How to Spend One Incredible Day in Mesa Verde National Park
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Mesa Verde National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Colorado. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site (and an International Dark Sky Park) that offers visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and immerse themselves in the rich history of the ancient Pueblo people. This amazing park is known for its well-preserved cliff dwellings and archaeological sites, making it an ideal destination for history enthusiasts, nature lovers, and adventure seekers alike. If you have just one day to spend in Mesa Verde National Park, this guide will help you make the most of your visit, ensuring you get to experience the park’s highlights while soaking in its natural beauty and cultural significance. We truly believe this park is one of the more underrated national parks in the US!
A less dog friendly park
Pets are welcome in the park, however they must be leashed at all times. They are not allowed in buildings, at ancestral sites, most overlooks, and on most park trails. They are allowed, like usual, on paved roads, in parking lots, and at campgrounds, on the Park Point trail and Mesa Top Loop Sites, the back porch of the Chief Rangers Office, and on most Weatherill Mesa trails. You can check out the current regulations here.
When to Visit
In our opinion, the best time to visit would be April-October. The summer months will be busier, just like with other National Parks but still enjoyable since a lot of the day will be spent in the car going from site to site. If you’re looking for milder temperatures, Spring and Fall would be the best time to visit. We visited mid-September and were actually a bit chilly in the morning and the evening!
Things to Consider
Consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass for $80, this pass grants you access to all U.S. National Parks for a year. Since most National Parks charge a $30-40 entrance fee, purchase the America the Beautiful Pass could pay for itself when you visit just two to three parks!
You can purchase the America the Beautiful pass below from REI!
What to Pack
Keith’s Recommendations:
Hannah’s Recommendations
(in addition to what Keith has)
How to Get Here
The closest airport to Mesa Verde is in Cortez, Colorado (10 miles). The next closest airports would be Durango, Colorado (35 miles) or 69 miles. The best way to see the park is by car so we would recommend renting a car here. While Denver’s airport is nearly 400 miles away, it could still be a great option for flying into if you are visiting multiple Colorado National Park’s during your trip, such as Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, or Black Canyon of the Gunnison! If you need to rent a car for your trip, you can find rental cars here. For GPS purposes, the address for Mesa Verde National Park is Mile .7 Headquarters Loop Road, Mesa Verde National Park but we prefer to just type in the name of the park into Apple Maps.
Going on a Colorado road trip? Check out our other Colorado National Park Itineraries!
Where to Stay
Inside the park, you can stay at Far View Lodge. This is the only lodging inside of the park. The nearest town is Cortez and here you will find hotel chains like Holiday Inn. You can book that here. The closest campground to Mesa Verde is the Morefield Campground but there are other options like Ancient Cedars or KOA.
The Perfect One Day Itinerary for Mesa Verde National Park
How to Start the Morning
Visitor Center:
Start your day early by heading to the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center. Here, you’ll find information, maps, and friendly park rangers ready to provide you with guidance on how to make the most of your day. The center also houses an informative museum that offers a comprehensive overview of the history, culture, and archaeology of the park. As of October 2023, the visitor center hours are 8:30 AM-4PM.
Things to Know about Mesa Verde
When you look at a map of Mesa Verde, it has essentially two sections. 1: The main road that takes you down to Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop and 2: the road to Weatherill Mesa section. Weatherill Mesa is closed in 2023 so be sure to check the parks website to see the current status. Something else to note: Weatherill Mesa is open from May-September but only to vehicles less than 8,000 lbs GVW and less than 25 feet long (which means our van cannot travel on this road). This itinerary will focus mainly on the main road sites including Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop.
Cliff Palace Loop Drive:
From the visitor center, embark on the Cliff Palace Loop Drive. This scenic route will take you past some of the most stunning overlooks in the park, offering breathtaking views of the canyons, plateaus, and the unique landscape of Mesa Verde. You can stop at these on the way to the end of the road where Cliff Palace Loop and Mesa Top loop are, but we recommend heading straight down to each of these loops to beat the crowd and stopping at these points in the afternoon on your way back toward the park entrance.
