Mesa Verde National Park
National park · Montezuma County
Colorado, USA
Highlights
Park with ancient cliff dwellings, scenic drives, and ranger tours
Park with ancient cliff dwellings, scenic drives, and ranger tours
"A UNESCO World Heritage site preserving some of North America's oldest human dwellings built by the Ancestral Pueblo people more than 700 years ago; the park showcases exceptionally well-preserved cliff dwellings, ceremonial kivas, irrigation features and deep cultural ties to 26 affiliated tribes. Visitors can hike, drive scenic routes, join ranger-guided cliff dwelling tours (May–October; must be booked up to 14 days in advance), or enjoy outstanding night skies as an International Dark Sky Park. The park is open year-round with seven-day vehicle passes ($20 low season, $30 high season); many services and facilities close in winter, the park is cashless, and fuel is scarce inside, so plan accordingly. Guests are asked to treat ancestral sites with respect by not touching walls or removing artifacts." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A unique national park home to ancient Native American cave dwellings—presented as an educational and fascinating stop that will captivate both kids and adults." - Jill Krasny Jill Krasny Jill Krasny is a journalist based in New York. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, The Financial Times, and Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A vegetarian restaurant, but don’t let that deter you if you aren’t a full time vegetarian. Their menu is full of aspirational plant-based dishes, is 100% organic, and the restaurant itself is casual and welcoming with a very friendly staff. There are dishes on the menu influenced by the cuisines from Spain, Sicily, North Africa and the Middle East, and each dish is beautifully presented, tasting just as good as it looks. I recommend the Rajas Tacos, made with grilled poblano and spanish onion, black beans, smoked vegetables, butternut nacho cheese, pickled carrot, cilantro, radish and avocado, Or the Falafel sandwich, made with hummus, mixed greens, cucumber, mint, red onion, pickled beet and tahini. Yum!" - Amanda Proudfit
"Known for its Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, including the Cliff Palace, with rich geology and ancient history." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'
"Just outside Cortez, Colorado, you’ll find Mesa Verde National Park, a world-renowned park that houses the Cliff Palace, a well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling. After spending at least a day in Mesa Verde, continue north toward the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum, where you’ll learn about the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, a 174,000-acre expanse with an estimated 30,000-known and unknown sites." - Travel + Leisure Editors
