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If you didn’t know to look for it, you’d never stumble upon Mesa Verde. Tucked outside of Cortez, Colorado, this gem of a park is full of ancient history, jaw-dropping cliff dwellings, and some surprisingly accessible hiking trails. I first visited Mesa Verde during a two-week National Park road trip, and it immediately became one of my favorite stops. Here’s everything you need to know, from cliff dwellings to hiking trails to where to stay, so you can plan your perfect Mesa Verde adventure.
About Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde sits near Mancos, Colorado, west of Durango and just a stone’s throw from the Four Corners. What makes this park unlike any other is its ancient pueblos. For centuries, Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and, later, directly into the cliffs themselves. These dwellings range from single storage rooms to complexes with over 150 rooms. And the best part? You can still visit many of them today.
Some of these dwellings are more than 1,400 years old. Standing before them, you can almost picture daily life: families cooking, artisans carving, kids darting between walls. It’s living history in the truest sense.
Most visitors can see the highlights in one day, but if you want to do multiple hikes and tours, plan for two to three days.
National Park Musts
Before we jump in, a quick PSA:
- Download offline maps—service is spotty at best.
- Tell someone your plans and check in after your hike.
- Carry more water than you think you’ll need.
- Pack salty + protein snacks.
- Always stay on the trail to protect the landscape.
- Absolutely no smoking in or near the park.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
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How to Get There
Mesa Verde is best as part of a Southwest National Park road trip or if you are visiting the four corners or want to make the trek while visiting Colorado. If you’re flying, here are your airport options:
- Cortez Airport (CEZ): ~1 hour to the park.
- Durango Airport (DRO): ~1.5 hours.
- Albuquerque (ABQ): ~4.5 hours.
- Denver (DEN): ~6 hours.
FYI: once you reach the entrance, you’ll still have about a 45-minute winding drive before hitting the first cliff dwellings. You will definitely want to factor in this drive when making your plans for the days and when picking accommodations options.
Where to Stay
- Season dependent.
- This beautiful hotel resides in the middle of the park. You can’t find a more convenient location. It is about a 30 minute drive from the park entrance and makes a great home base for exploring the park over a couple of days. This hotel is only open from April to October. Please check the website for seasonal prices.
- $38-$51
- This expansive campground is located just 4 miles outside of the park. It has plenty of RV spots and tent camping options, but it is recommended to reserve in advance. This campground is nestled in a scenic canyon where wild deer and turkeys roam. The campground is only open from April to October. You’ll find a fire pit, barbecue, gravel tent pad and picnic table at each spot. Additionally there is a small camp store for firewood and other bits and bobs as well as full bathroom services nearby.
- $175/night.
- This beautiful property sits outside of the main town of Cortez. What you lack in convenience to the town you make up for in beauty. The house accommodates up to 6 guests and has a fully equipped kitchen and hot tub. This would be a perfect spot for a family, with tons of outdoor space to run around.
- $170/night.
- The Mountain View Escape is a large cabin that sits outside of the main town of Cortez. Its modern amenities and decor make it a perfect spot for those who want to relax and stay in a house with updated features. But the best part is the view form the deck, over looking the never ending prairie and mountains in the distance.
- $110/night.
- This house is conveniently located just blocks off of the main street in Cortez. It just nearby to the Carpenter Nature Preserve that has trails for hiking and biking. The house has a driveway for parking convenience, two bedroom and large backyard and fire pit.
Honorable Mentions
There are a handful of hotels in Cortez itself, but I found the AirBnbs a better bargain. If you are staying a short time or don’t mind more dated accommodations check out these hotels.
Park Access + Hot Tips
Don’t forget that entry to the park for 4 people/1 car is $30. If you plan on visiting more than 1 day or multiple national parks during the year you should opt for the year long pass. It has paid dividends for me time and time again. The America the Beautiful pass is $80, lasts for an entire year and has unlimited park access. Grab yours here.
If you’re coming from certain directions, don’t miss the Four Corners Monument, the exact spot where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. It’s only 40 minutes from Cortez, so it’s a fun extra stop.