Mesa Top Loop:
There are 10 stops on the 6 mile loop road and you should stop at all of them! These stops give you a look into the earliest times of the Pueblo people in the area ranging from pithouses all the way up to the famous Cliff Palace cliff dwelling as well as various overlooks. Each site is quite different and the history behind each proved to be interesting (even for those of us that aren’t history buffs). We recommend starting here as it could get quite busy in the middle of the day and expect to spend 1-2 hours!
At Mesa Verde, they do offer tours of the Cliff Dwellings (Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Square Tower House) from May to October. You should expect to book your ticket 14 days in advance, as soon as they go on sale, because they are in such high demand. We unfortunately did not get tickets for a cliff dwelling tour but this would for sure be a highlight of the trip and we would have wanted tickets for Cliff Palace close to sunset to see it in the glow! You can book here at recreation.gov.
As you leave this loop to start your journey back toward the entrance of the park, you can’t miss stopping at Spruce Tree House. This is the third largest cliff dwelling (and one of the most well preserved in the park) containing 130 rooms and 8 kivas, thought to be home to about 60-80 people! While you’re here you can check out the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum and hike the 2.4 mile Petroglyph Point trail! We ended up here right before sunset so we didn’t have enough time to do the hike but it is no doubt a special hike. You can expect to see a 35 foot wide section of petroglyphs showing human and animal figures, spirals, and handprints, which is roughly 1.4 miles into the hike! Be mindful that this is considered a moderately strenuous hike.
Lunch:
Before moving on to your afternoon adventures, take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the designated areas in the Spruce Tree House Loop. Remember to bring plenty of water for your trip, as it can get quite hot in the park during the summer months – especially if you plan on doing any hikes!
How to Spend the Afternoon
After lunch, it’s time to head back toward the entrance of the park. BUT the good news is you’re not done taking in the views yet! Along the main road in the park after leaving Spruce Tree House you have 5 more view points to stop at!
Cedar Tree Tower: This tower is a well-preserved kiva, which is an underground ceremonial room, and it’s a prime example of the ingenious architectural feats of the Ancestral Pueblo people.
Far View Sites: The Far View Sites are a collection of archaeological sites that showcase the Puebloans’ complex community life. You can explore a series of pithouses, kivas, and surface structures, providing insight into how these ancient people lived and thrived in this challenging environment. This was one of our favorite stops along the main road because you could actually walk into one of the sites (Coyote Village) and experience how it would feel to live in this space!
Geologic Overlook: Here, you can observe the park’s diverse rock formations and landscapes, and see how the forces of nature shaped this ancient land.
Park Point Overlook + Fire Lookout: Park Point Overlook not only offers panoramic views of Mesa Verde but also houses the historic Fire Lookout tower, a testament to early fire detection efforts in the area. The climb to the top is rewarded with a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape, making it a perfect spot to take in the vast expanse of the park. Just be mindful that you won’t actually be able to go inside the Fire Lookout.
Montezuma Valley Overlook: The Montezuma Valley Overlook provides a breathtaking vista of Montezuma Valley and its dramatic cliffs. As you stand at this viewpoint, you can imagine the incredible sight it must have been for the Ancestral Puebloans as they looked out over the valley from their cliffside dwellings.
Additional Tips for Your Visit:
- Park Hours: Mesa Verde National Park has varying hours depending on the season, so be sure to check the official website or consult with the visitor center for the most up-to-date information.
- Weather: The park’s high elevation can result in varying weather conditions, so be prepared for temperature changes, especially if you’re visiting in the shoulder seasons. Dress in layers – always.
- Reservations: For ranger-guided tours and evening programs, make reservations well in advance whenever possible, especially during peak visitation months.
- Respect and Preservation: It’s crucial to treat the park with the utmost respect and care. Stay on designated trails, do not touch or remove any artifacts or structures, follow all park rules and regulations, and as always Leave No Trace.
A single day in Mesa Verde National Park is a beautiful and educational experience, but it’s more than enough to leave you with lasting memories of the remarkable Ancestral Puebloan culture and the natural beauty of the area. If you’re ever in the southwestern United States, this destination should be high on your list of places to explore at least for one day. Mesa Verde offers a unique and immersive opportunity to step into the past and gain a deeper appreciation for the ancient people who called this place home. We certainly did and can’t believe how underrated this park is!
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