Mesa Verde National Park

Category:	National Park
Address:	Mesa Verde, CO
Phone:	+1 970-529-4465
Site:	nps.gov
Rating:	4.7

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 17

Leila Rahil

This National Park has been on my hitlist for years, but I never had the time to devote to properly exploring this hybrid of ancient ruins and natural beauty! So first off it should be said that the main visitor center off the hwy is not the actual park (though the views of the Rockies in the distance are pretty spectacular!). You get your tickets for the Ranger led tours of the various ruin sites and information here. It has also a bookstore and nice restroom facilities. The actual ruin sites of the cliff dwellings are about a 45min drive from here through winding and steep mountain scenery on some well-paved to worn roads. The pay station to enter is just up the hill, though. Be sure to get a map and set an itinerary at the Welcome Center because once you are on the road, it can get a bit overwhelming if you don’t know where you are going. This is especially important if you got tickets for the Balcony House and Cliff Palace Ranger Tours because you have got to be there prior to tour time with your tickets, so if you are going on a 1pm tour and you are at the Welcome Center at 11:30am, you will have to head straight there without a lot of deviation for sightseeing the other stops. I recommend going on a weekday in the shoulder season (Apr-May) as the park is not nearly as busy and you can actually have some of the sites to yourself. The weekends, especially in the summer, are especially crowded and congested, according to a ranger at the Welcome Center. I did the Mesa Loop first and I am glad I did. The canyon vistas are absolutely breathtaking (though be warned, it can get extremely windy, so make sure you have everything you bring with you securely attached!) and the Tree House ruin is an awesome sight to be seen! I did Spruce House next because after you hike from the parking lot down to the cliff dwelling (you can actually climb a ladder down into a kiva here) and explore the ruins, you can take either the Spruce Canyon or Petroglyph Trail. I did the Petroglyph Trail and have to warn anyone doing this 2.5mi loop, it is not for the faint of heart, small children, or people who are not in physical shape! Honestly, I thought about turning around less than half a mile into the trail! The views are gorgeous, but parts can get a bit perilous! The start of the trail is a long, slender slot between two boulders. There are also a lot of rocks to climb over and the trail is along the side of the mountain so you have to really watch where you are stepping, especially the higher you get. The petroglyph panel is about a 40min hike from the trailhead, and though it is just a small panel, the glyphs are especially well preserved (remember, no touching!). The loop back begins at the glyphs, but you have to kind of climb over this boulder (there are foot and hand holds). This is where I saw the few people on the trail turning back from. I did the full loop and actually recommend if it is extremely windy. This may seem counterintuitive, but the walk back along the rim is actually better and less treacherous than the initial climb and it is relatively flat the entire way back. You will definitely get your cardio on this trail, but if you don’t have a fear of heights and keep your wits about you, the glyphs and views from 8,000ft are magnificent! There is a museum and cafe in the parking area for Spruce Tree and they are worth checking out, especially after a hike! I didn’t have a chance to check out Cliff Palace and Balcony House up close on a tour (you can see them from various vista points along the trails and Mesa Loop); just another reason for a return visit!

Jose Ant. Payo

Taking advantage of open cavities in the cliffs that line the Mesa Verde, the Anasazi, ancestors of the Pueblo Indians built their small towns. They are not comparable in sophistication and ostentation with the big cities of the pre-Columbian civilizations of Central and South America, but the people of Cliff Mesa Verde National Park distill spectacular beauty and at the same time tender. Farmers and artisans, the Anasazi lived in this wooded plateau that rises on the current state of Colorado between 200 and 1500, but only inhabited villages cliff over the last hundred years. An abrupt change of climate or harassment of other tribes are shuffled among the causes of a hasty flight to the south, where their descendants still live, the people. In the houses they were abandoned hundreds of objects in the nineteenth century were looted and sold as souvenirs by newcomers to the statement of Mesa Verde National Park in 1906. Mesa Verde is situated in the area of the Four Corners settlers confluence the States of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, the perfect place to learn the history of native Americans place.

my name is maxcapax

You should have seen it Here you can see the homes of Indians. The remains have been restored in an impressive manner and make clear that there was something more than "hunters and gatherers". Let us therefore our Schlauigkeiten from Western movies behind us. The Mesa Verde NP is on a hill (mesa). You drive up to a few hundred yards of the displays and has nice pictures. The descent into the canyon down to the multi-story "buildings" was not in my time possible - as posted but otherwise only with Ranger accompaniment.. It was still worth it. THANK YOU. Time required: 2-3 hours.

Scott - Experiencing Life

Mesa Verde is known for its ancient cliff-dwelling structures, which are interesting and picturesque. But I know the place as one situated between two of the most beautiful types of natural settings: the mountains and the desert. I hiked the 2.2-mile Point Lookout Trail near the front entrance on the north side of the park. From this vantage, I could look to the west and see the “Sleeping Ute” mountain and imagine Monument Valley and the beautiful desert just beyond. To the northeast, the majestic, forested and snow-covered peaks of the San Juan Mountains rise into the sky. I happened to get to the point near sunset and just soaking in the views turned into a spiritual experience for me. I even thought to myself, “This would be the most romantic place to propose marriage to someone.” That still hasn’t come to pass for me, but it may yet. And I’ve traveled a good amount since then and I still haven’t found a place to distract me from the idea. Mesa Verde still holds the title of the most beautiful place I know.

