Mesa Verde National Park

National park · Montezuma County

Mesa Verde National Park

National park · Montezuma County

4

Colorado

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Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by onthegrid.city
Mesa Verde National Park by onthegrid.city
Mesa Verde National Park by onthegrid.city
Mesa Verde National Park by onthegrid.city
Mesa Verde National Park by onthegrid.city
Mesa Verde National Park by onthegrid.city
Mesa Verde National Park by Photo by NPS Photo
Mesa Verde National Park by onthegrid.city
Mesa Verde National Park by onthegrid.city
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null
Mesa Verde National Park by null

Highlights

Mesa Verde National Park dazzles with jaw-dropping views and remarkably preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, plus scenic hikes and tours.  

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Colorado Get directions

nps.gov
@mesaverdenps

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+1 970 529 4465
nps.gov
@mesaverdenps

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Last updated

Aug 2, 2025

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@onthegrid

On the Grid : Mesa Verde

"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

https://onthegrid.city/santa-barbara/santa-barbara/mesa-verde
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@travelleisure

These Are the Most Underrated US National Parks, According to Reddit Users

"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'

https://www.travelandleisure.com/most-underrated-us-national-parks-reddit-users-8549331
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@travelleisure

'Trail of the Ancients' Road Trip

"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

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trail-of-the-ancients-road-trip-indigenous-attractions-7562065
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@afar

"For anyone who believes that truly historic architecture doesn’t exist in the states, Mesa Verde National Park will make you think again. Still standing in the park are cliff dwellings built in 600 CE by the ancestral Pueblo people who once lived in the area. A transformative day trip, Mesa Verde is nearly two hours from Telluride but well worth the drive to see its 5,000 archeological sites, from Cliff Palace (a ranger will guide you on the hike up, which involves climbing ten-foot ladders) to Balcony House (which you’ll enter via a 12-foot tunnel)."

The Best Outdoor Activities in Telluride
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Michael Freitag

Google
A nice park with more than just ruins. We did about half a day here and felt pretty content, but die hards swear spending 2 or 3 days here.... not sure that is needed. We were NOT able to get close to the main ruins, the tour times were not available (they require a reservation at specific time slots), but required to get inside. So plan at least a whole day if you want to get into the ruins. The area is actually quite beautiful and offers more than old dwellings. The main trails offer good views of the Cliff Palace, just not up close. If on a short trip, yes you will miss some of the cool things on the hikes, but more than a day makes me wonder what I may have missed in our thinking. The palaces are worth the trip, they are flat out amazing. The pit houses are pretty much a hole in the ground. If you want to contemplate past civilizations, do it at the palaces

Rocky Khan

Google
An Unforgettable Journey Through Time! Mesa Verde National Park is absolutely incredible! From the moment we entered the park, we were blown away by the breathtaking views, dramatic canyons, and rich cultural history. The cliff dwellings are awe-inspiring — it’s hard to believe they were built so long ago and are still standing. Mesa Verde is not just a scenic place — it’s a deeply moving experience that connects you to a powerful past. Highly recommend visiting if you appreciate history, nature, or simply want to experience something truly special.

Rohith Reddy Nalla

Google
Mesa Verde National Park is a truly fantastic place to visit. The history here is incredibly rich and well-preserved. Definitely don't miss the movie playing in the museum – it provides excellent context. A crucial tip: remember to stay hydrated, especially if you're exploring the sites. Also, be aware that visiting the ancient dwellings with a ranger requires a ticket and you'll be part of a group. Plan ahead for these tours as they're a highlight and worth the effort! Overall, a very nice place to explore and highly recommended. Again, STAY HYDRATED!!!!!🙂🙂🙂

brandon dengler

Google
Completely unique park with so many cliff dwellings and ancient pueblo structures that have been incredibly preserved. Recommend doing the Cliff Palace Loop first as it gets crowded later in the day followed by the Mesa Top Sites Loop and the Weather Hill Mesa area 3rd. There are 3 tours you would need to book ahead of time for the cliff palace, balcony house, and Long house, but you can explore the Step house for free on your own and it was great. Conceivably located right outside of Cortez which was a great town to stay in.

Ezzy Servin

Google
This has to be one of my favorite National parks! All the park rangers are amazing and the tours are literally out of this world! You are entering into ancient civilizations that are still practiced today! So beautiful and well taken care of! There are restrooms all over the park and water accessible in certain stations. There are signs all over the park so it's easy so you don't get lost.

Kyle Beers

Google
This park is amazing. Coming from Rocky Mountain NP I wasn't expected to be wowed by this park, however the ancient dwellings and the driving loop was incredible. The park is so remote and quiet it is very enjoyable. Highly recommend.

Raymond Simon

Google
Mesa Verde National Park is a very interesting National Park with great historical significance. The cliff dwelling settlements are so impressive. These homes were built almost 1000 years ago. Be sure to visit the museum for a short free 20 minute movie about the settlers that lived in Mesa Verde. We hiked the petroglyphs trail. It was an awesome hike and will be more enjoyable in the morning. Half the trail is on the rim. The best half is once you drop below the rim. Most of my pics are from that trail. You can not enter the Spruce Tree Houses because the trail is closed due to a rock fall. You can enter other dwelling with a Park Ranger. Be sure to book early for these guided tours. They fill up quickly.

Jennifer Jarrell

Google
Just know that the times listed online and in the guides can be deceiving. If you are trying to do the cliff dwellings without a reservation, it is very time consuming to get from the entrance of the park to the entrance of the road for the cliff dwellings like Step House. There is a $30 entry fee to the whole Park and then a very long drive to the road for Step House and you must be inside that road by a certain point and then inside the viewing area by a certain point. Do not delay! We did make it in time but after all that driving we were not able to see Step House due to a bat. The rangers did not seem to know the correct information for what the protocol was with shutting down the free viewing. The first ranger we encountered told us we could not go to Step House because they shut it down but we could go to the Longhouse which normally requires a ticket. I even clarified and said but we don't have reservations and he said you can still go to the house. So we took the long trail to the house only to be redirected when we got there to a basic overlook and we were not allowed in. I understand the ticket reservation system but I don't know that we would have chosen to walk the trail just to get a quick look from an overlook. We were then rushed from the overlook because we had to be back to the parking lot by a set time. Once again this would have played into our decision had we known we were only going to get a brief glimpse and then leave. I've heard great things about Mesa Verde Park and was excited to realize we could fit it into our travel plans only to be disappointed by the experience at large. Better planning was needed.