experience by allowing advanced tour ticket reservations.   Please visit the park’s mulitmedia page  for videos of tours that can help plan your visit and additional tour ticket information, including tour schedules. Visitors can also find information on the park’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mesaverdenps .   -NPS-  

Last updated: February 20, 2020

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PO Box 8 Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330

970-529-4465

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Private Chapin Mesa Tour 

Guests will experience a chronological journey through the 700-year history of the Ancestral Puebloans. NAI Certified Interpretive Guides tailor the experience to suit your needs whether you are a family with children, or have ADA needs, yet still want the full personal adventure.

Your tour will concentrate on the later time period of Ancestral Puebloan occupation. Guests will have the opportunity to see several of the most photographic cliff dwellings as well as engage in a short, relatively easy walk to view the natural landscape of Mesa Verde National Park. 

 Call  800.449.2288   to book your Mesa Verde Private Tour today!

Reservations .

Private tours cannot be booked online. For reservations please call 800.449.2288 . 

Why Guests Choose to Take a Private Tour

• It's a customized experience. We tailor the experience to suit your needs.
• We do the driving for you. No worrying about where to go, parking, navigating traffic, and accessing the best views and photographic spots.

Who does the Private Tours appeal to?

• Individuals who want to get the most out of their Mesa Verde experience in a shorter period of time as small groups can cover more territory than a large group.
• Individuals who have specific interests and want the undivided attention of tour guides to cater to those interests.
• Individuals with ADA needs.
• Families with children.
• Groups who are traveling together and want to have a more personal experience.
• Individuals who have insatiable curiosity and interest in the archaeology, culture, and landscape of the Ancestral Puebloans and Mesa Verde. Having a private tour gives them the opportunity to ask and discuss to their heart’s content.

Guest Testimonials 

Holly our private tour guide was awesome. She answered all of our questions and gave us a lot of background history on various aspects of the park. - Guest Comment

NOTE: Visitors should not reserve a private tour expecting to have access to one of the NPS ranger-guided cliff dwelling tours as a private party. All cliff dwelling tours are conducted by NPS in groups of 40 or more.

Park Entrance Fee

Seven of the Most Beautiful Roads in the United States

From Alaska to Florida, these serene and exhilarating stretches beg you to take the scenic route

Teddy Brokaw

“SEE AMERICA FIRST,” proclaimed an April 1, 1906, headline in the New York Times , encouraging American tourists to expand their vacation horizons beyond Europe. The slogan, debuted by Utah boosters a few months earlier to promote westward travel, received the Times ’ enthusiastic endorsement: “In a fortnight the Far Easterner can really go Far West and see things worth seeing, see many scenic wonders by the way.”

Today, affordable flights to far-flung destinations abound, and it’s easy for the American traveler to again lose sight of how much beauty and diversity exists in their own backyard. The great American road trip has long offered a cure for such complacency, and this summer should be no different: About 75 percent of Americans are expected to travel by car.

Seeking inspiration for your own road trip? These roads are more than just pathways to some of the nation’s most compelling destinations—they’re unforgettable in their own right. With scenic vistas, roadside attractions and historic curiosities aplenty, these routes call to mind another bygone travel slogan: Getting there is half the fun!

Alaska Highway, Alaska

In the early days of World War II, fears of a potential attack on the Territory of Alaska spurred military officials to create the Alaska Highway . In just nine months, more than 10,000 members of the Army Corps of Engineers completed over 1,500 miles of roadway, a pace no doubt motivated by a healthy dose of competition. Take the 95th Regiment: an under-equipped unit of Black engineers who staked their paychecks on a bet with their white counterparts that they could finish a bridge in five days. It only took them three and a half, and not because of slapdash workmanship—the Sikanni Chief River Bridge was the first permanent structure on the highway and stood for half a century before arson destroyed it in 1992.

On the way to the permafrost of the Alaskan tundra, eagle-eyed motorists may spot caribou, moose and grizzly bears along the road. Those keen on eyeing bald eagles should plan a stop near the Canadian border at the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge . Its wetlands serve as a pit stop for 180 species of migratory birds , including America’s national bird, on their springtime journey towards the ice fields and glaciers at the road’s northernmost reaches. Drivers who opt to follow their wingbeats north can check out a very different type of air travel at Mukluk Land in Tok, Alaska. The junkyard-turned-amusement park is home to “Santa’s Rocket Ship” (a futuristically styled bus straight out of “The Jetsons”) as well as Skee-Ball, miniature golf and— what else?—the world’s largest mukluk (a sealskin boot).

Highway 101, California

“The 101” is a drivable California postcard, taking motorists past the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and even through a redwood tree way up north in Klamath. (That last one requires a quick turn off on Exit 769.) The route offers a chance to not only see some of the best that California has to offer, but also smell and taste it, when the road cuts through the heart of Sonoma’s wine country. Over 400 different wineries produce varietals from chardonnay to cabernet, which can be sampled in fetching estates nestled among the stunning vineyards. Just be sure to bring a designated driver.

