Learn about the Ancestral Pueblo people who made Mesa Verde their home for over 700 years.
Durango is lucky to have a National Park right in our own back yard! Located just 35 miles west of Durango on Highway 160, located between the towns of Cortez and Mancos, Colorado.
For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo People built a thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. The park was established as a National Park by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 29,1906.
At the base of the park you will see a large visitor center. We recommend that you stop here to see the exhibits and gather more information. Once you enter the park you will drive along a steep and narrow winding road. Its approximately 21 miles up to the first cliff dwelling. You can see many of the cliff dwellings from Mesa Top Loop Road. This is a 6 mile drive with several stops at various look outs. Other stops to consider is Park Point, a short walk to the highest point in the park at 8,572 feet. This provides an excellent view across the Four Corners Region. Far view Sites is an easy 3/4 mile walk through Pinyon-Juniper forest that connects a community of mesa-top farming villages and an ancient reservoir. Parking for this is limited to vehicles under 25 feet.
If you have time we highly recommend taking a ranger tour.
Tour tickets can be purchased online at Recreation.gov up to two weeks in advance of your trip. Check the Mesa Verde National Park website for availability, pricing details and more information.
Cliff Palace
Mesa Verde Adventurous Cliff Dwelling Tour
Tour is one hour and 1/4 mile in length (0.4 km).
You will descend uneven stone steps and climb four ladders
with an elevation change of 100 feet (30 m).
Drive time from Durango Welcome Center is approximately 2 hours.
From park entrance drive 20 miles (32.2 km) to stop sign. Turn left.
Drive 0.4 miles (0.6 km). Turn left. Drive 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to Cliff Palace.
Meet ranger at the overlook above the site.
Closed January 2 to April 13 and October 20 to December 31
Balcony House
Most Adventurous Cliff Dwelling Tour
Tour is one hour and 1/4 mile in length (0.4 km).
You must be able to climb a 32-foot (9.8 m) ladder.
Crawl through an 18-inch wide (45 cm) and 12-foot (3.7 m) long tunnel.
Climb up a 60-foot (20 m) open cliff face with stone steps and two 10-ft (3 m) ladders to exit.
Drive time from Durango Welcome Center is approximately 2 hours.
From park entrance drive 20 miles (32.2 km) to stop sign. Turn left.
Drive 0.4 miles (0.6 km). Turn left. Drive 3.4 miles (5.5 km) to Balcony House.
Meet ranger at benches under shade structure.
Closed January 2- May 18 and September 22 to December 31
Long House
Most In-Depth Tour
Tour is a two hours and involves hiking about and 2.25 miles (3.6 km) round-trip.
You must be able to climb two 15-foot (4.5 m) ladders within the site.
Elevation gain is about 130 feet (40 m).
Tour ends at the trail head giving you the option of exploring more of Wetherill Mesa on your own.
Drive time from Durango Welcome Center is approximately 2 hours.
From park entrance drive 15 miles (24.3 km) to the turn-off for Wetherill Mesa and Long House (on your right, between the Far View Lodge and the Far View Terrace). Turn right.
Drive 12 miles (19.3 km) to reach the Wetherill Mesa parking lot.
Meet ranger at the Wetherill Mesa Kiosk.
Closed January 2 to May 18 and October 20 to December 31
For more information about Mesa Verde visit https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm
