Mesa Verde National Park

​One of the most unique national parks in America is nestled in the Four Corners Area of Colorado. Mesa Verde National Park is over 50,000 acres of protected land, encompassing some of the most fascinating man-made structures.
 
Mesa Verde is home to the world’s largest area of pueblo buildings, and these are different than most others. They are built hundreds of feet above the ground directly into the red rock canyon walls.

It is impossible to visit the park and not feel a sense of wonder: “How were these built?”, “Who lived here?”, “Where did they go?” Archeologists and geologist only speculatively answer these questions. The area is truly a wonder of history that, in my opinion, no one will ever truly understand.
 
I have had the privilege to visit the park a couple of times, and it leaves me amazed every time. This is one of the lesser visited National Parks, and I hope to provide guidance for anyone who wants to see these marvelous structures on their own.

The famous Cliff Palace.

When to visit:

• The park closes many roads and does not offer tours during the winter (September to May). To get the most of your experience at Mesa Verde, you will need to visit during the summer months. The summer is the most popular time to visit any national park, so if you can go during weekdays and avoid major holidays like Memorial Day and The Fourth of July, it is more likely you’ll be able to get reservations for campgrounds and guided tours. The weather at this high elevation in Colorado is temperate, warm, and windy during the daytime and fairly chilly at night routinely dipping down into the 40’s. When planning your trip, be sure to check the weather on The National Park website here: www.nps.gov/mesaverde  

From our first trip in June 2016.

Where to stay:

• Lodging is very limited around Mesa Verde. To get into the main part of the of park takes about a 45-minute drive from the Visitors Center entrance. The entrance is about 55 miles from Durango – the closest sizable town – and about ten miles in different directions from Cortez and Mancos, two much smaller towns. 
• The park has one lodge and one campground. Both prefer reservations but will take walk ins if there is availability. When we went for our first time in 2016, we managed to snag the very last campsite for one night but couldn’t stay for a second due to reservations. You can make camping reservations online here:  https://www.visitmesaverde.com/lodging-camping/morefield-campground/
• I have never stayed at The Far View Lodge, but its location in the heart of the park is ideal for travelers hoping to stay multiple nights. It is only open April to October and ranges from $149-186 a night. You can reserve your stay on their website here: https://www.visitmesaverde.com/lodging-camping/far-view-lodge/

Camping at the Morefield Campground.

View from the drive in summer 2016.

Booking tours:​

• The pueblos are hundreds of years old and extremely delicate. The park doesn’t allow access to many without guides walking people through the formations under careful watch. Booking tours in advance is pretty much a requirement. Occasionally, you can snag an open spot, but it is very unlikely you will be able to walk into the park and get a tour at the time you are hoping.
• Reservations for The Cliff Palace (the crown jewel of the park), The Balcony House, and the Square Tower House can be made here: https://home.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/cliff_dwelling_tours.htm
• Ranger guided tours are not required for Spruce Treehouse, Cedar Treehouse, Step House, or Badger House Trail. Please be respectful of the sites by observing the “Leave No Trace” principals, leaving the preserves better than you found them, never taking any artifacts, or making graffiti or marks on any surfaces.

Our ticket for our Balcony House tour.

Self guided tour at The Step House.

Our range guiding us around The Balcony House.

Things to bring to the park:​

• National Parks Annual Pass 
  • If you plan on visiting more than one national park or Mesa Verde for more than one day, I recommend purchasing an annual parks pass. A single day’s entry to any park is around $30 and an annual pass is $80. Purchase the annual pass for access to all of America’s parks, national forest lands, and more. You can purchase an annual or day pass at the entrance to any national park!
• Food and water. 
  • There are a few cafes in the park, but they are expensive and primarily located around The Far View Lodge and not near the formations. Make sure to pack plenty of snacks, breakfasts, lunches, and lots of water especially if you are camping inside the park or plan to do any hiking. If you will be near your car, you would rather over pack than overheat or be dehydrated!
• Camera and binoculars
  • You will want to take lots of photos and videos in the park. Bring an extra-large zoom lens and binoculars to see the far away dwellings as well. Make sure to pack spare batteries and a way to charge them during your visit.
• Portable chargers 
  • Electricity hookups are rare in the park, so bring portable chargers for phones and camera batteries. There is little phone service, so you won’t be using them much, but you will want to take pictures and videos, so make sure they are fully charged!
• Map
  • Since there is little cell service, be sure to grab a map from the visitors center so you know where you are going. Also make sure to ask the rangers about any closures or other things that might not be on the map, including incoming weather.
• Rain jacket
  • Anytime you are hiking, you should bring rain gear. Weather changes rapidly at high elevation and summer storms regularly roll in late in the afternoon, so bring rain gear and a jacket to have just in case.

