Come for the ruins, stay for the views.
A serial of dilapidate rooms and towers span an impossibly broad indentation in a sandstone drop . Gazing at the ruining , it ’s an easy practice to envision the community of interests of around a hundred Ancestral Puebloans who fly high here more than 700 years ago — cookery , laughing , and making music — though the former residents are long gone . This place , with its 150 sand - biased rooms and imposingly constructed towers , is Cliff Palace , the largest drop dwelling in North America . Sights like these are what southwestern Colorado’sMesa Verde National Parkis best known for , though it ’s only part of what the commons has to offer .
With more than 600 cliff dwelling ( and more than 4,000 Ancestral Pueblo dwellings in sum ) , Mesa Verde is a recognise UNESCO World Heritage Site and a dream come up true for anyone who wants to visit some of the advantageously - preserved archeological site in the nation . It also offer major appeal for wannabeastronomers and stargazer , with particular opinion of the night sky that have of late earned it a appellative as the 100thInternational Dark Sky Park . Out of America ’s 63 national parks , Mesa Verde isone of just 16to earn this designation .
These Colorful Towns Are a Gateway to Colorado’s Most Trippy National Park
It’s like ‘Mad Max’ meets ‘Gilmore Girls’.
But there ’s more to the internal park than cliff dwellings and stargazing . While you ’re there , you’re able to also search miles and mi of park trails , get wind about the Indigenous cultures of the area , gaze at John Rock paries studded with petroglyph , and see some of the more than a thousand metal money of flora and fauna that call Mesa Verde domicile . No matter what you do , it ’s sure to bodge your idea . Here ’s what to do in Mesa Verde National Park .
Hike a rugged landscape of canyons, mesas, and ruins
Take to the parking lot ’s 30 mile of lead to go through sloping mesas , broken canyons , and expansive prospect . Difficulty ranges from a flat out - and - back trail that winds through pinon - juniper forest to a trek that requires you to squelch between boulders and come minute Isidor Feinstein Stone staircases . Hikes are made more difficultdue to the gamey natural elevation and hot , arid climate , so you ’ll require to be heedful and sway lots of piddle . Mesa Verde ’s trails are divided into three areas : Morefield Canyon , Chapin Mesa , and Wetherill Mesa .
In Morefield Canyon , you ’ll find trails such as the Knife Edge Trail , which follows the course of an old route that was build up in 1911 as the primary access to the park . This lead leads to Montezuma Valley Overlook , where a phenomenal view is even more striking at sundown .
Chapin Mesa is where you ’ll find rugged and adventuresome trails with outrageous drop - offs , such as the strenuous Petroglyph Point Trail , a 2.4 - mile rotund - trip-up route with scrambling , cliff - climb , and ancient petroglyphs . Chapin Mesa is also home to most of the park ’s ruination , let in the Far View Community Sites , which can be view by hiking a .75 - international mile loop . Ancestral Pueblo people thrived in Far View ’s mesa - top husbandry community for several centuries , long before the drop-off abode were built .
Sopotnicki/Shutterstock
Pueblo architecture can also be found on Wetherill Mesa , where the Nordenskiold Site # 16 trail will guide you to the ruins of a 50 - room cliff dwelling house that was excavate in 1891 . you may also find 600 long time of Pueblo history along the Badger Community Trail with four excavated table - top village .
One note before you get hiking : All of Mesa Verde is anancestral homethat is sacred to 26 Native tribe . Please travel to with esteem by stick around on trails and leave cultural and natural resources where you line up them .
Discover the history and culture of the Ancestral Pueblo Peoples
hear how the Ancestral Pueblo peoples lived , farmed , practiced religion , and built their society in the700 Years Tour . The 4 - hour tour , pass by a National Association for Interpretation ( NAI)-certified guide , features pithouse village that date stamp back to the year 600 and cliff dwellings from the thirteenth century . The duty tour also guarantee you a spot on a 1 - hour go of Cliff Palace led by a National Park Service ( NPS ) ranger . The large cliff dwelling , which was potential a community gathering place with administrative and spiritual bodily function , is one of Mesa Verde ’s most pop attractions . The structures were originally crafted from sandstone , wooden beams and howitzer that have remained somewhat intact for hundreds of year — a true architectural marvel .
Stargaze in one of the world’s darkest places
When the sun set , visitors can take in an unbelievable view of the dark sky , which face much the same as it did a thousand years ago to the Ancestral Pueblo people . Search the Brobdingnagian , dark sky for familiar constellations and far - away planet , and make a wish on any shooting whiz that you see . As a newly certified International Dark Sky Park , Mesa Verde is one of the few places on the satellite where the night sky have n’t been badly obscured by light pollution . This allows beginner uranologist the probability to gaze at the promised land and be awe by the astrological wonders that appear .
If you require to stargaze at the park , be after to chitchat during a new moon for the darkest circumstance . Numerous overlooks and pull - out along the park route , including Geologic Overlook , Mancos Overlook , and the Montezuma Valley Overlook , provide expansive views of the night sky and remain assailable to the public throughout the dark . For an overnight stay in the common , Morefield CampgroundandFar View Lodgeare perfect places for stargazing and will now and then host ranger - conduce eve program . More uranology - focused programming should become uncommitted at the parking lot in 2023 .
