If you’re planning a trip to Mesa Verde National Park – you are just my kind of person! Not many people visit this Southwest Colorado gem and those who do are rewarded by a very memorable experience. The park is a UNESCO Site and preserves a variety of archeological ruins of the Ancestral Pueblo Civilization.
Throughout the park you will find majestic cliff dwellings, large petroglyph panels carved onto rocks, and other artifacts such as pottery and ceremonial structures. You can explore these sites – either on guided tours or all by yourself, hike through narrow canyons, and enjoy spectacular views of the Four Corners region. The park is my favorite when it comes to family trips.
Also Read: Southwest Colorado Road Trip Itinerary
Where is Mesa Verde National Park?
Mesa Verde is located in the Four Corners region in Southwestern Colorado. It is a short drive from the cities of Cortez, Mancos, or Durango. There is a lot to see within the park and the sites are far apart from each other. And so, I’d recommend spending at least a couple of days in the park to see most of it. You can either base yourself in the nearby cities or camp / lodge within the park.
Further Reading: Ultimate Guide to Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Mesa Verde Main Attractions
On a Mesa Verde trip, you can not only explore ancient ruins and learn about the Ancestral Pueblo tribes that lived here but also hike fun trails, enjoy starry night skies, and see Colorado wildlife. Here are really cool things to do in Mesa Verde Park that will take you by surprise.
Also Read: 7 Cool National Parks and Monuments in Colorado
Begin your visit at the Visitor and Research Center
Begin your trip at Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center located just near the park entrance. See the exhibits on the lifestyle of the Pueblos, learn about park history, get park maps and see a replica of ladder used to ascend Balcony House tour. Kids can get their Junior Ranger Badges at the center. The Ancient Ones sculpture outside the visitor center shows the Ancestral Pueblo climbing up the cliff edge – it is a great work of art.
Drive the Cliff Palace Loop Road
Most major sites of Mesa Verde are located on the Cliff Palace Loop Road, also called the Mesa Top Ruins Road. This paved road is 6 miles long and is closed in winter. It starts at the Chapin Mesa area and curves through the park, passing by popular sites such as Cliff Palace, Balcony House, House of Many Windows Overlook, and Hemenway House.
Stop and admire these prehistoric sites. Drive around to get a feel of this majestic landscape. The loop road also offers amazing views of the surrounding canyons and cliffs. Be sure to stop by the Mesa Verde Visitor Center before starting the loop to pick up a map.
Tour the majestic Cliff Palace
One of the reasons Mesa Verde should be on your bucket list is to see Cliff Palace. This is the largest and most well-preserved cliff dwelling in the park. The ranger led tour is so cool – you can step back in time and walk around the many structures that make up Cliff Palace. This prehistoric village had over 150 rooms and 23 kivas – over 100 people lived here at its peak.
It amazes me how the ancient ancestral Pueblos built such intricate stacked ruins in hard to reach locations. The tour is about an hour long and involves some steep ladders but is mostly easy to attempt. I have taken this tour many times and on one occasion was lucky enough to see a Native American ranger playing a flute amongst the ruins – ethereal!
The ranger led tour tickets are released 15 days prior and get sold out very fast – sit at your computer in advance to score one of these. And trust me, you do need to take the ranger led tour for the most involved experience. Wear comfortable shoes, reach early, and bring water for the hike in!
Admire the view from Cliff Palace Overlook
A short trail of 0.4 miles from the Cliff Palace parking lot will take you to Cliff Palace Overlook. From here, you can enjoy a birds eye view of this stunning ruin. The view is breathtaking – you can spot the many rooms as kivas on the cliffside below.
It’s an awesome place to take photos and really soak up the beauty of the area. This is also where you meet the ranger for guided tours. If you are not able to get a visit to the Cliff Palace tour, we recommend admiring the sheer ingenuity of this ruin from the overlook.
Go on an adventure at Balcony House
If you ask me – Balcony House over Cliff Palace anytime, provided you’re physically able to climb a 30 feet ladder, climb through a narrow passageway, and have no breathing problems. Balcony House was built in the 13th century and is impressive in a thousand unique ways. The dwelling is much smaller than Cliff Palace, with just over 38 rooms and 2 kivas. It is said to have supported about 30 people.
The hour long Balcony House tour is like an Indiana Jones adventure. You have to climb several ladders and crawl on all fours through a 12 feet long narrow passage to see this ruin. The highlight is the 32 foot long ladder needed to reach the ruin – hence its name! Once you’re up, you can explore the granaries, kivas, and other rooms here. Admire the park views from the cliff edge. Bring plenty of water, sturdy shoes, and a fun attitude for this tour.
Hike the Soda Canyon Overlook trail
The Soda Canyon Overlook trail is a 1.2 mile long hiking trail on the Cliff Place Loop Road. This easy loop takes hikers across the canyon, through juniper trees and pinon pines, providing outstanding views of the mesas and cliffs of Mesa Verde National Park.
From the overlook point you can see Balcony House perched high above the cliff as well as other dwellings within the park. This is a great short hike for all ages and fitness levels. Make sure to bring along your zoom camera or binoculars to marvel at the ruins.
See the exhibits at Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in learning more about the Ancestral Puebloan culture. It is located along the Mesa Top Ruins park road, about 20 miles from the park entrance.