Here is how I recommend traveling the park: 

• Before arrival:
  • Reserve your campsite or room at the Far View Lodge and book tours during your dates. here: https://www.visitmesaverde.com/
  • Study the map online and make a plan for visiting the park based off when tours are available. Continue reading to see when I recommend touring each site! ​

• Day one:
  • Spend a few hours learning about the history at the Visitors Center. Soak in all the information you possibly can before witnessing any of the structures firsthand. Take notes, think of questions to ask on your tours, and get excited!
  • Start up the road into the park, pull off at every viewpoint, and learn about the geology and history.
  • Take Weatherill Mesa Road to The Step House. Again, make sure to stop at all the viewpoints along the way, then take the self-guided walk through The Step House to get an up-close and personal experience in a pueblo dwelling.
  • Take an afternoon tour of The Long House. This is one of the dwellings you need to book a guided tour to see, so try to pick a time slot later in the afternoon to give yourself plenty of time to get there and enjoy the scenery on the way up.
  • After your tour, continue walking The Long House Loop paved trail to end your first day!

View of the mesa from the entrance to the park.

View of mountains from a pull off.

The Step House.

• ​Day two:
  • Book an early tour of The Spruce Treehouse and walk through the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum afterwards. 
  • Then, take a couple of hikes around the Spruce Canyon Trail and up to Petroglyph Point. Both are around 2.5 miles round trip.
  • Stop and take a lunch break at Spruce Tree Terrace or enjoy a packed lunch from the many picnic sites around the park. 
  • Then, drive up to Mesa Top Loop to explore the many sites there. 

The Spruce Treehouse.

• Day three:
  • Save the two best places for your last day and take pre-booked tours at The Balcony House and, finally, the famous Cliff Palace saving the absolute best for last!
  • Soak up all the wonder and glory of these two sites and take time to reflect on all the things you have just witnessed over the last few days. Make your way back out of the park and stop by any sites you haven’t seen or go back to any that you really enjoyed.

It takes several wooden ladders to reach The Balcony House.

The Balcony House.

The Cliff Palace.

• Optional day four:
  • If you are staying in the park, especially at The Morefield Campground, take an extra day to do the hikes that lead out of the camping area. 
  • Prater Ridge Trail is about 7.8 miles, The Knife Edge Trail is 2 miles, and The Point Lookout Trail is 2.2 miles. Pick a trail that is up to your hiking abilities, or try to accomplish all three in a day! See more about the elevation gains, estimated completion times, and more on AllTrails.com

• ​After Mesa Verde:
  • From Mesa Verde, head to other amazing archeological sites nearby like Hovenweep National Monument, Aztec Ruins National Monument, Shiprock New Mexico, Canyon De Chelly National Monument, or even The Grand Canyon!

We went on a huge road trip to The Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Cavers, and Mesa Verde National Park on our first American Southwest road trip. Read about that entire weeklong trip here!

John and I at The Grand Canyon before visiting Mesa Verde National Park. Click to read more!

There is so much to do and see in the ancient American southwest. I hope this post helps you plan the most throughout, jam-packed, educational trip you could ever hope for.
 
Mesa Verde is a truly remarkable place to witness, and I hope every person can experience the sheer wonder that this place holds at least once in their lives. 
 
It will change the way you view hardship, simple living, and your modern conveniences and may put your world in a perspective you might have never imagined. It is a place unlike anywhere else in the world, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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Read about other Colorado National Parks here: