Learn about the Ancestral Pueblo people and explore their well-preserved cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park.
Mesa Verde National Park is located in southwest Colorado and protects the cultural heritage of 26 tribes. For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. It’s known for its well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, notably the huge Cliff Palace.
Since I was in third grade and first learned about Ancestral Pueblo people while living in Colorado I have wanted to visit Mesa Verde National Park to see their stunning cliff dwellings. It is hard to believe how they lived on the side of a cliff for so many years. If you ever have the chance to visit Mesa Verde National Park I highly recommend a trip and make sure that you book a ranger lead tour for an up-close look.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the only hotel located within Mesa Verde National Park, Far View Lodge. The room was a little small and basic, however, it was clean and the convenience of staying within the national park was well worth it to us. Plus the view from the balcony of our room was amazing!
What to See
Mesa Top Loop
These are not all the stops on the loop, however, they were my favorite stops.
- Navajo Canyon View
- Square Tower House – tallest cliff dwelling in the park
- Sun View Point – views across Feweks and Cliff Canyons of cliff dwellings
- Sun Temple – final stop and a great view of Cliff Palace (best in the afternoon)
Spruce Tree House
This is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the park. You can enjoy wonderful views of Spruce Tree House from viewpoints behind the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum.
Cliff Palace
The largest cliff dwelling in North America can be viewed from the Cliff Palace Overlook on the Cliff Palace Loop and from Sun Temple on the Mesa Top Loop.
Cliff Dwelling Tour
The national park offers several different ranger lead cliff dwelling tours from about May to October. Tickets are required and are available online 14 days in advance of the tour. We toured Long House and I highly recommend that you take a ranger lead tour for an up-close look.
The Wetherill Mesa Road
This 6-mile paved trail is open to hiking, biking, and pets. It loops around Wetherill Mesa, providing access to the Badger House Community, Long House Overlook, Kodak House Overlook, and the Nordenskiöld Site #16 Trail.
Step House
Takes about 30 minutes to tour the Step House. This is a self-guided tour and you do not need a reservation, however, it is a small cliff dwelling and none of the buildings are whole.
Park Point Fire Lookout
This is the highest point in Mesa Verde (8572 feet), if skies are clear you can see New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.
Become a Junior Ranger
You can turn in your Junior Ranger booklet at the visitor center or at the ranger kiosk at Wetherill Mesa.
Tips
- Book a ranger lead tour of one of the cliff dwellings 14 days in advance online.
- Arrive early at Mesa Verde National Park to avoid the crowds.
- It takes an hour and twenty minutes to drive from the park entrance to the Wetherill Mesa area. Therefore allow plenty of time to drive through the park.
- Bring plenty of water and snacks.
Have you visited Mesa Verde National Park?
