Mesa Verde National Park: Plan Your Visit

Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado offers more than a glimpse into the life of the Native Americans who built homes there. Visitors get to use a metate (grinding stone), climb up and down ladders, and crawl through narrow passages.

SEASONAL + COVID-19 UPDATES: Self-guided tours are available in the park. However, access to the cliff dwellings are not available in the winter and early spring season. There are viewpoints that allow you to see the dwellings. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Museum and Visitor & Research Center remain closed.

The park also has a campground with shower access – which may be required for some campers (You know who you are). Here’s what you need to know as you plan your visit to Mesa Verde National Park.

Interested in visiting other National Parks? Get ideas of places you want to visit for your next family vacation.

Before You Arrive: Camp site, Driving Directions and Weather

Camping at Mesa Verde National Park is one of the better ways to visit. The Morefield Campground has 267 sites and is available mid-April through Mid-October. There are sites available for tents, camping trailers, and RVs.
To make reservations, call 1-800-449-2288 or visit their website.

The campground offers showers, restaurants, a convenience store and more. However, if camping isn’t your thing, you can book a room at the Far View Lodge nearby.

Mesa Verde is located along Highway 160, roughly 10 miles east of Cortez, Colorado, and 45 miles west of Durango. FYI: Cell service is limited in the park.

The most common cause of illness in the park is dehydration. The high elevation and dry climate require you to carry and drink adequate water. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer. Be ready for rain, as well as potential lightning in the area.

Some of the tours (as you’ll see below) require tickets for a ranger-guided tour. You can purchase the tickets up to two days in advance. They sell out quickly, so purchase them first thing in the morning. You can pick up $5 per person tickets for each tour at the following locations:

• Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center
• Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum
• Durango Welcome Center in Durango, Colorado

Explore Sites Along Chapin Mesa

Mesa Verde National Park is divided into two main mesas: Chapin Mesa and Wetherill Mesa. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll find at Chapin Mesa.

Cliff Palace is one of the more famous stops along Chapin Mesa road. The only way to visit Cliff Palace is on a one hour, ranger-guided tour. Tickets are required for the tour.

During the tour, you’ll walk down a steep trail and stairs. The guide will walk you in front of the dwelling and teach you about the Native Americans who built the structure. You’re welcome to take lots of photos. On the way out, you’ll climb multiple ladders to get back to the main road.

Spruce Tree House is a self-guided tour. The trail is easy and no ladder-climbing required. At the dwelling, you can climb into a kiva and use a metate (grinder). It’s one of the more hands-on dwellings of the park.

NOTE: As of Jan 1, 2019, access to Spruce Tree House is closed due to safety concerns for rock falls.

Balcony House is a little more adventurous. Tours last about an hour. Visitors climb ladders, as well as crawl through a 12-foot tunnel. Balcony House is a ranger-guided tour and requires tickets to be purchased in advance (just like Cliff Palace tickets).

Chapin Mesa has other sites scattered throughout as well:

• Sun Temple
• Pit houses and villages
• Cedar Tree Tower
• Far View Sites
• Various hiking trails

Dwellings Along Wetherill Mesa at Mesa Verde National Park

Wetherill Mesa provides self-guided and ranger-guided tours of some of the dwellings. It takes about one hour to drive from the entrance of the park to the end of Wetherill Mesa, so be sure you plan accordingly.

Step House is a self-guided tour, meaning it’s free to access and you can explore at your own pace. The trail is about one mile roundtrip. At Step House, you can see a pit house and climb some ladders. It’s a great opportunity for kids to do some exploring. Plan on about 45-60 minutes.

Long House is one of the more in-depth tours offers at Mesa Verde National Park. A ticket is required for this ranger-guided tour. They can be purchased at any of the visitor centers. The two hour tour also requires ladder climbing. Visitors hike roughly 2.25 miles with an elevation gain of 130 feet.

Badger House Community is a collection of homes built on top of the mesa. A gravel trail and paved trails wind their way on top of the mesa, allowing you to explore the area a little further.

The Details

Address: PO Box 8, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330. The entrance is located off of Highway 160, 10 miles east of Cortez, Colorado.

Cost: November 1 – April 30: $15 per private vehicle. May 1 – October 31: $20 per vehicle. Entrance fee covers access to the park for seven consecutive days. You can also purchase an annual National Parks Pass. Ranger-guided tours of Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House are $5 each person.

Hours: The park is open daily, year-round. However, activities vary by season. Check the park website for the activities available during your visit. The cliff dwellings are closed to the public during the off season, but can be seen from various overlooks throughout the park.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

Phone: (970) 529-4465

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