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  • Mesa Verde National Park
  • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Top Spots in and near Mesa Verde National Park

    • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

      Explore the Far View Sites Complex

      4.5
      0.75 mi
      The Far View Community is located four miles north of the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. In around 800 AD, the Ancestral Pueblo people lived in this area for several centuries. They mostly farmed the mesa tops, but were also hunters. It was one of the most densely populated regions of Mesa Ver...
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    • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

      Hike the Spruce Canyon Trail

      5.0
      3.1 mi / 754 ft gain
      The Spruce Canyon trail is very well taken care of. The trail begin with a descent into Spruce Tree Canyon and then follows a stream for 3/4 of a mile before climbing a side canyon back up to the ridge. The trailhead is located on the Chapin Mesa within Mesa Verde National Park. The trail is open...
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    • Mancos, Colorado

      Explore Park Point in Mesa Verde National Park

      5.0
      The Park Point Trail is the highest point in Mesa Verde National Park, and being close to the four corners, you can see for hundreds of miles in every direction on a clear day. It's a very short walk from the car, and there are several nice lookouts along the way, but be sure to walk all the way ...
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    • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

      Hike the Petroglyph Point Trail

      4.0
      2.7 mi / 698 ft gain
      Pick up a trail brochure for information on the interpretive signs. There are some steep and narrow portions of the trail, so make sure everyone in your party is of able physical capability. 
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    • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

      Hike the Cliff Palace Loop Trail

      5.0
      0.4 mi / 127 ft gain
      Tickets for this tour are $4 per person and are available at the visitor center near the entrance of the park. This tour is best taken from April to November. This hike features The milky way is often visible from the top of Mesa Verde at night.  This one-hour, ranger-guided tour involves climbin...
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    • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

      Explore Mesa Top Loop

      4.5
      The 6-mile Mesa Top Loop Road, open 8 am to sunset, stops at 12 sites including surface ruins and cliff dwelling overlooks. The most famous feature of the park, Cliff Palace, is visible from the Sun Point and Sun Temple overlooks. Sunrise photography isn't possible on the loop due to operating ho...
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    • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

      Explore Balcony House

      5.0
      0.5 mi
      Starting at the trail head at 7,000 feet, you will head down the trail until you get to the cliff dwellings. There will be a wooden ladder you will have to climb, a recreation of the ladder used hundreds of years ago by the tribes living there. Once you get to the top of the ladder, the trail wil...
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    • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

      Hike Nordenskiold Site No. 16 Trail

      2 mi
      This two mile round-trip trail leaves from the information kiosk near Long House and Step House, and leads through and area severely burned by the 2000 Pony Fire.  There's no shade on this trail, so if you are doing it during the hotter months, be sure to bring a lot of water and sun protection. ...
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    • Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

      Hike to Long House and Step House at Mesa Verde National Park

      5.0
      3 mi / 130 ft gain
      This is a great opportunity to see two historic cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park within a relatively short period of time. Schedule your day around getting tickets to Long House, then taking a bit of a side trek to the Step House when you have the time. The tour begins at the Weatherhi...
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    • Mancos, Colorado

      Camp at Morefield Campground

      Morefield Campground is located 4 miles inside of Mesa Verde National Park. There are 267 sites in the campground, and it has tent-only loops. There are also 15 full-hookup RV sites, with many more able to fit RVs. Reservations are recommended, but are not required; the full-hookup sites are the ...
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    • Mancos, Colorado

      Hike the Knife Edge Trail

      2 mi / 20 ft gain
      The Knife Edge Trail leaves from a small parking lot located in Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde National Park. It's definitely an easy trail, but it is perfect for the entire family. It offers an unhindered view westward, so it is a prime place to catch the sunset in the park, especially if yo...
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    • Mancos, Colorado

      Hike Point Lookout Trail

      5.0
      2.3 mi / 400 ft gain
      This trail is located within Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde National Park. The parking lot also serves as the parking lot for the amphitheater, so it's pretty huge - unless there's a program going on you shouldn't have to worry about finding a spot.  The trail starts out nice and level, facin...
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    • Cortez, Colorado

      Explore Sand Canyon Pueblo

      0.8 mi
      The Sand Canyon Pueblo marks the northern point of the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, and connects south to the start of the Canyon of the Ancients Trail off Road G. The hike from the parking lot nearest to the pueblo is only 0.8 miles, and is reached on Road N, west of Cortez, Colorad...
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    • Cortez, Colorado

      Hike Sand Canyon in Canyons of the Ancients

      5.0
      13 mi / 1390 ft gain
      The Sand Canyon trail in Canyons of the Ancients has two trailheads. The lower trailhead (off of County Road G) begins at 5,472-ft., while the upper trailhead (off of Country Road N) begins at 6,862-ft. If you are doing the 13 mile out-and-back hike as I did, begin at the lower trailhead and work...
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    • Hesperus, Colorado

      Summit Centennial Peak in the La Plata Mountains via Sharkstooth Trailhead

      6 mi / 2162 ft gain
      From the western end of the town of Mancos, follow CR 42 north until it enters the national forest and becomes FR 561. Go right on FR 350 and keep right at any junctions (there are two of them) until you reach the signed Sharkstooth Trailhead about 19 miles from Mancos.  Enjoy your drive through ...
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    • Durango, Colorado

      Hike the Colorado Trail to Gudy's Rest

      4.0
      8.1 mi / 1400 ft gain
      This hike, a local favorite is less than five miles from downtown Durango. The entire hike offers beautiful views especially once your reach the top of Gudy's Rest. The trail starts off with a gradual uphill along Junction Creek. On this section of the trail, you will likely run into locals proba...
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    Camping and Lodging in Mesa Verde National Park

    Far View Lodge
    Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Far View Lodge

    From $129 / night

    Morefield Campground
    Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

    Morefield Campground

    From $33 / night

    Mcphee Recreation Complex
    Dolores, Colorado

    Mcphee Recreation Complex

    House Creek
    Dolores, Colorado

    House Creek

    Transfer Group Campground
    Mancos, Colorado

    Transfer Group Campground

    Target Tree Campground
    Dolores, Colorado

    Target Tree Campground

    Guides, Insights and Stories from Mesa Verde National Park

    Visiting Old Friends

    Visiting Old Friends

    Sarah Ortegon

    Beautiful Lodging in America’s Most Unique National Park

    Beautiful Lodging in America’s Most Unique National Park

    The Outbound Collective

    10 Photos of Mesa Verde National Park's Stunning Landscape

    10 Photos of Mesa Verde National Park's Stunning Landscape

    The Outbound Collective

    Why You Should Explore These Incredible Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park

    Why You Should Explore These Incredible Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park

    Christin Healey

    6 Amazing Adventures in Mesa Verde National Park

    6 Amazing Adventures in Mesa Verde National Park

    Haley Baker

    Why Shiprock Should Be on Your Southwest Adventure Bucket List

    Why Shiprock Should Be on Your Southwest Adventure Bucket List

    Joseph Gulizia