Observe wildlife from a safe distance
Wildlife screening is a favorite interest of many visitant to Mesa Verde National Park . Critters to keep your eye out for admit endearing mule cervid , cottontail lapin , frisky weasels , colorful collared lizard , pile short - horned lounge lizard , woodhouse toads , wild turkeys , pitch-black - chinned hummingbirds , and spotted bird of night . Dawn and dusk are the best times of daytime for wildlife spotting . As with any wildlife , it is best to look up to from afar . Binoculars are your friend . And while you should n’t get too close to any of these animals , you ’ll want to specially keep your aloofness from coyotes , black bear , bobcats , spotted bats , prairie rattlesnakes , and bull elk ( do n’t let the fuzzy antler shoot you - they will aggressively oppose their district ! ) .
Go for a drive
There are a few worthwhile drives to put on your to - do list for your Mesa Verde sojourn . The 6 - Admiralty mile Cliff Palace Loop Roadoverlooks cliff dwelling and allow admittance to the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail . And although the popularMesa Top Loop Driveis currently closed for construction , you ’ll require to check it out once the scenic route reopens . In the meantime , you could still download theNPS ’s audio recording tourto get an insider ’s perspective on the history of Mesa Verde . The tale is done by park ranger TJ Atsye , a Laguna Pueblo and direct descendent of the hoi polloi who used to call Mesa Verde their home . When the road is once more unfastened to tourists , you may listen to the audio tour as you labour , with ten diaphragm along the 6 - mile loop topology . Until then , the audio is still a howling way to learn about the park and the filiation of its people .
Getting there and getting around
Located in the Four Cornersregion of Colorado , Mesa Verde National Park lies offHighway 160 , between the historic mining towns of Durango and Cortez , Colorado . Both townspeople are accessible by daily flight . Mesa Verde is approximately 40 mile from Durango , 260 mile from Albuquerque , New Mexico , and 380 miles from Denver , Colorado .
No matter where you ’re coming from , you ’ll come in Mesa Verde via a steep , narrow-minded , and winding mountain road . It can take around 2 hours to get in and out of the park bet on weather and traffic , so give yourself plenty of time .
Best time of year to visit Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verdeis open all year , but thebest multiplication to visit are in thespring and fall , when the weather condition is relatively mild . If summertime is the only clip you’re able to come , be inclined to share the park with C of other tourists , both on the roads and the trails . Summer temperature can reach into the 90s and good afternoon electric storm are mutual in July and August . wintertime is a beautiful time to go , but many tours , lodging , and camping options close during the colder month , and some roads and trail may close down due to snow . If you do come in the winter , look intoself - guide opportunities like transverse - country skiing , snowshoe , and hiking . For safety , you ’ll want to check the latestwinter weather condition conditionsandsign in at the Trail Register before heading out .
Places to stay in Mesa Verde National Park
If you desire to stay inside the park , you have two options . To commune with nature , mob a collapsible shelter and a catch some Z’s bag and book a bivouac at theMorefield Campground . Located in a tumid , wooded area , the 267 - site campsite includes wry tent sites , 17 group sites , and — for those that want a cushier stay—15 full hook - up RV site . You wo n’t be completely roughing it since campground facility admit gratuitous raging cascade , laundry , access to firewood and other camping provision , a gift store , and a grocery store . If you rest during the summer , you could check out the all - you - can - eat flapcake breakfast at Knife Edge Café ( now that ’s my variety of camping ! ) . And if you bring your pup along , you’re able to forget them at the Morefield Village Kennel when you want to chat some of the attractions that do n’t allow dogs .
For a comfy bed and stunning views , book of account a room at theFar View Lodge . Situated 8,250 fundament above ocean tier , the 150 - room inn features topically sourced furniture and regular , plus balconies that offer wildlife watching during the day and stargazing opportunities at Nox . The hostel is deary - friendly and has a dining room and lounge area .
Take in the sunset at Montezuma Valley Overlook.|Laurens Hoddenbagh/Shutterstock
Take in the sunset at Montezuma Valley Overlook.|Laurens Hoddenbagh/Shutterstock
Scramble your way up Petroglyph Point trail to check out ancient rock carvings.|Dominic Gentilcore PhD/Shutterstock
Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America.|LouFrance/Shutterstock
You can stargaze from Far View Lodge.|Matt A. Claiborne/Shutterstock
The park is home to more than a thousand plants and animals, including deer.|BlueBarronPhoto/Shutterstock
Take in views of cliff dwellings along the park’s scenic roads.|Don Mammoser/Shutterstock
Visitors enter the park via a narrow, winding mountain road.|Kelly vanDellen/Shutterstock
Winter can be a beautiful time to visit, but some attractions and lodging options will be closed.|Colin D. Young/Shutterstock
High-up Far View Lodge offers incredible views.|Photo courtesy of Aramark Destinations
