Mesa Verde National Park Guide

Use our realist Mesa Verde Guide to plan your next adventure in this national park.

Mesa Verde National Park preserves the cliff houses of the Pueblo people.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Mesa Verde is the 7th oldest national park in the United States. The park is much older than other more famous national parks in Colorado. Both Black Canyon and Great Sand Dunes became National Parks in 1999 or later. This was almost 100 years after Mesa Verde.

The cliff houses are the main attractions in Mesa Verde. There are also a handful of overlooks on the way to the houses. This Mesa Verde Guide will first cover the dwellings before describing the overlooks.

Chapin Mesa

Most cliff houses are in the Chapin Mesa area. You can find the Spruce Tree House, Square Tower House, and Sun Temple there. Of course, the Cliff Palace and Balcony House are also nearby.

Spruce Tree House

The Spruce Tree House is one of the two cliff houses that you can explore without a guide. This dwelling is a great place to explore if you have limited time in the park. Unfortunately, the park often closes this cliff house due to fallen rock. It is best to check current conditions for alerts ahead of time.

All other cliff houses are only open to guided tours. To reach them you need to take either the Mesa Top Loop or the Cliff Palace Loop drives.

Mesa Top Loop

Mesa Top Loop is a 6-mi (10-km) one-way drive. The drive has Square Tower House, Pit Houses, and Sun Temple. There are also Navajo Canyon and Sun Point viewpoints.

Square Tower House

Square Tower House is a beautiful cliff house. A four-story tower is a distinctive feature of this house. You cannot see the house from the Loop Road. But you can reach an overlook via a short, 0.1-mi (160-m) hike.

Cliff Palace

The Cliff Palace is the largest cliff house both in the park and in North America. You can get a good first look at the Palace from the Sun Point View. You cannot reach the Cliff Palace from the viewpoint.

Oak Tree House

The Oak Tree House is another dwelling you could see from the Mesa Top drive.

Sun Temple

Sun Temple required a short detour from the loop drive. Its structures are above ground. This overlook also provides a closer look at the Cliff Palace.

Cliff Palace Loop

The Sun Temple was the final sight on the Mesa Top Loop Drive. Instead of returning to Chapin Mesa, we proceeded on the Cliff Palace Loop. This is another 6-mi (10-km) one-way drive. You can reach the most famous cliff houses in the park on this drive.

Balcony House

The loop drive provides nice views of canyons, unnamed cliff houses, and wildlife. The road often closes in winter depending on the weather. No tours ran during our visit to Mesa Verde. Therefore, we could not see the Cliff Palace or Balcony House.

Unless you have a ticket to tour the houses, it is fine to skip the Cliff Palace Loop drive. Its views pale in comparison with the Mesa Top Loop Drive.

Far View Sites

After visiting the cliff houses, it was time to explore the park’s overlooks. The Far View Sites are near the intersection of the Mesa Top Ruins and Wetherill Mesa Roads. This viewpoint features the Far View House. You can also grab a bite or find a place to stay at the seasonal Far View Terrace and Lodge.

Step House & Long House

The Wetherill Mesa Road could bring you to the Step and Long Houses. The former house is open to self-guided exploration. The latter house requires a tour. It takes about an hour to reach these houses from the Far View area.

Mancos Valley Overlook

The Mancos Valley Overlook near the park’s exit is worth a quick stop. The beautiful La Plata Mountains are on full display at this overlook.

Continue with our Mesa Verde Guide to learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde National Park is between the towns of Cortez, CO and Durango, CO. The park begins almost after the exit from State Highway 160. But the first cliff houses require a 20-mile (32-km) drive on the Mesa Top Ruins Road.

Where to Stay

Mesa Verde National Park is in Southwestern Colorado. It is a fairly remote part of the state. Luckily, the park’s popularity contributed to a growing number of places to stay in the nearby town of Durango, CO.

As it is typical for smaller towns, affordable places to stay often sell out during the holiday season. Most properties also increase prices in the summer. It is best to plan in advance and book early to stay within budget.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

You can only visit some of the most iconic cliff houses in Mesa Verde on ranger-led tours. This applies to the Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House. The tour season is from mid April to mid October. This Mesa Verde Guide describes a wintry visit to this national park.

The tours require advance reservations. Both the Cliff Palace and Balcony House tours cost $8 per person. Prices are accurate at the time of writing.

America the Beautiful annual pass covers the park entrance fees. The fees vary by season. It cost $30 to visit the park in the summer. And $20 to visit Mesa Verde in winter. The pass does not cover or discount the tour tickets.

Takeaways: Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde National Park protects picturesque cliff houses. Ancient cliff houses and canyons create a beautiful combination.

You can explore only a handful of cliff houses without a guide. The ranger-led tour schedule is geared towards the summer season. Late spring and early fall are the best times to visit Mesa Verde. This way, you could tour the most iconic houses and beat the crowds.

Take a look at our Best Places to Visit in Colorado Video Guide and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

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