Things to Do
Guided Tour
The National Park service provides a guided tour of the Cliff Dwellings that allow you to be boots on the ground in and near the actual dwellings themself. It is such an incredible opportunity to see the hard work of the Ancestral Pueblo people up close and personal. You cannot enter the cliff dwellings (but can see them from afar, keep reading!) without taking this guided tour. There are some caveats for getting this booked.
- Tours are provided May-October.
- Create an account at recreation.gov to expedite your tour booking process, as they fill up quickly.
- Reservations open 2 weeks in advance at 8:00 am MDT.
- Once you have your tickets, they will be digital only. Make sure to screen shot or have them downloaded/saved on your phone as service in the park is hit or miss.
- If you aren’t able to obtain tickets, keep an eye on the dates you arrive as people cancel/reschedule and those tickets become available again.
Cliff Palace Loop Drive
A 6-mile scenic loop that delivers the best views of multiple cliff dwellings from overlooks. Besides the guided tour, this is my top choice of activities to accomplish while at the park. Must-see stops:
- Cliff Palace Overlook (my personal favorite)
- Cliff Canyon Overlook
- House of Many Windows Overlook
- Hemenway House Overlook
- Soda Canyon Overlook Trail (best view of Balcony House)
Mesa Top Loop Road
Another 6-mile loop, especially great for accessibility. Stops include:
- Pit House
- Navajo Canyon View
- Square Tower House
- Oak Tree House
- Sun Point View (Cliff Palace)
- Sun Temple
Stargazing
Mesa Verde is an International Dark Sky Park, so the stars here are unreal. On Wednesday nights, rangers host stargazing talks at the amphitheater, complete with telescopes and laser pointers. Bring a red light flashlight and warm clothes.
Hikes
The park is split up into 3 separate areas: Morefield Canyon, Chapin Mesa and Wetherill Mesa. You can find hikes in all 3 parts of the park ranging from little half mile quickies to more strenuous outings. Here are some recommended hikes from each section.
Morefield Canyon
- 2.2 miles, + 400 feet elevation
- This hike takes you the top of point Lookout, from here you will have views of the San Juan and La Plata Mountains as well as the Mancos and Montezuma Valleys. A beautiful hike with an even better view point.
- 7.8 miles roundtrip. North loop 5.7 miles, South loop 4.6 miles, +675 feet.
- Prater Ridge has a choose your own adventure vibe. You start by hiking the ridge itself and can follow the North loop to follow the mesa’s edge looking out over Montezuma Valley or the south loop which overlooks Prater and Morefield Canyons.
Chapin Mesa
- 2.4 miles, + 227 feet.
- If there is one hike you do while in Mesa Verde NP this is the one. You get iconic viewpoints of Navajo and Spruce Canyon and on top of that you can see an ancient petroglyph panel that is really quite impressive. This hike does include a little rock scrambling and narrow passage ways, but is generally easy to complete.
- 2.4 miles, +558 feet.
- This hike takes you down into Spruce Canyon and back out again. While it is a beautiful hike amongst the long grasses and plants of the canyon, some find it not terribly scenic. However, if you are doing the Petroglpyh trail, you can combine both hikes. Here is how:
- Turn left at the Spruce Tree House Overlook and hike around the head the canyon, following the Petroglyph trail in reverse.
- When you arrive at the trail junction with Spruce Canyon Trail, take a left.
Wetherill Mesa
Opt for the guided tour while in this part of the park. See above for booking.
Nordenskiold Site No. 16 Trail
- 2 miles, +95 feet
- This hike is named for Swedish scholar Gustaf Nordenskiöld who excavated these dwellings in 1891. This easy hike looks off cliff dwellings in Rock Canyon and is comprised of about 50 rooms.
The Bottom Line
Mesa Verde National Park might be a little out of the way, but it’s absolutely worth the journey. With its unique cliff dwellings, scenic drives, stargazing, and diverse hikes, it’s unlike any other park in the U.S. If you’re planning a National Park road trip, or just want to experience living history in the American Southwest, add Mesa Verde to your list.
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