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A Day in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

By: Author Bram Reusen

Posted on Last updated:

Its name Spanish for “green mountain table”, Mesa Verde is somewhat of an exception among the national parks in America.

It’s one of very few parks that don’t attract people because of their spectacular landscapes, wildlife or adventurous activities. The Mesa Verde National Park highlights are all man-made and cultural in nature.

They offer visitors an astonishing insight in the lives of the Ancestral Puebloan people, the predecessors of the modern Native Americans in the Southwest.

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Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Protecting the World and Legacy of the Ancestral Puebloans

Nomadic Paleo-Indians have inhabited the Four Corners region—the Colorado Plateau—for nearly 10,000 years, following the seasons and moving in and out of the region. From 1,000 BC, the Basketmaker Culture emerged, developing into the Ancestral Puebloan Culture by 750 BC.

Those Ancestral Puebloans thrived in the region, eventually settling down in the Mesa Verde area around 550 AD. They built the first pueblos on the mesa’s plateaus, primitive (semi-)submerged dwellings.

Their construction skills improved over time and, at the end of the 12th century, they started constructing huge, well-designed cliff dwellings underneath the mesa’s rims.

It’s these cliffs dwellings Mesa Verde National Park is so famous for.

The Ancestral Puebloans mysteriously abandoned their homes sometime around the late-1200s, leaving behind extensive villages, which over the centuries became ruins.

Just because of this rich Mesa Verde history and abundant archaeological sites—almost 5,000 of them, including no fewer than 600 cliff dwellings—, the park was designated as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1978.

Spruce Canyon Trail, Mesa Verde National Park

How to Spend A Day in Mesa Verde National Park

When spending a day in Mesa Verde National Park, you have the chance to see these amazing historic sites, truly some of the greatest Native American sites in any national park, from up-close.

You can, and probably should, spend more than a day in Mesa Verde National Park—consider staying at Morefield Campground or Far View Lodge if you decide to stick around a bit longer. It is, however, also entirely possible to see the main Mesa Verde National Park highlights in one day.

Mesa Verde consists of a few different mesas. Two of them, Wetherill and Chapin Mesas, are the park’s two touristic focal points. If you only have a day to spend, you might wonder what to do in Mesa Verde National Park.

I recommend just sticking to Chapin Mesa, home to the largest concentration of Mesa Verde highlights and a couple of great hiking trails.

So, the following overview of how to spend a day in Mesa Verde National Park focuses only on Chapin Mesa. It’s based on my own day in the park.

(Moreover, the road to Chapin Mesa is open year-round, while Wetherill Mesa is only accessible from May through September, weather permitting.)

Cliff dwelling in Cliff Canyon, How to Spend A Day in Mesa Verde National Park

Things to Do in Mesa Verde National Park: Morning – Museums and Hikes

Mesa Verde is surprisingly accessible. However, I suggest getting there as early in the morning as you can.

Whether you’re staying in nearby Cortez or Durango, or a bit further away—Moab, Utah is an option—, make sure to get there at 9 am at the latest. You have a busy day in Mesa Verde National Park ahead of you.

Mesa Verde National Park Visitor Center

As in every national park in America, the Mesa Verde National Park Visitor Center is the first stopping point. This brand new and environment-friendly complex includes a research center, exhibits, a bookstore and restrooms.

This is where you have to purchase tickets to guided cliff dwelling tours. These tours are insanely popular and do sell out, which is another pretty solid reason to arrive early.

Depending on the time of year and availability, you can choose between three main cliff dwellings—Cliff Palace, Balcony House or Long House. In just one day, you’ll only have time for one of them. I recommend Cliff Palace or Balcony House, without question the park’s two star attractions.

Scenic Drive in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Park Point Overlook

After you’ve paid your entrance fee and picked up a park newspaper and map at the Visitor Center, jump back in your car in make your way to Chapin Mesa.

The park’s 21-mile (34-kilometer) scenic drive runs past a few panoramic overlooks and historic sites. Feel free to stop at all of them, but remember you only have a day and there’s plenty to do.

Don’t skip the Park Point Overlook, though. With an altitude of 8,572 feet (2,613 meters), it’s the highest point in the park. Needless to say, the views are pretty stunning.