Weary road trippers looking to break up the journey don’t need to stray far from the highway to find accommodations as unique as the sights along the way. Consider a stop at Oceano Dunes in Pismo Beach, where drivers can pull directly onto the sand and camp overnight at the water’s edge. Those less keen on roughing it can head up the road a few dozen miles to the iconic Madonna Inn . This relic of 1950s maximalism boasts 110 rooms, each sporting a unique theme, ranging from “Caveman” to “Swiss Chalet” and even “Sir Walter Raleigh.”

Hana Highway, Hawaii

The earliest incarnation of the Hana Highway dates to the 16th century, when Native Hawaiians first paved the road with lava blocks. Today, the route is one of Maui’s greatest tourist draws, with its 617 switchbacks hiding some of the island’s best attractions. A trek through a bamboo forest leads hikers to the 400-foot Waimoku Falls , while the natural pools formed by waterfalls at Waikamoi Stream are a swimmer’s dream. The highway even boasts its very own “ Garden of Eden ,” a botanical garden and arboretum offering nature trails and glimpses of peacocks.

The overwhelming popularity of the Road to Hana has brought changes both positive and negative to the area. “In the past 20 years or so, lots of local businesses have popped up and are thriving along the highway,” says Viola Gaskell , a photojournalist born and raised in Hana. “Places like Ono Farms in Kipahulu, which has all sorts of exotic fruit and trees, give people the opportunity to try local things along the road.” But increased tourism makes it more important than ever to “travel pono ”—that is, respectfully and responsibly. Part of that effort is remembering that the Hana Highway isn’t just a stunningly scenic drive, but also a vital artery for the real people who live and work in East Maui every day. “It’s super important for people to only go to places where they're welcome,” Gaskell adds. Locals may be driving much faster, “so if you see a local person driving behind you, you should pull over as soon as you can.”

Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana

Millions of years ago, the area around Montana’s Glacier National Park was submerged under ice a mile deep. Movement and melt carved the landscape over the course of millennia, leaving behind the craggy peaks and frigid lakes that dot the area. But the most striking reminders of the region’s prehistoric origins are the 25 glaciers that give the park its name. A few of the 7,000-year-old behemoths are visible directly from Going-to-the-Sun Road , including Jackson Glacier, which has its own scenic overlook along the route. A mere 50 years ago, Jackson Glacier was nearly twice as large , serving as a constant reminder of a broader story in the park: the glaciers have been shrinking for decades, and more than 50 have disappeared entirely since the mid-1800s.

Visitors may be flocking to Glacier to see these natural wonders before they vanish, but the fascination with glaciers was just as strong a century ago, when the federal government first began considering a permanent route to accommodate sightseers. Surveyors from the Bureau of Public Roads rappelled over cliffsides and faced down bears as they plotted the route, and the work was so grueling that labor turnover topped 300 percent. Today, the journey is not so treacherous—in fact, you can even let someone else do the driving. The park’s historic Red Jammers , a fleet of 1930s ragtop tour buses, allow visitors to take in stunning mountain, lake and waterfall views from the road. Meanwhile, those bringing their own vehicles should take heed: Reservations are necessary for the road during peak hours. “Glacier has steadily grown in popularity over the last 20 years to the point where heavy traffic has caused unsafe conditions,” says Gina Icenoggle, public information officer for Glacier National Park. “As a result, Glacier has implemented a vehicle reservation system.” To avoid disappointment, Icenoggle recommends visiting recreation.gov when planning a visit to obtain a reservation beforehand.

Trail of the Ancients, Arizona/Colorado/New Mexico/Utah

Pairing natural beauty with Indigenous history, the Trail of the Ancients winds its way around the sun-drenched Four Corners region where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah converge. Though connected by a shared history, each state’s portion of the route offers something different. In Arizona, visit Canyon de Chelly National Monument , one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the United States, to see fifth-century C.E. pictographs painted onto canyon walls that rise as high as 1,000 feet. Crane your neck as you take in Shiprock , a Navajo sacred site central to their creation story, which rises abruptly from the New Mexican desert floor to a height taller than the Willis Tower. And in Utah, stretch your legs at Forrest Gump Point , a lonely stretch of U.S. Route 163 in Monument Valley where the film’s hero decides to finally stop running.

Perhaps most spectacular along the trail is Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park . Home to an ancient cliffside metropolis built by Ancestral Puebloans around the 13th [5] century, Mesa Verde was the first national park dedicated to “preserve the works of man.” Its most striking site is surely the Cliff Palace , a 150-room building that was once home to roughly 100 people. National Park Service ranger and Laguna Pueblo woman T.J. Atsye once reflected about the Cliff Palace: “Even though we physically moved away, the spirits of my ancestors are still here. If you stop for a minute and listen, you can hear the children laughing and the women talking. You can hear the dogs barking and the turkeys gobbling. You can hear and feel the beat of the drums and the singing. You can smell the cooking fires. You can feel their presence, their warmth, their sense of community.”

