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Mesa Verde National Park is dedicated to the protection of over 5,000 Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings, in southwest Colorado. The area was inhabited for over 700 years from 600 to 1300. The park was established in 1906 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
I spent one full day at Mesa Verde, although that could have easily been two or three. Wetherill Mesa was closed for the season, and I would have spent at least another day there had it been open. For the casual visitor, you can cover a lot in just a half day just by visiting a cliff dwelling and stopping by the overlooks.
Visitor Center
The Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center is located just before the entrance gate. The state-of-the-art building opened in December 2012 and is open year-round. Park entrance fees are collected there from early January through early march.
The visitor center contains exhibits about the Ancestral Puebloans and their descendants as well as the park’s research collection.
Entrance Fees
The entrance fee to Mesa Verde is US$30 per vehicle between May 1 and October 22 and US$20 the rest of the year (as of September 2023). The fee is good for seven days and is also covered by all of the interagency passes. Please note the Wetherill Mesa section is closed from October through April.
Cliff Dwelling Tours
If you plan on taking a guided tour of a cliff dwelling, you must purchase tickets online. They sell out quickly but can be purchased up to 14 days in advance.
We took a tour of Balcony House on Chapin Mesa and it was the highlight of our day at the park. The other cliff dwellings requiring a ticket are Cliff Palace on Chapin Mesa and Long House on Wetherill Mesa.
There are also special tours to backcountry sites such as Mug House, Square Tower House, and Yucca House National Monument. Prices vary and the schedule and sites change every year. Check the official website for more info on tour times, prices, and what’s available to visit.
Camping
There’s one developed campgrounds at Mesa Verde. Morefield Campground has 267 sites and rarely fills. It’s open early May through late October and costs US$38 for a tent site or dry RV site, or US$51 for one of the 15 full hook-up RV sites (as of September 2023). A full-service village with showers, a restaurant, gift shop, grocery store, coin-operated laundry, and gas station is located at the campground.
Far View Lodge
Far View Lodge is the only lodge at the park. It’s typically open from mid-April through mid-October and is located at the intersection of Mesa Top Ruins Road and Wetherill Mesa Road. You can find the Metate Room Restaurant at the lodge and the Far View Terrace is ¼ mile away.
Retro Inn at Mesa Verde
Because we were visiting in off-season, we stayed in nearby Cortez at the Retro Inn at Mesa Verde. It was reasonably priced with a friendly staff and comfortable rooms. A simple breakfast was included in the rate, and the hotel is near several restaurants and a Walmart.
Activities
Hiking, stargazing, photography, birdwatching, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and other outdoor activities are available. Check the official website for more information on these activities. Information about free lectures and other programs can be found on the website and at the visitor center.
Safety
My best advice is to drink plenty of water and seek shelter if there’s lightning. Also, keep in mind that cliff dwelling tours are not recommended for everyone. There are steep steps and ladders at the cliff dwellings that may be difficult for some to navigate.