Park Point Overlook, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum

Watch the 25-minute introductory movie at the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum—I can’t recommend these park movies enough, whatever national park you may visit.

Additional exhibits and dioramas retrace the evolution of the Ancestral Puebloans. Chapin Mesa also has a bookstore and gift shop, restrooms and a snack bar.

It lies right above Spruce Tree House, one of the park’s five major cliff dwellings.

Spruce Tree House cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park

Petroglyph Point Trail

Depending on how long you spend at the places above, you can do this hike before or after lunch. The Petroglyph Point Trail starts just outside the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum and starts with a view of Spruce Tree House.

The trail is 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) long and loops around a rock wall covered with ancient rock art. This is the only hike in the park that offers access to petroglyphs, making it a must-do activity.

It’s a pretty easy hike, also suitable for children, that takes about an hour and a half.

If you’re looking for fun Mesa Verde National Park activities to fill up some free time between driving the scenic loops and a Mesa Verde cliff dwelling tour, this is a wonderful option.

Native American Petroglyphs, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Things to Do in Mesa Verde National Park: Afternoon – Scenic Drives and Cliff Dwellings

After a morning of historical education and scenic hiking, it’s finally time to check out the park’s key features. You’ll need your car for this, as two beautiful loop drives take you past wonderful viewpoints and fascinating historic sites.

Note that the order of these afternoon highlights depends on the time of your guided tour, so feel free to switch things around.

Mesa Top Loop

The 6-mile (10-kilometer) self-guided Mesa Top Loop gives you a look at the early ways of life of the Ancestral Puebloans.

As its name implies, it takes you around the mesa. This is arguably the best way to see Mesa Verde.

The scenic drive loops past a series of the earliest, primitive permanent dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans—pit houses, villages and temples.

Pit house, Mesa Top Loop in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Other highlights are the viewpoint overlooking Square Tower House and Sun Point View, which offers awesome views of the countless cliff dwellings in Cliff Canyon, including iconic Cliff Palace itself.

One of the absolute top Mesa Verde tourist attractions, Cliff Palace is the most well-known and photographed place in Mesa Verde National Park.

Said to be the largest cliff dwelling anywhere in North America, this architectural beauty and engineering tour-de-force used to contain 150 rooms and almost two dozen kivas.

This is a short drive, but because of its many sites and stopping points, you should count on at least an hour and a half. Almost all sites are wheelchair accessible.

Square Tower House, What to Do in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Mesa Verde Cliff Palace Loop

The second scenic drive on Chapin Mesa is the Cliff Palace Loop. I’m all for “saving the best for last”, so this is why I’ve left the guided cliff dwelling tour as the last activity of your day in Mesa Verde National Park. Again, this depends on the time of your ranger-led Mesa Verde tour, though.

You can drive the 6-mile (10-kilometer) Cliff Palace Loop either before or after your tour.

There are few stopping points on this auto tour, compared with the Mesa Top Loop, but they’re all spectacular. The road takes you past both Balcony House and Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde.

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Mesa Verde Balcony House Tour

I chose the Balcony House Tour because I think it adds the most to your day.

While Cliff Palace is beautifully visible from a number of overlooks along the Mesa Top and Cliff Palace Loops, the views of Balcony House are much less prominent (the best ones are had from the 1.2-mile (1.9-kilometer) Soda Canyon Overlook Trail).

To properly include this imposing cliff dwelling in your itinerary, the guided Balcony House Tour is necessary.

This one-hour guided tour will unquestionably be the highlight of your day in Mesa Verde National Park.

Be aware, though, that the Balcony House Tour involves descending into the canyon and, therefore, climbing back out of it as well. Although the total walk isn’t all that long, it is a pretty steep ascent.

Also, the route includes a pretty narrow tunnel and a 32-foot (10-meter) ladder. The ranger will warn people several times about the steepness of that ladder, and encourage people with a fear of heights to think twice. Once you’re on the ladder, there’s no way back!

That said, though, as a person who does have a fear of heights, that shouldn’t keep you from doing this tour. It’s a phenomenal experience, an up-close and in-depth look at centuries-old Native American homes.

You literally follow the footsteps of the Ancestral Puebloans. Just be aware that there may be some physical, and mental, challenges, also because of the 7,000-foot (2,100-meter) elevation.

