Mesa Verde
National Park
About Mesa Verde
Visited – September 2020 (#32 of 63)
Established (as NP) June 1906
52K acres (about 2% of Yellowstone)
Where is Mesa Verde: Southwest Colorado, 50 miles west of Durango.
Recommendations
Don’t miss: Cliff Palace, Spruce Tree House, Balcony House, and the Mesa Top Loop. Due to the pandemic, we couldn’t take any tours that got close to the ruins and Wetherill Mesa road was closed. Add those to the to do list.
When to visit: Spring and fall are probably best. Summer’s likely blazing hot and winter, though beautiful, has closures at places in the park.
How long to stay: You need a full day to do everything, maybe two if you pace yourself.
Definitely check out the Photo Gallery of our best pictures.
Photo Gallery
Check out the famous cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde.
Link to NPS Info
Click to visit the park’s website with maps, history, and lots of great info on things to do and places to see.
Trip Report
Read about our adventure to Mesa Verde…..
Via the Million Dollar Highway, our trip to Mesa Verde was an enlightening adventure with stunning cliff dwellings and a first class history lesson.
Mesa Verde Blog Posts
Mesa Verde Trip Report
Most National Parks earn their lofty status as a result of extraordinary natural beauty or a unique environmental ecosystem. Mesa Verde is one of the few exceptions, and the cultural heritage of the Ancestral Puebloans is remarkable. If you find your way to this...