Visitors can browse through an extensive collection of artifacts, pottery, and photographs preserved by the National Park Service. The museum also has screens a 20 minute video, ‘Footprints of Our Ancestors’ which describes the fascinating history of this park. We recommend keeping an hour aside for the museum.
Learn about the history of the Spruce Tree House
Curious to know just how fragile Mesa Verde ruins are? Take the time to learn about the Spruce Tree House! It is the third largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park. The 20-room ruin is nestled in a side canyon off Spruce Tree Canyon and perched on a ledge just below the rim of Chapin Mesa. The NPS offered tours of the ruin till 2015 but now it can only be seen from above because of the crumbling sandstone rock above the ruins.
This incredible example of Ancestral Puebloan architecture is a beautiful reminder of how conservation efforts are essential to preserve our heritage. Make sure to view Spruce Tree House ruins from Spruce Treehouse Overlook Trail behind the museum, which offers stunning views of both the ruin and canyon!
Explore the park geology on Spruce Canyon trail
The Spruce Canyon trail is a 2.4 mile long loop in the Spruce Tree House area behind the Chapin Mesa museum. It takes you deep within the Spruce Canyon and offers a chance to understand the parks unique geology.
The moderate nature trail starts at Spruce Treehouse Overlook and then continues through spruce and fir trees. You can see the native plants and trees as well as spot wildlife including deer, squirrels, and plenty of birds.
See the petroglyphs in Mesa Verde
Starting just near the Spruce Canyon trail, you will find the Petroglyph Point Trail. This is one of our favorite hiking trails in Mesa Verde National Park. The trail is 2.4 miles long and involves rock steps as well as some scrambling. The trail takes you to the Petroglyph Panel at 1.4 miles.
This is a beautiful 30 feet wide archeological site with lots of rock art made by the Ancestral Puebloans. You can walk around and identify the petroglyphs like handprints, spirals, animal figures – there are hundreds of them!
Drive the Mesa Top Loop Road
The Mesa Top Loop Road is perfect for those who want to explore many ruins in a short amount of time. The road is open year round and quite popular. It is a 6 mile long road that takes you through the most popular sites of the Mesa Verde National Park, including the Sun Temple and the Square Tower House Overlook.
You can also spot wildlife including mule deer, bobcats, and rabbits on the route. The views from various overlooks along the road are simply stunning – you can spot the entire Cliff Palace in one frame from the Sun Temple. I would suggest keeping an hour to hour and a half for this drive.
Admire the views from Park Point Fire Lookout
The Park Point Fire Lookout Point is the highest point in Mesa Verde National Park. It has an altitude of 8572 feet and is very popular to visit. The observation points are accessible by a short walk of 0.2 miles from the parking lot – to reach, you need to take the detour from Mesa Top Ruins Road.
At Park Point Fire Lookout, visitors can enjoy unparalleled views of both the La Plata Mountains and Mesa Verde Plateau – you can even spot Pagosa Springs and Durango if it’s a clear day! This is a great spot to catch sunrise or sunset views.
Go off the beaten path at Wetherill Mesa
Chapin Mesa with its museum and popular ruins is the most visited area of Mesa Verde National Park. If you are looking for more solitude and a unique experience, consider visiting Wetherill Mesa area. Here you can hike to Step House on a self guided tour or take a ranger led tour of Long House, the second largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde.
Long House can also be seen from an overlook. Wetherill Mesa is open only from spring to fall and requires significant walking or biking to access the sites. Wetherill Mesa is a great way to explore the wild, less touristy side of Mesa Verde.
Enjoy a stay at Far View Lodge
The Far View Lodge is the only hotel located inside Mesa Verde National Park. It has breathtaking views of the La Plata Mountains and overlooks several archeological sites. The lodge also has a restaurant, gift shop and is an excellent place to stay.
I’d highly recommend spending a few days here to really experience all that Mesa Verde has to offer. The best part? You can take a short walk and visit the Far View Sites near the lodge – a group of ruins that includes some of the earliest Ancestral Puebloan buildings!
Camp under the stars at Morefield Campground
The Morefield Campground is located on the west side of Mesa Verde National Park, just off HWY 160. It’s a great spot for camping, hiking and even stargazing! The campground offers several sites that can accommodate tents or RVs and has full hook-ups. There are also picnic tables and fire pits. Several hiking trails also start at the campground.
Enjoy star gazing in Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is one of my favorite places to go star gazing in Colorado! It is designated as an International Dark Sky Park and is free from light pollution, making it ideal for stargazing. At night, you can admire the stars and constellations – an experience that offers visitors a unique perspective of the park.
I love planning a stargazing visit in the summer months as there are no clouds and the moon can be seen due to its low position in the sky – so make sure you bring your telescope! You will be amazed at the sheer number of stars in the sky.
Admire Mesa Verde in winter
Mesa Verde transforms into a winter wonderland during the colder months. Despite the cool temperatures, visitors are rewarded with a unique and unforgettable experience. With fewer crowds and off-season discounts, the park is a peaceful escape where visitors can hike untouched snow-covered trails and see the ancient ruins of the Anasazi culture. The winter landscape, blanketed in snow, creates an ethereal atmosphere that only adds to the mystical allure of this UNESCO site.
Just go – you will be surprised by how much you like Mesa Verde. It’s fascinating history and experience of walking amongst the ruins is seldom matched by any other park. What is your favorite part about visiting Mesa Verde National Park? Let me know below!