Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

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Mesa Verde National Park near Cortez, Colorado is cited by National Geographic as one of the top cultural spots in the United States. And there’s a reason. Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, is home to one of the largest and best preserved Ancestral Puebloan or Anasazi ruins in the United States. Cliff dwellings, elaborate stone communities built in sheltered alcoves, are the main attraction. But they aren’t the only. The path from pithouse to pueblo made by this ancient culture from roughly 550 to 1300 A.D. weaves a story and speaks to a life both above and below the mesa top. So why take the kids? Mystery, ladders and intrigue.

Spread over 52,000 acres, Mesa Verde protects 4,000 known archaeological sites including 600 cliff dwellings. Yet a trip to this U.S. national park need not be overwhelming. The vast majority of sites are concentrated in two distinct areas: Chapin Mesa and Wetherill Mesa. If you plan your visit with care you’ll avoid driving from end to end repeatedly.

The Far View Visitor Center offers more than an update on park weather and roads. Unless you are staying at Morefield Campground, it is the only place to purchase tickets for ranger-guided cliff dwelling tours and learn about other programs and special events. Don’t forget to pick up a Junior Ranger activity sheet, geared to kids aged 4 to 12, and engage the kids from start to finish.

The Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum and self-guided Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling are a great place to begin an adventure with kids. Not only do they provide an introduction to Anasazi life, they allow families to tour at their own pace. When planning the remainder of your visit consider the availability of ranger-guided tours as well as the age and interest of the tots, tweens and teens.

Cliff Palace and Balcony House are the most popular ranger-guided cliff dwelling tours at Mesa Verde. Both are situated on Chapin Mesa and both require a good deal of climbing. The self-drive Mesa Top Loop Road, also on Chapin Mesa, follows the Anasazi from pithouse to pueblo.

Wetherill Mesa is Mesa Verde in a nutshell. In addition to Long House, Mesa Verde’s second largest cliff dwelling, this corner of the park boasts mesa top sites of note. And apart from getting there and getting away you don’t need the car to get around.

Getting there

Mesa Verde National Park is a 1-hour drive from Cortez, Colorado and a 1.5-hour drive from Durango, Colorado. The park is accessible from Highway 160. The Visitor Center, the first point of access within the park, is a 30-minute drive from the entrance. The nearest airports are located in Cortez (Colorado), Durango (Colorado) and Farmington (New Mexico).

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Driving Directions
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Getting around

A car is needed to explore Mesa Verde. The Chapin Mesa sites are 5-8 miles (8-13 km) from the Far View Visitor Center and 20-25 miles (32-37km) from the main entrance of Mesa Verde National Park. Allow at least 15 minutes for the drive from Far View Center and 45 minutes from the park entrance. Wetherill Mesa is situated 12 miles (19km) from the Far View Visitor Center and roughly 27 miles (44km) from the main entrance of Mesa Verde National Park. It takes roughly 45 minutes to reach Wetherill Mesa from Far View Center. Access to several Mesa Verde cliff dwellings - Cliff Palace, Long House and Balcony House - is limited to ranger-guided tours. Half-day ranger-guided bus tours are ideal for families with limited time. Hiking is permitted on designated trails only. Trails range in length from the 1.2-mile (1.9km) Soda Canyon Overlook to the 7.8-mile (12.6km) Prater Ridge Trail. Registration is required at Petroglygh Point Loop and Spruce Canyon Trails. Biking on the narrow park roads is not recommended. Off road biking is not permitted.

Mesa Verde Maps
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Guided Tours
National Park Service
Hiking Trails
National Park Service

When to travel

In summer, June through September, the daytime temperature can exceed 90°F (32°C). Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August. In winter, November through March, the weather is generally mild yet snowstorms can occur as late as May and as early as October. Evening temperatures are significantly lower than the daytime high throughout the year. Plan to dress in layers whether you visit in June or December.

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Travel health & child safety

Mesa Verde enjoys a semi-arid climate and the elevation ranges from 7,000 (2100m) to 8,500 feet (2600m). Wear sunscreen and a hat and carry plenty of water (4 liters per person per day). Consider your level of physical fitness when selecting trails and guided ranger tours. The moderately high altitude makes hiking in Mesa Verde National Park strenuous.

Sun Exposure & Heat Stroke
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Opening hours

Mesa Verde National Park is open year round. Ranger-guided tours and programs are seasonal. Wetherill Mesa (Long House, Step House and Badger House Community) is open from late May to early September only. Ranger-led tours of Balcony House are offered from late April to mid October only. Ranger-guided tours of Cliff Palace House are offered from early April to mid November only. Spruce Tree House is the only Mesa Verde cliff dwelling open year round. Half-day ranger-guided bus tours begin at the earliest pit houses and include a tour of Cliff Palace. Tours depart daily from Far View Terrace at 8:00 and 13:00. The Mesa Verde Museum Association offers twilight tours of the Cliff Palace at 19:00 in summer. Ranger-led evening programs, free of charge, are held at the Morefield Amphitheater located in the Morefield Campground from late May to early September.

Operating Hours
National Park Service

Fees

A day use fee, valid for 7 consecutive days, is charged per vehicle unless you are traveling by motorcycle or non-commercial bus in which case the fee is per person. Tickets are required for Cliff Palace, Long House and Balcony House tours. Tickets can be purchased at the Far View Visitor Center 8:00 -17:00 from mid April to mid October or the Morefield Ranger Station 17:00 - 20:30 from late May through mid-August only. In October and April, Cliff Palace tickets can be purchased at the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum. Evening programs offered in summer at the Morefield Amphitheater are free of charge. Tickets for the Mesa Verde Museum Association's Cliff Palace summer twilight tours are available at the bookstore in the Far View Visitor Center only. Tickets for the half-day ranger-led tours can be purchased at Far View Visitor Center, Far View Lodge, Far View Terrace and Morefield Campground.

Admission & Activity Charges
National Park Service

Things to keep in mind

Junior Ranger activity sheets, geared to children aged 4 to 12, are available at the Far View Visitor Center, Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum and Morefield Ranger Station. Be sure to purchase tickets to ranger-guided tours before venturing out to the ruins. It is a long trip back to the Far View Visitor Center. Mesa Verde is situated in Black Bear country. Do not take food on hikes. Eat at designated picnic and camping areas only and clean the area thoroughly after each meal.