Along the way, you will pass a campground, several scenic overlooks, and a few hiking trails (you will explore this area on the second day). As you exit the park, stop at the Park Point Fire Lookout. Weather dependent, the campground may stay open in October with no services. Read on to see how we swung over to Colorado to visit Mesa Verde National Park for a day as part of a week-long Utah road trip! This was high on our to-do list but unfortunately the trail was closed during our visit. If you come to the park from January to mid-March, the visitor center is where you will stop to pay the daily entrance fee or show your park pass. Be sure to pay the nominal fee for the guidebook that details the fauna, flora and other highlights you can find along the trail. Free cancellation. Plan your visit and learn more about the park at the Mesa Verde Visitor & Research Center. Please let me know! Exploring the ruins of Mesa Verde with an experienced guide promises for a deeper appreciation and . Head to the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum to learn more about the Ancestral Puebloans that called Mesa Verde home in the 1200s. Mesa Verde National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Your email address will not be published. The view of Balcony House (in the arch) and the upper parking lot on Cliff Palace Loop. In the off-season, trails are open for hiking and biking, but there are no services. * Optionals : Accommodation at local stilt house Accommodation at local stilt house but Private room. Mobile ticket Mesa Verde National Park. Square Tower House was inhabited between 1200 and 1300 AD and it is the tallest cliff dwelling in the park. The Morefield Campground is very dark, allowing for visitors' eyes to adjust quickly for night sky viewing. Looking forward to visiting Mesa Verde this summer! Currently, tours are not being offered of this cliff dwelling, but you can get a great view of it from the Spruce Tree Overlook, near the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. Visit the Park Point Fire Lookout as you exit the park. Reservations are accepted but not required unless you want a full hook-up site. We dispersed camped at Madden Peak Dispersed Camping, about 20 miles west of Durango and 20 east of Mesa Verde National Park entrance. It is no doubt the second most popular section of Mesa Verde National Park. On your way out of the park you can option to take one last tour of the Far View Community Sites. Author Mikaela Ruland crawling through the 12 ft. long, 18" wide tunnel at Balcony House Photo: Topher Yanagihara, You could spend weeks exploring every nook and cranny of Mesa Verde National Park, a cultural gem located in southwestern Colorado. For a narrowed down list of things to do in Mesa Verde National Park, here were our five top experiences (note, we could not take a cliff dwelling tour, due to COVID-19, but its the best experience to have in the park): One day is all that you need in Mesa Verde National Park, unless you plan on taking multiple tours or hiking multiple trails. Mesa Verde National Park Needs to Be on Your Bucket List of Places to See. After the panel, youll scramble up a large stone staircase using hands and feet to climb to the top, then enjoy an easy return through forest to complete the loop by the museum. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Subscribe Two Days in Mesa Verde National Park Parks & Points The Spruce Tree House can technically be seen from above right when you pass the museum, but if you want the best views you will want to walk down the short, yet steep half mile for a better view of the parks third largest cliff dwelling. This park was established by President Theodore Roosevelt to protect American Indian history. These early tours will let you experience one of Mesa Verdes most adventurous cliff dwellings before the heat of the day. Download an officialMesa Verde National Park map for basic road and attraction locations. This road is open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset year round. But what if you only have 48 hours? In our past trips, we've always done single night stays at Far View Lodge. The Ancestral Pueblo people lived here before the cliff dwellings were built and at one point it was the most densely populated area of the mesa. Oak Tree House | Best things to do in Mesa Verde National Park, Fire Temple | Best things to do in Mesa Verde National Park. Two of the best Ranger-led tours start at Cliff Palace Loop: Cliff Palace Tour and Balcony House Tour. While Mesa Verde National Park is open all year long, one part of the park (Wetherill Mesa) is closed during winter. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in July. Here is the cliff dwelling houses I would choose to tour in order of most favorite to least: I didnt include Spring House because it is an 8 hour tour and that would be near impossible see everything on this itinerary and tour Spring House. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 26 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. Be sure to download the audio tour to accompany the drive. Only four tours are offered each day: 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. Perhaps 50% of the suggestions will not be available , I did list the road closure information near the beginning of the post in the Overview of the Park, where I discuss the different driving loops, and I included the link to the NPS website for full details. A small percentage of tickets will be available the same day as the tour on a first-come first-served basis. February 8, 2023 jrl A Day in Mesa Verde National Park Mesa Verde National Park is an amazing travel destination located in the southwestern corner of Colorado. An intact kiva roof, original plaster and paint, and plentiful rock art, Square Tower House is one of Mesa Verde's most impressive cliff dwellings., Mug House3 mile, difficult hike, 90 min tour, $25/person, "Named for three mugs tied together with yucca rope found hanging inside one of its rooms, Mug House was a village of 80 to 100 residents during the 1100 to 1200s CE. Next, take Mesa Top Scenic Loop Drive. Here you will be captivated by expansive roaring 360 degree views of Mesa Verde National Park. Interesting Facts About Mesa Verde National Park. In addition, Mesa Top Loop is one of the most picturesque scenic drives with several stunning viewpoints in Mesa Verde National Park. Hours of Operation & Visitor Services Find out what's open and when App, audio tour, and podcast Download the park app, audio tours, and podcasts before your visit, or to learn more about Mesa Verde from home! Also, you will see the original kiva roof, and a structure called the Crows Nest improbably perched high in a cliff crevice. View the stars. Holiday Inn Express. The Mexican food at La Casita is amazing and they have outdoor seating (this was our favorite restaurant in town and we ate here several times). Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking Guide. Balcony House | Best things to do in Mesa Verde National Park. Long House Loop is also dog-friendly! After passing through the main entrance, you will wind your way up on top of the mesa. Spring House is the largest unexcavated cliff dwelling in the park with 86 rooms and seven kivas. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Take a self-guided tour by driving Mesa Top Loop Road. Here's some info for Ninh Binh village, which is my recommendation! But if you stay inside of the park, you will do a lot less driving. Today, the park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. It is a 15 minute drive to the park entrance but a 50 minute drive to get to the main sites, so yes, it is a lot of driving. It is 6 miles long and has several great viewpoints worth stopping by and exploring. The cost is $8 per person with 25 spots per time slot. Mesa Verde National Park Half Day Tour 131 Reviews Badge of Excellence Durango, United States Save to Wishlist From $115.00 Lowest Price Guarantee Select Date and Travelers Check Availability Reserve Now & Pay Later Secure your spot while staying flexible Free cancellation Up to 24 hours in advance. If you plan to hike the Petroglyph Trail or Soda Canyon Trail, the views are better than from this viewpoint (so you arent missing anything by skipping this). Check the most up-to-date schedule at the museum. Find the best activities, lodging, dining, tours, and hiking for Mesa Verde National Park. Our website uses cookies. $108.26. However, you also wont be able to drive the Cliff Top Loop, so you wont get to see some of the dwellings, even from a distance. 11 Ultimate Top Things to Do in Grand Teton National Par (for Every Budget) 2 Days in Mesa Verde National Park (Perfect Itinerary for First Visit), Intrepid Scout's Tips for 2 Days in Mesa Verde National Park, 23 Practical Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde National Park, Nikon COOLPIX P1000 Super Telephoto Camera. . Entry is just 30,000 VND ($1.30), and the complex is open between 8:00 am - 5:00 pm except for Mondays. Navajo Canyon View. We plan to go there (among other places) to be on May 17, 2022. This 2.4-mile round-trip hike starts at the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. You can purchase the tickets on recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Cortez is the largest town near Mesa Verde National Park. As the second largest cliff dwelling, Long House feels both grand and intimate. Open seasonally from May-October, the food is exquisite at the Metatate Restaurant. Things to Do in Mesa Verde National Park with Kids in 2023 This property is located outside of Cortez and it takes 45 minutes to drive to Mesa Verde National Park. Views of Spruce Tree House can be seen from the top near the Chapin Mesa Museum and before the Petroglyph Point Trail heads up and to the right into Spruce Canyon. Far View Lodge is the only in-park lodge at Mesa Verde. There is one entrance into the park and it is located on Highway 160. Dont forget to save this post for later! communicate with the beauty of the ethnics unique culture, enjoy culture foods are brought characterized of Northwest along Vietnam. Tickets sales open 14 days in . Follow her adventures at http://adventureswithmylittleray.com., A Guide to Junior Ranger Badges You Can Earn at Home, Save $$$ at the Parks with the America the Beautiful Passes, Why You Absolutely Need to Camp in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland, Sledding on Sand and Stargazing:Visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park, Visit all 5 of Utahs National Parks in One Week, 12 Scenic Swimming Holes In National Parks and National Forests. Your email address will not be published. If you are planning to come to Mesa Verde National Park with at least two weeks notice, you have a chance to reserve tickets in to see the epitome of this national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site! You can feel the rich history in this incredibly old place the moment you walk in. Mesa Verde National Park is unlike any other national park in the United States. Dong Xuan Market. We camped just outside of Mancos, CO near Madden Peak when we visited Mesa Verde National Park. Location: In the southwestern corner of Colorado, easily accessible from Cortez or Durango, Colorado. Today, the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 60. Thank you in advanced. All rights reserved. Located in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park is one of the most unique national parks in the United States. Near the end of this drive, the road forks again. Once you pass the main entrance, you will travel to the top of a mesa. With your extra time, drive Mesa Top Loop Road, see the Spruce Tree House, hike to Soda Canyon, and visit the Far View Sites. Decent view of Navajo Canyon. After you are done exploring all the sites around Mesa Verde National Park Headquarters, retrace your steps and drive north back to the entrance of the park. Drive the Mesa Top Loop for several great viewpoints of cliff dwellings and the canyons and drive the Cliff Palace Loop to visit Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and hike the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail. Make sure to go to recreation.gov before 8am mountain time because these tickets sell out within 5 minutes of going on sale!
