Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park has the finest examples of Ancestral Puebloan structures and cliff dwellings in the world, dating from about 550AD to about 1300AD.

PO Box 8
Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330-0008
970-529-4465 - Headquarters
970-529-4465 - Visitor Information
970-529-4633 - Visitor Information

By Plane
The nearest airports are Cortez, Colorado, Durango, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico.

By Car
Mesa Verde National Park is in Southwestern Colorado. The Mesa Verde Headquarters is a one-hour drive from Cortez, Colorado, heading east on Highway 160 to the park turnoff, and a 1.5 hour drive from Durango, Colorado, heading west on Highway 160 to the park turnoff.

By Plane
The closest bus terminal is located in Durango, Colorado. Car rental is needed to get from the bus terminal to the park. The entrance to Mesa Verde is 35 miles from Durango.

Getting Around
A vehicle is needed to see Mesa Verde.

Spring--variable, 30s and snow or 70s and sunny. Summer-- temperatures can reach the 90s. Afternoon thunderstorms in July and August. Fall--still warm during the day, cool nights. A possibility of snow in October. Winter--below freezing at night. As much as 3 to 4 feet of snow. Snowpacked and icy conditions.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Camping
• Educational Programs
• Hiking
• Wildlife Viewing
• Bird Watching
• Nature Walks
• Stargazing
• Cross Country Skiing
• Snowshoeing

Recommended Activities
1/2 DAY OR LESS: Plan to spend at least 3 hours at Mesa Verde. 2 hours of this time will be spent driving in and out of the park. Your first stop should be at Far View Visitor Center, located 15 miles from the park entrance, for information and orientation. From there visit the Chapin Mesa Museum and Spruce Tree House. Another option is to drive the Mesa Top Loop Drive.
ONE DAY: Stop at Far View Visitor Center for park information and orientation. Purchase Cliff Palace or Balcony House tickets for $1.75 per person per tour if you wish to see those sites. Visit Chapin Mesa Museum and Spruce Tree House. Drive the Mesa Top Loop Road. Visit Cedar Tree House and Far View Sites Complex.
TWO DAYS OR MORE: Day one--purchase Cliff Palace or Balcony House tickets. Visit Chapin Mesa Museum and Spruce Tree House. Explore your hiking opportunities. From the Headquarters Area are Petroglyph Point Trail (2.8 miles) and Spruce Tree Canyon Trail (2.1 miles). From the Cliff Palace Loop there is the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail (0.75 miles). Stop at Cedar Tree Tower and visit the Farming Terrace Trail (0.50 miles). Day two--stop for tickets to Cliff Palace or Balcony House depending on what you visited yesterday. Drive the Mesa Top Loop Road and plan this around your ticketed tour of the day. Visit Far View Sites Complex. Finish the day by taking another hike and taking time to enjoy the wayside exhibits, especially Park Point.