Mesa Verde National Park • Colorado

Large cliff dwelling in cliff alcove

Park visitors visiting a cliff dwelling

A cliff dwelling within a cliff alcove seen from across a canyon

View of cliff dwelling from above a canyon

View of cliff dwelling from across canyon

Within a cliff dwelling

Visitor center entrance with sculpture of Ancestral Pueblo climber in front plaza.

For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. This World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park is home to over a thousand species, including several that live nowhere else on earth.

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde's Largest Cliff Dwelling
NPS Photo

Visitors enjoying Step House, on Wetherill Mesa
NPS Photo

View of Balcony House from the Soda Canyon Overlook
NPS Photo

Square Tower House from overlook along the Mesa Top Loop
NPS Photo

Spruce Tree House
NPS Photo

Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde's third largest and best preserved cliff dwelling
NPS Photo

Stop by the Mesa Verde Visitor & Research Center at the park entrance where park staff will help you plan your visit.
NPS Photo

A stone masonry village and tower in a sandstone alcove with a canyon beyond

Summer at Mesa Verde

Planning a summer visit? Discover what the season offers and ways to explore the rich culture and nature of the park.

A ranger, back to the camera, stands and gestures with hands while visitors gather around listening

Cliff Dwelling Tours

A reservation on a ranger-led tour is required to enter a cliff dwelling. Learn when tours are offered and how to make a reservation.

A view through a porch opening of an ancestral village set in a cliff alcove in a narrow canyon,

Mesa Verde National Park is committed to providing inspiring experiences to people of all abilities.

Fees and Passes

Information on the park entrance fee, Mesa Verde Annual Pass, and America the Beautiful passes. Learn how to purchase online!

family cooking at campsite

Camping, Lodging & Dining in the Park

Portal for information on lodging, camping, and places to eat in Mesa Verde.

a dusting of snow on a high desert landscape where clouds frame the mesas

The Local Forecast

Because changes in weather happen often, it is important to know the current and forecasted conditions when traveling the park road.

yellow wildflowers and shrubs, green and gold grasses, fire-scorched trees, and stormy blue-gray sky

Closures, Alerts, and Conditions

Fire, weather, construction, and emergencies can change conditions around the park at any time. Click this link for closures and more.

a bank of curved windows with tint form one wall of the Visitor and Research Center

Operating Hours & Seasons

Operating hours and activities change seasonally. Find out what is available when you visit in winter, spring, summer, or fall.

Sunlight shines through a clouds with title "Footprints of Our Ancestors: Mesa Verde National Park"

Watch the Official Park Film

Watch the official Mesa Verde National Park film, which shows daily at the Mesa Verde Museum.

Last updated: May 4, 2026

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 8
Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330

Phone:

970-529-4465

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