Planning a Self-Guided Field Trip

Guiding your own students around Mesa Verde is a great way to build on lesson material covered in the classroom. When planning your school trip there are several things to consider. Please read through the following information to help plan the best possible experience for your students.

 

A pithouse ancestral site located along the self-guided Mesa Top Loop drive.

NPS

Recommended Experiences

While going into a cliff-dwelling requires a scheduled tour (see the Ranger-Led Field Trip Programs page) there are many self-guided sites and activities to explore on your own. Listed below are some of our suggestions for planning a great self-guided educational experience.

1. Mesa Top Loop Drive

(6-mile drive, allow 1 to 1-1/2 hours)

The 6-mile (10 km) Mesa Top Loop takes you through 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo history. From remains of early pithouses and masonry villages to multi-storied cliff dwellings, archeological sites along this loop show how early Pueblo architecture evolved.

Along the road, you’ll find short, easily-accessible paved trails to view twelve archeological sites. Highlights include Square Tower House Overlook, and views of Cliff Palace from Sun Point View and Sun Temple. The Mesa Top Loop Road is open daily, 8:00 am to sunset.

2. Public Cliff Dwelling Tours

(6-mile drive, allow 1 to 1-1/2 hours)

Schools who wish to visit Cliff Palace or Long House may purchase tickets for public tours at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Tickets are available 14 days in advance at 8:00 am MST, on a rolling daily window. For example, tickets for September 22nd will be available starting September 8th at 8:00 am MDT. Demand for tour tickets is high. We recommend reserving tickets as soon as they become available.

3. Overlook Spruce Tree House

(Allow 30 minutes)

Spruce Tree House is the park’s best preserved cliff dwelling. It can be viewed from an overlook located behind the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. This overlook provides an excellent opportunity to talk about Ancestral Pueblo architecture and visualize what life might have been like to live in a cliff dwelling.

4. Hike the Petroglyph Point or Spruce Canyon Trails

(Both trails are 2.4 miles, allow 2 to 2-1/2 hours)
*Subject to winter closures.
*Hiking boots are highly recommended for both trails, taking water is mandatory.

Both trails are open most of the year, weather permitting in winter. Ask a ranger at the visitor center for trail conditions. Both trails are one-way loops that begin from the Spruce Tree House Overlook. Hikers must register at the trailhead. The Petroglyph Trail is very rocky and sandy for the first half. At Petroglyph Point, midway along the trail, you will see a panel of petroglyphs, one of only a few in the park. After the petroglyphs, the trail continues on top of the mesa. The second half of the trail is easier than the first. Total change in elevation is 330 feet. In contrast, Spruce Canyon Trail is steeper, with an elevation change of 560 feet. This trail offers a wonderful trip into Spruce Canyon and a chance to view the ecology of the canyon. This trail is fairly smooth until the last 1/3, where it become somewhat rocky.

 

Logistics

Park Entrance Fees

Visiting groups who are sponsored by accredited educational institutions may apply for a fee waiver to enter the park for free. Fee waivers should be requested three weeks in advance. For forms and guidelines, visit the Educational Fee Waiver Information page.

Be Prepared

Any visit to Mesa Verde will include some outdoor walking and exploring. Students should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Hats and sunscreen are recommended on sunny days and rain gear on cloudy days. Each child should carry a water bottle.

Picnicking & Lunch

A large and scenic picnic area is located on the museum loop on Chapin Mesa, 20 miles into the park. There are over 30 picnic tables in this area. Caution: Please keep a close watch on students at picnic sites near the canyon’s edge. There are some steep drop offs here. You may also purchase lunch at Far View Terrace (15-miles into the park) or Spruce Tree Terrace (near the museum). Far View Terrace is better for large groups but is open on a seasonal basis.

What Students Should Bring

A small backpack, bag lunch with drink (no glass), plastic water bottle, comfortable clothes and closed toe shoes, socks and long pants to protect against scrapes, sunscreen and hat, notebook or sketchbook, pen or pencil, rain gear or jacket depending on the weather, good attitude and interest in the Ancestral Puebloan culture!

 

Safety Considerations

Please review the following rules and expectations with your students and chaperones before entering the park.

• Have groups stay with chaperones and use the buddy system. We recommend one adult per every eight to ten children. No student should ever be left alone on a field trip.
• Use sunscreen, wear a hat, drink plenty of water and remember to eat. Hot, arid weather conditions zap energy and can lead to dehydration, so drink lots of water.
• Do not climb trees, buildings, archeological sites, rocks or cliffs.
• Do not disturb wildlife. Observe quietly.
• Immediately report any accidents or injuries to a park ranger. Have trained park staff treat any injuries promptly.
• No running or horseplay
• Do not throw rocks, sticks or other objects
• Stay on established trails. Walking off trails can lead to extensive resource damage.