When planning your 2012 park visit, please be aware of the following projects: • Road work at Mesa Verde is expected during the summer. Plan extra travel time within the park.  • Essential preservation work on Cliff Palace may be required in summer 2012; tour schedule disruptions are possible. Please check back for updates.

Whether you are spending a half-day or three days, preplanning will help you make the most of your visit to Mesa Verde National Park. Check out Things To Know Before You Come for help.

 

 

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Park entrance fees are waived in January and February, 2012. For those wanting to take advantage of these fee-free winter months, please stop to read the electronic board near the gate for road conditions (snow tires/chains are sometimes required) and to pick up a visitor guide. Rangers at the Chapin Mesa Museum will be happy to help you plan your visit.
 

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Mesa Verde is always open, but opportunities vary from season to season. Visit the Operating Hours & Seasons page for park schedule information. And look for a Visitor Guide on the Brochures page to see what will be available during your trip.

 

 

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Are you looking for Wetherill Mesa? Planning a hike on the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail or a visit to Cliff Palace? Perhaps you just want to know how far it is to drive from the park entrance to see Spruce Tree House. A map might be just the thing you need. Take a look at the Maps page.

 

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Mesa Verde is famous for the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings constructed within its cliff alcoves. A trip to Mesa Verde would not be complete without a visit to one of these culturally significant sites. The Cliff Dwellings page explains what sites are open, and whether they are available on a self-guided or guided-tour only basis.

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Are you a teacher planning a field-trip to Mesa Verde?  Check out the planning information on the For Teachers page.