Today, the continued preservation of both cultural and natural resources is the focus of the park's research and resource management staff. For more information on the program and how to obtain free entrance, please visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm. No matter your accommodation preference, you can rest assured that you will find precisely what your heart desires in Cortez. This is a beautiful place to visit. $10.00 per person, 16 years of age or older. Only credit cards will be accepted at this time. Park Home Plan Your Visit Directions & Transportation Maps Maps Mesa Verde National Park Map On this page, you can find various maps to help you explore and plan your trip to Mesa Verde. There are great tours, hikes and other ways to explore and experience Mesa Verde. If you plan to stay late, you'll be gratified to learn Mesa Verde has been designated an official international Dark Sky Park thanks to its low light pollution and astronomy programs that explore the sky, as well as Native Americans' cultural and spiritual connection to the area's night skies and stars. This dwelling is the best-preserved site in the park, as most of the materials displayed are original pieces from the 1200s. Some popular hiking trails include point Lookout Trail, Petroglyph Point Trail, Longhouse Loop, and Farming Terrace Trail. The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum was built in 1922 and is one of the oldest in the national park system. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. There are nearly 30 miles of park trails for adventurers to hike. Visitors can find the perfect place to stay during their Mesa Verde National Park vacation, whether they decide to remain on the parks property or in one of the nearby towns. Hiking off-trail in Mesa Verde National Park is illegal. From here, pass Four Corners Monument (where the borders of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meet) on your way toHovenweep National Monument, famous for its round and square towers, some of which are easily accessible via short hiking trails. The lowest winter temperatures reach 18 degrees, and the highest summer temperatures reach the upper 80s. Mesa Verde National Park has a Spanish name. There was a lot of wildlife crossing through when we went. It is well worth the hike, but be sure to bring plenty of water! Many crops were grown in the Mesa Verde area, including beans, corn, and squash. Purchase digital park entrance passes on recreation.gov at no additional cost. Explore the pages in this section to learn more about Mesa Verde National Park. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. If ATVs are your thing, the Dolores Public Lands Office can get you on the trails, including the Aspen Loop Trail, a multipurpose, 39-mile loop trail constructed by San Juan National Forest and the Four Corners Trail Club. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). In Dolores, fishers will find haven on McPhee Reservoir and the Dolores River, a popular whitewater rafting route that runs through town. Cliff Palace is one of Mesa Verde National Parks most prominent cliff dwellings. Far View Lodge is centrally located in Mesa Verde National Park, just 15 miles from the parks entrance. Sample Itineraries. Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. Plan Your Visit - Mesa Verde National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Lets explore some amazing lodging options in and near Mesa Verde National Park. You will be able to experience structures and Anasazi sites that include mesa-top pit houses and pueblos, as well as the ghostly, multistoried cliff villages for which the park is famous. Mesa Verde National Park, national park in southwestern Colorado, U.S., established in 1906 to preserve notable prehistoric cliff dwellings; it was designated a World Heritage site in 1978. Discovering Manmade and Natural Curiosities in the Southwest. All Rights Reserved. It also happens to be a World Heritage Site, and when the UN first created the list, Mesa Verde made the first cut. This is a one mile trail thats somewhat steep and winding. Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 as the country's ninth national park. There are several other related national park service sites within driving distance which are thematically similar to Mesa Verde: Hovenweep, Yucca House, and Aztec National Monuments. If you are looking for a quick and casual restaurant while visiting the park, be sure to stop by Far View Terrace Cafe. This trail is about 2.5 miles and can be very strenuous for inexperienced hikers. Doc Marina's offers boats and kayak rentals, snacks, ice and tackle. US-160 East will lead you to Mesa Top Ruins Road which will take you to Mesa Verde National Park. Make your home base in the town ofCortez, just an hour fromMesa Verde National Park. We recognize these Indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants of this land. It was truly magnificent! Luminaria is a holiday tradition at Mesa Verde National Park and usually takes place in early December. End the day at Dolores River Brewery for local suds and wood-fired pizza or at Fenceline Cider in Mancos, where you can sit and sip on the riverside patio in warmer weather. Mancos offers everything a traveler could desire during their national park experience. Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center, Your Essential Guide to Driving Mesa Verde National Park, where else weve stayed on the #EndlessCaravan here. Accessibility in Mesa Verde National Park, Visit the National Park Service website for more information and updates >>, Land of the Ancients Mesa Verde National Park, Explore Fall & Winter in Mesa Verde Country. Visiting Mesa Verde National Park is like stepping back in time to see where these tribes settled in this area. Mesa Verde National Park | Visit Durango, CO | Official Tourism Site Far View Terrace Cafe is ideal for those looking for a quick and delicious meal during their national park trip. *Note: Spruce Tree House is closed for an indefinite period due to rock-fall concerns, but visitors can still view the dwelling from an overlook. 7 Things You Can't Miss in Mesa Verde National Park - World Wide This park is situated on the Colorado Plateau, a region of the Southwestern United States in the Four Corners region (where Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah meet), just south of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Doc Marina's offers boats and kayak rentals, snacks, ice and tackle. A Complete Guide to Visiting Mesa Verde National Park Details: The Annual, Military, Senior, and Access passes can be purchased in the park or online. Hours of Operation - Mesa Verde National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 26 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. While this is a self-led tour, park rangers are available nearby to answer any questions you may have while visiting. Winner will be selected at random on 08/01/2023. Top 7 Closest National Parks to Phoenix, Arizona Winterfest is an incredible event that takes place in January in Mesa Verde National Park. The byway starts south and east from Durango. On your way to Cliff Palace or Balcony House, enjoy the scenic drive on the Cliff Palace/Balcony House Loop Road. Stop by the Colorado Welcome Center on Main Street to pick up tips and ideas for exploring the area. Some sites along this road include Navajo Canyon View, Oak Tree House and Fire Temple, and Sun Temple. This is an enchanting time to learn about and explore the night skies of Mesa Verde National Park. Stop by the Colorado Welcome Center on Main Street to . Breweries and wineries, too, stomp out unique vintages here. This park preserves the ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings and archeological sites that are hundreds of years old. Visitor favorites include the braised short rib and the honey garlic salmon. Check out displays and exhibits that give you a better understanding of what life was like for the Ancestral Puebloans. Cortez is known for its incredible outdoor adventure, culture, and archeology opportunities. The weather varies throughout the year at Mesa Verde National Park. With dozens of restaurants serving local and regional favorites, the most challenging part of dining in Mancos is choosing where to eat. UNESCO reports that the park regularly communicates with local representatives from at least 26 Native American tribes that consider the land their ancestral home. Oliver Cromwell once seized the land under this house, which included the ruins of a medieval abbey that the owner used to build his stately home. Ecology of Mesa Verde National Park. Cortez Municipal Airport is served exclusively by Boutique Air. The lodge is open during the spring, summer, and fall and offers incredible amenities for those who visit the park. How big is Mesa Verde National Park? The 267 campsites are located within a high grassy canyon filled with Gambel oak, native flowers, deer, and wild turkeys. Location: Colorado Established: June 29, 1906 Size: 52,074 acres At Mesa Verde, Spanish for "green table," multistoried dwellings fill the cliff-rock alcoves that rise 2,000 feet above. Some wild cattle and horses might also be spotted if you look in the right area, but your best chance to see wildlife is by driving around the park at dawn or dusk. Its also nice that its in the quieter area of the park. History & Culture - Mesa Verde National Park (U.S. National Park Service) More:Your Essential Guide to Driving Mesa Verde National Park. From ancient cave dwellings to archaeology museums, theres no shortage of things to see and do. Convenient airports serving major airlines include Durango, Grand Junction, Albuquerque and Phoenix. 47. 160, Phils World is a fast and fun singletrack trail maintained by a local bike club, and the Geer Park opened recently with 10.9 additional miles of intermediate biking within Cortez city limits. Mid-October is a beautiful time to visit for a less crowded experience at Mesa Verde National Park. Spots fill up fast, so arrive early and expect to be booked into an afternoon tour. 6. Or get hands-on at a U-pick apple, peach or pear orchard. Morefield Campground offers plenty of amenities during your stay, including a laundromat and camp store, showers, firepits, and picnic tables. More:Photo Guide of the Balcony House Tour, Trailhead Coordinates: 37.195987, -108.537305, map. The Albuquerque airport is a good choice when combining your Mesa Verde National Park vacation with New Mexico destinations such as Albuquerque itself,White Sands National Monument, Farmington, Santa Fe, Taos and Las Cruces. You can still get a great view from it from the museum (photo below), and be sure to check the site to see when they might open it up again. The Mesa Verde Headquarters is a 10-minute drive from Cortez, Colorado, heading east on Highway 160 to the park turnoff; and a 1.5 hour drive from Durango, Colorado, heading west on Highway 160 to the park turnoff. Some trails are bike friendly, but most are not. The closest airport to Mesa Verde National Park is Cortez Municipal Airport in Cortez, Colorado. When was Mesa Verde National Park created? You cant visit Mesa Verde without stepping into the cliff dwellings. For more information, visit https://store.usgs.gov/faq#4th-Grade-Pass. Mesa VerdeNational Park is 8 miles from Cortez via Hwy.