Important note: All ranger-led cliff dwelling tours are only available in the high season, roughly from mid-spring until mid-October. Check the National Park Service website for specific, up-to-date schedules.

Balcony House, A Day in Mesa Verde National Park Attractions

Far View Sites

On your way out, consider stopping at Far View Sites. A self-guided trail runs through five different villages, which made up a mesa-top farming community.

Pipe Shrine House in Far View Sites, Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park Tourist Attractions (Chapin Mesa) Overview

Here’s an overview of the top Mesa Verde attractions to fill a day in the park.

  • Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
  • Spruce Tree House
  • Petroglyph Point Trail
  • Mesa Top Loop
  • Balcony House
  • Cliff Palace
  • Far View Sites

A Worthy Addition to Your Southwest Road Trip

This park is surprisingly accessible and makes for a great road trip destination from Denver. It lies pretty much on the borders between Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico—only a short distance from the Four Corners.

It’s merely 2,5 hours by car from Monument Valley and just over 2 hours from Moab, Utah.

Especially the latter town is particularly interesting. Situated at the doorstep of both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, and one of the absolute best gateway towns to American national parks, you can also use it as a base for a road trip to Mesa Verde.

In fact, if you happen to be road tripping to Utah’s national parks, I encourage you to take the time to spend a day in Mesa Verde National Park, too. Its historic and archaeological value is overwhelming.

It’s absolutely worth the detour and arguably the best place in America to learn about the Ancestral Puebloan culture.

The beauty of this park is that you can literally walk through some of the largest cliff dwellings, a first-hand experience that cannot be replaced in any way by books or TV documentaries.

Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park FAQs

Where Is Mesa Verde National Park Located?

Mesa Verde National Park lies along US-160 in southwestern Colorado, in the Four Corners area. It is about 35 miles west of Durango, the largest city in the area.

How Much Time Should I Spend at Mesa Verde National Park?

While you could spend the night in Mesa Verde National Park at the Far View Lodge or Morefield Campground (from mid-spring through mid-October), you don’t really need more than a day to explore Mesa Verde.

All the Mesa Verde attractions I’ve talked about above can be seen in just one day. So, I think one day at Mesa Verde is plenty of time.

What Is the Best Time to Visit Mesa Verde National Park?

Mesa Verde National Park is open every day of the year, so you can visit any time you’d like. However, winter weather, while usually relatively mild, can include snow storms.

If you’d like to avoid winter storms and freezing temperatures overnight, I recommend visiting between April and October.

Summer days, on the other hand, can be warm to hot, with cool nights. I’d say the shoulder seasons are the best time to visit Mesa Merde: April through June and September through October.

What Is the Distance from Denver to Mesa Verde National Park?

Mesa Verde lies in the southwestern corner of Colorado, while Denver is in the middle of the state. There are basically two routes that’ll get you to Mesa Verde from Denver.

  • Denver to Mesa Verde via I-25 S and US-160 W: 417 miles (7.5 hours)
  • Denver to Mesa Verde via US-285 S and US-160 W: 371 miles (7 hours)

Tip: Either route takes you near Great Sand Dunes National Park in south-central Colorado. I really recommend breaking up your trip in this fun park. Spend a night and do some stargazing, and go sand boarding or sledding in the morning.

What Is the Closest Town to Mesa Verde?

The closest town to Mesa Verde National Park is Cortez, Colorado. It’s only 10 miles (or less than 15 minutes) from downtown Cortez to the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center and park entrance.

If you’re looking for lodging or other places to stay near Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez has a wide range of options, including several hotels and campgrounds.

Can You Drive Through Mesa Verde National Park?

Yes! The park road winds its way from the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center on US-160 to the main tourist area in the heart of the park. This area is where you’ll find park headquarters, the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum and Spruce Tree House.

The road is 21 miles long and has a few scenic viewpoints and pull-outs. It’s a winding and sometimes steep road, so count on about an hour for a one-way drive.

Beyond the Chapin Mesa visitor facilities are two scenic loop drives, which are among the top attractions in Mesa Verde National Park.

Both the Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop are 6 miles long and take in numerous historic sites, great views of the canyons and Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, as well as a few hiking trails.

Other Southwest National Park Attractions & Activities

Have You Ever Spent a Day in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado? I’d Love to Hear What You Did in the Comments Below!