Visiting Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado

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Mesa Verde National Park

Why should you visit Mesa Verde you ask?

Have you ever visited a place where you felt like you stepped back in time, to when your ancestors were alive and lived a simpler life? This park provided me that feeling as I toured the cliff dwellings that were lived in over 700 years ago. Imagine life without all of the amenities we have today such as air conditioning or heat in the winter. Although we often refer to it as simpler times, I question that phrase. The amount of work it took to build such dwellings had to be amazingly time consuming and hard. Then to have to forage for food while we can just visit the grocery stores today for any food we want. The determination and culture can be seen in every part of this park. This can remind us to be thankful for all of the conveniences we have today.

During our 2021 month long journey, I did not have Mesa Verde on my list initially but since we would be near it we decided to stop for a visit and I am so glad we did.

It is amazing to look at the communities created over 700 years ago by our Pueblo ancestors. As you enter this space you are taken back in time to the days when tools were limited but determination was strong. This area became a National Park in 1906 to preserve the archeological heritage of the ancestral Pueblo people.

What you need to know

Address: Mesa Verde, Colorado

Hours: open 24 hours daily

Cost: $20 in the winter and $30 in the summer (May 1 to October 22) per private vehicle or FREE with National Park pass. Only credit cards are accepted. You can purchase your pass online before you go or pay at the entrance.

Visitor and Research Center Hours: January 2 to May 27, 8:30am to 4pm; May 28 to August 12, 8:30am to 6pm; August 13 to December 31 8:30am to 4pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Things to do: Cliff dwelling tours, hiking trails, bird watching. No overnight backpacking is allowed.

To see the following cliff dwellings, a ranger guided tour is required: Balcony House, Cliff Palace, and Long House. See details below.

Pets: are allowed on most paved sites, campground, and parking lots.

Park Point Fire Lookout Tower

Below is the Fire Lookout Tower at Park Point. This is the highest elevation in the park at 8,572 feet above sea level. The park uses this point today to watch fires within the park or at a distance.

Hiking

Self-guided tours: Step House, Spruce Tree House (see information below)

Multiple other trails list can be found HERE.

Tours requiring tickets: Tours available May to October. More information provided HERE.

• Long House: Take 2.25 miles round trip on this 2.5 hour trip to the second largest dwelling in Mesa Verde. You will climb 2 - 15 foot ladders during this trip.

• Balcony House: for the adventurer. You will climb ladders, crawl through tunnels. A 1 hour tour.

• Cliff Palace: The most famous tour. This is a 1/4 mile hike. You will descend stairs and climb ladders during this tour.

• Square Tower House: This is a backcountry tour featuring the tallest standing dwelling and original intact kiva roof, original plaster and paint, and rock art. This is a 90 minute, 1 mile guided tour. Includes steep drop offs, ladders to climb and switchbacks.

Mesa Verde National Park map, below

Basketmaker Pit House and Step House

Basketmaker Pit House: The above picture is the restored Basketmaker III pit house within Step House. The Basketmaker house was built typically 3 feet below ground to help keep people warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer months. The hole on the top provided an escape for the smoke from the fire within.

Step House: The Step House, below, is a self-guided tour and open spring to fall. This is located near the Wetherill Mesa Kiosk. There are 27 rooms and 3 kivas within Step House. This is a 1 mile hike and there are rangers on site to answer any questions about this dwelling.

Kivas: a large circular room underground used for spiritual ceremonies by the Pueblo people.

Spruce Tree House

Below is the Spruce Tree house which was closed to visitors when we were there due to rock fallings. There is no date as to when it will be open back up to the public. This is the third largest dwelling in Mesa Verde. It contains 130 rooms and 8 kivas. This is the best preserved cliff dwelling in the park. 90% of this structure is original. This is a half mile round trip to visit this house. This is a self guided tour most of the year when it is open.

This view is from the overlook by the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum.

Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum

Visit the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum near Spruce Tree House. The museum was built using the same sandstone as the Cliff House. There are multiple exhibits that include a history of the Pueblo people and a display of items used during those times.

There are restrooms, drinks, bookstore, snacks, and a post office at this location. From here you can view the Spruce Tree House from the overlook.

The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.

The museum is currently closed for renovations (May 2023)

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The museum is currently closed for renovations (May 2023) 〰️

Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde

While in Mesa Verde we decided to camp at the Morefield Campground. This campground is open from mid May to mid October. The sites are first come, first served. The campsite we chose did not have any hookups but there are some locations that do have utility hookups. No campers/RV over 46 feet.

Amenities: There are flush toilets (seasonal), firepits with grill, and picnic tables. Potable water seasonally. There is a RV dump station and a camp store for convenience, see details below.

Cost: $38 for dry hookups and $51 for full hookups. Discount for Senior/Access passes. There are 267 sites with only 15 being full hookup. Reservations can be made HERE and are recommended for full hookup sites. The dry campsites are rarely full.

Nothing better than sitting by the fire at night while gazing at the stars. Don’t forget your roasting sticks to cook hotdogs or marshmallows for s'mores. You might also need this all natural bug spray and I recommend this US based company.

crackle of the campfire at Mesa Verde National Park

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You might also enjoy this other location near Mesa Verde:

• How awesome to visit four states at once at Four Corners National Monument. 1 hour drive.

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Morefield Campground Store

You purchase your camping spot at this store. This store is full of things you might need such as souvenirs, camping supplies, firewood, groceries and more. Next door was the hot showers (seasonal) and restrooms for use while camping. There was no fee to use the restrooms. There are also laundry facilities on site. Camping up to 14 days max.

Things you need while hiking at Mesa Verde

1. Sunscreen. It will get hot in the summer so come prepared.

2. Hat. Again, it will be hot.

3. Hiking shoes. As most of the trails are rocky/sandy, good hiking shoes are a must.

4. Fanny pack or smaller backpack. I use one of these to carry my keys, phone, water bottle and more to keep my hands free when I am hiking so I can also help my youngest son easier if he needs assistance while hiking.

5. Water. If you are going to be hiking it is important to carry a good water bottle with you.

6. Snacks. If you are going on a longer hike you might want to stop along the way and enjoy a granola bar before you continue on your journey.

7. Jacket if traveling in the cooler months.

8. First aid kit. You never know when you might need a bandaid or two.

@adoptinglifesjourney

Make sure you add this National Park to your bucket list. The dwellings are amazing to see in person. You will be excited to view dwellings from long ago and hear about the history from the people who respectfully take care of this park for generations to enjoy.

Enjoy the journey,