Service Animals

Service animals are allowed anywhere that you are allowed to go in Mesa Verde.

For cliff dwelling tours, please carefully read tour descriptions to insure that your service animal is capable of accompanying you on tours that involve climbing ladders. On tours with ladders, service animals must be carried in a pack or able to climb ladders on their own. Visitors need to have both hands free for climbing ladders.


Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. See the Americans with Disabilities Act website for more information on service animals at Service Animals | Beta.ADA.gov. For information on animals that do not qualify as service animals, please see our information on pets in the park.

More service-animal friendly sights include:

  • Step House on Wetherill Mesa (accessed via a steep, partially unpaved trail).
  • Cliff Palace Loop
  • Mesa Top Loop
  • Far View Sites.

For the safety of your service animal, wildlife, and other visitors, service animals must be leashed at all times (6 feet/1.8 m or shorter leash).

Last updated: January 24, 2023

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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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