Mount Washington Auto Road, New Hampshire

“THIS CAR CLIMBED MT. WASHINGTON,” proclaims a bumper sticker ubiquitous throughout New England. It’s a sign that the vehicle has summited the Northeast’s tallest mountain, an ascent of 4,600 vertical feet that climbs through the clouds and into blue sky, revealing panoramic views from the White Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. Even during the winter months, when the road is closed to public traffic, aspiring automotive mountaineers can still enjoy a ride to the summit in the SnowCoach (a van with tracks for wheels), and Nordic ski or snowshoe down. But be sure to bundle up—last year, Mount Washington recorded the coldest wind chill in U.S. history of minus 108 degrees Fahrenheit.

The auto road is billed as “America’s oldest manmade attraction,” and its storied history is as much a draw as its natural beauty. Construction began on the road during the presidency of Franklin Pierce, with work completed during Lincoln’s first term. Over the years, the route developed a reputation as an automotive proving ground. The first timed journey to the summit saw an 1899 Stanley Locomobile post a then-blistering time of just over two hours, a record modern weekend warriors shatter on a daily basis in family minivans. Still, that initial time trial inspired one of the oldest auto races in America, the Mount Washington Hillclimb , which has been sporadically held along the road since 1904. But wannabe racers may have their work cut out for them: The current record time of 5 minutes and 28.67 seconds may be slightly harder to beat than the 1899 original.

Overseas Highway, Florida

In 1905, oil tycoon Henry Flagler announced his plans to build a railroad connecting Key West to the Florida mainland . When the line opened seven years later, the project once lampooned as “Flagler’s Folly” was hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” But the triumph would be short-lived. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck with an intensity that would be unparalleled for the next half-century, washing away 40 miles of track and dooming the railway for good. The misfortune for train travelers nonetheless proved a boon for motorists: Florida purchased what was left of the infrastructure and repurposed it to create the Overseas Highway .

Today, the southernmost highway in the continental United States carries U.S. Route 1 over the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys via 42 low-slung bridges. Beneath the underpasses, the Lower 48’s largest coral reef offers some of the country’s best snorkeling, but be warned: Sightings of crocodiles and alligators may be better enjoyed from the driver’s seat. Those craving a wildlife adventure may want to seek out the Turtle Hospital , located at Mile Marker 48.5 on the Overseas Highway. Since its founding in 1986, the hospital has helped nurse over 3,000 sea turtles back to health, and the public is welcomed daily for guided educational tours .

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Teddy Brokaw | READ MORE

Teddy Brokaw is a law student and freelance writer based in New Haven, Connecticut.

Withdrawing Consideration of ESA Protections for Chapin Mesa Milkvetch

DENVER -  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is announcing the withdrawal of a proposed rule to provide Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection to the Chapin Mesa milkvetch and to designate critical habitat for the species. Following the publication of this proposed rule and associated public comment period in September 2020, the Service reviewed conservation plans and actions being undertaken by conservation partners to address the primary threats to this species and determined that protections under the ESA are no longer necessary.

"Conservation is a collaborative effort among many stakeholders; any time positive conservation actions can preclude the need for protections under the ESA is a reason to celebrate,"  said Acting Service Regional Director Matt Hogan . "The Service thanks the efforts of Mesa Verde National Park and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for their continued efforts to conserve the species."

The Chapin Mesa milkvetch is a rare, native perennial herb in the pea family found only in the southwestern corner of Colorado. This unique plant consists of one sole interconnected population entirely constrained to Tribal lands of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and National Park Service lands comprising Mesa Verde National Park.

The species' primary threats include the increasing frequency of large high-intensity wildfires, invasive plants (particularly cheatgrass), and the interaction between these threats. The Service also analyzed climate projections for the San Juan Basin and found that climate change climate change Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale. Learn more about climate change would exacerbate these issues. These threats are addressed in the conservation efforts being undertaken by partners.

Mesa Verde National Park (Park) finalized and approved a conservation plan for this species in September 2018, followed by an in-depth implementation plan completed in February 2021. The Park's efforts include identifying and protecting intact Chapin Mesa milkvetch habitat, limitation of development, wildfire prevention, prompt response to wildfire, restoration of habitat following wildfire, control of invasive plant species, and support of pollinators. In addition, the Park has put several strategies into action, including limiting disturbances in key areas, implementing wildfire response procedures, funding a genetic study of the species, conducting soil analysis to determine suitable conditions for the species, drafting a livestock removal plan, and further investigating methods to manage and restore habitat for the species.

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (Tribe) also developed and finalized a conservation plan for the species in February 2020. Conservation work includes participating in a collaborative research project with the Park, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Northern Arizona University to address wildfire and climate change concerns. The Tribe also restricts certain human activities, development, and access in Chapin Mesa milkvetch habitat, limiting habitat loss and disturbances within the Tribal Park. Additionally, the Tribe has implemented fire breaks within the Tribal Park to prevent the spread of large wildfires on the northern end of Chapin Mesa.

Following a review of the current and ongoing conservation efforts of Mesa Verde National Park and the work of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Service found that these efforts are sufficient to reduce impacts of the primary threats enough to no longer warrant protection under the ESA.

This action is available for inspection today in the  Reading Room  and will publish tomorrow in the  Federal Register .

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen in the West, connect with us through any of these social media channels:  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Flickr ,  YouTube , and  Instagram .

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