Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years. Spectacular cliff dwellings and mesa-top villages were built between 550 to 1300 A.D. Today, Mesa Verde protects almost 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. Visitors may walk, drive, or take a bus tour through the Park. Hiking and climbing ladders in and out of cliff dwellings is an available option, or walk through less rigorous self-guided routes. The suggested visitation time for the Park is two days.

Guided Cliff Dwelling Tours

Ranger-guided cliff dwelling tours are available beginning in April and continuing through October. Tickets for these tours are $4 and can be purchased at the Colorado Welcome Center in Cortez and the Visitor Research Center at the entrance to the Park. Tickets can only be purchased up to two days in advance, so in order to get on the tour of your choice, it is highly suggested that you purchase your tickets at least one day in advance if possible. Learn more about other State and National Parks in Colorado.

Mesa Verde National Park, lodging

The National Park Service provides lodging for park visitors at the Far View Lodge. The lodge is located at the center of the park about 15 miles from the entrance. The lodge looks south over Mesa Verde into Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. The lodge is open seasonally, spring through fall. The lodge amenities are modern and include WiFi, dining, gift shop, and electric hookups for vehicles. 

Camping at Mesa Verde

The Morefield campground is just 4.5 miles from the park entrance. Camp site for RVs and tents are available. Plus the campground provides a host of activities and facilities.