Jake

I felt horrible touring Mesa Verde National Park after I got a parking ticket. That was early this month. I felt bad not about the parking ticket but about the female ranger that issued parking citations -- where there was no "No Parking" sign posted -- to several of us. We parked near the Park Museum at the Spruce Tree House entrance, where there was no "No Parking" sign posted. The "No Parking" sign was posted on the other side of the museum crosswalk where cars were parked. They were not issued any parking citation. It was a very absurdly confusing situation. When we disputed about it, the ranger bluntly said "Go to court" without any explanation about the "No Parking" sign wrongly posted at the wrong side that was confusing innocent drivers like us. The ranger was rude and unprofessional.

Henrique Gomide

Gorgeous park! Trails are good and all sites are impressive. The park is huge, so plan your visit beforehand. At the end of my visit, I spotted a bear walking on the road shoulder. Awesome park! The trails are great and the archaeological sites fantastic. At the end of my visit, I saw a bear walking along the side of the road.

Jorge Olisi

It is a very large place .... from the entrance where is the museum and even where the ruins are easily travel more than 25 kms ... can one make the journey alone or hiring guide ... the signage is easy I read and look ... is recommended to leave early to reach time sunlight ...

John Curnutt

Few places have the mix of history, ecology and beauty that defines Mesa Verde. The most interesting sites are also the most delicate, so seeing them requires a guided tour. The best guide is a park ranger named Ignacio. Self-guided hikes show the beauty of the place and there are enough of them to keep most people happily exhausted at the end of the day. The campgrounds are large and are apparently never completely filled. There are other amenities for the wealthier visitor, but camping keeps you in the spirit of the place. Well worth it: the all you can eat pancake breakfast offered every day at the camp restaurant.

Tom Waddington

Of all of the parks we’ve visited, this was the most stunning and unusual. It’s really, really remote, and it takes at least half an hour from the gates to drive to the dwellings. It’s such a surreal setting, and there’s a lot to see. We were travelling up from Santa Fe, so we missed the last tour of the day. There’s still a lot to see though, and it’s well worth visiting even without the tour. There’s a small museum, although the Cliff Palace is the best place to spend your time. Theres’a little walking involved to cross a small valley to get to it, but it really is amazing. Go visit!

Chris LaLonde

Make sure to buy tour tickets at the entrance visitor center if you want to see any of the dwellings up close because you will not be able to inside the park and be warned that it will take you about 45 minutes of driving once in the park to see any of the cliff dwellings. All of that aside, this national park has some of the best preserved and largest cliff dwellings found in the world. And the number dwellings along Soda Canyon will amaze you, not to mention the 360 degree views from some of the high points of the park. Be prepared for large crowds and slow drivers in the summer.

Dave Bowen

I have visited a good number of National Parks. They all have their appeal, but this one sticks out to me because of the guided tours. I would suggest doing all that you have time for. They are just $5 per person on top of your park entrance fee. If you only have time to do one, you should go on the Balcony House Tour (unless you are afraid of heights). The rangers I encountered throughout the park were some of the most friendly that I have met. If you are anywhere nearby and have a few hours, you will be glad you stopped by.

SeaFox Angler

The hardest thing about eating here, is trying to find something to dislike. I cannot. Everywhere i have been, Vegan friendly or not, there is always something i would of disliked, but dang people!!!!!!! :) you must come here before you die!!!! The Baklava is a must people, a must! I had the Umami Burger and wow! ( fist high up in the air). The owner and everyone that works here, if you are reading this, my respects! My new and probably my last favorite restaurant of my life. I dont want to leave!!!!!!!!!

Kelsey Rae

Amazing, jawdroppingly interesting. The 5 dollar tours are worth it for the info you receive. You will not be able to go in cliff dwellings without a tour. Be weary if you are not a fan of heights. I went to Balcony House and Cliff Palace and was satisfied. Camping is around 20 dollars. Nice, secluded spots with a great view. Public showers are by fuel station/visitor Center. It is an hour drive from camp site to cliff dwellings. Leave with enough time to stop at destination points along the route.

Ahmad Ali

At a quick glance, you might miss the ancient cliff dwellings that blend effortlessly into the sheltered alcove of the canyon wall at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. These elaborate stone communities contained as many as 150 rooms, some of which still feature smoke-blackened walls and ceilings from fires that burned during cold winter months. The park protects nearly 5,000 archeological sites, inspiring visitors to imagine what life was like over 700 years ago.

Holly Lanther

Many fantastic sites and photo ops through-out the park, some are easy to access and some are not. Almost all require quite an effort in the form of climbing, walking or even crawling, so be prepared. Most of the rangers are true pros and that great pride in their presentations. I did encounter one who felt it necessary to share her negative energy with the crowd, but I think she was just too old for her job. The younger people were outstanding.

Lord Tillium

This should be a definite stop for anyone traveling through the area. Plan a whole day here if possible so that you can see every part of the dwellings and go on a tour. Anyone who has taken a history class in America should recognize some of the dwellings (especially Cliff Palace) so it makes the experience even cooler. Be prepared for driving up and down large hills and around curves, large vehicles especially may find it difficult.

Beverly White

"Turns out eating vegan.... not too shabby" quote from one of our girls. She was super hesitant in a vegan restaurant and she loved it! We all had a variety of dishes and they were all amazingly delicious! Each dish is beautifully created with passion. The staff and owner are very friendly and constantly checking up on you. We will definitely be back soon! Very reasonable corkage fee for bringing our own champagne, $15.

Mesa Verde National Park

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 17

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