Things To Do

Looking down Navajo Canyon

NPS/Spencer Burke

Places to Explore (Self-Guided)

Park Point: A short walk to the highest point in the park, at 8,572 feet (2,612 m), and spectacular views across the Four Corners Region.

Mesa Verde Museum: Learn more about the ancestral people of Mesa Verde and enjoy the park film.

Spruce Tree House: Overlooks offer views of the park’s best-preserved cliff dwelling.

Far View Sites: An easy ¾-mile (1.2 km) walk through pinyon-juniper forest connects a community of mesa-top farming villages and an ancient reservoir. Parking limited to vehicles under 25 feet (7.5 m).

Cliff Palace Loop Road: A 6-mile (10 km) drive with overlooks of cliff dwellings and access to the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail.

Mesa Top Loop Road: A 6-mile (10 km) driving tour through 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo history including excavated mesa-top villages and overlooks of cliff dwellings. An audio tour, presented by Ranger TJ Atsye (Laguna Pueblo) is available as a podcast and as a download.

Cliff Palace: The largest cliff dwelling in North America can be viewed from the Cliff Palace Overlook on the Cliff Palace Loop and from Sun Temple on the Mesa Top Loop.

Wetherill Mesa: CLOSED

The Wetherill Mesa area of Mesa Verde National Park will be closed for the 2023 season. Read more about closures here.

Things To Do

Take a Hike: Hike the canyons, ridges, and mesa tops of Mesa Verde to get a closer look at the park's natural wonders.

Become a Junior Ranger: Pick up a booklet at the Visitor & Research Center or entrance station and complete the activities to earn a Junior Ranger badge.

Stargaze: Enjoy Mesa Verde’s night sky from Morefield Campground, Far View Lodge, and scenic overlooks along the park road.

Camp Out: Morefield Campground rarely fills up. Check-in at the Campground Store. Sites can be booked at the Campground Store, by phone [phone]), and online.

Attend a Cultural Dance or Demonstration: Mesa Verde National Park is privileged to host cultural dances, performances, and demonstrations by members of many of the Pueblos and tribes with connections to Mesa Verde. Check current schedule on the Cultural Dances and Demonstrations page or with a ranger.

Attend an Evening Program: Join a ranger to learn more about Mesa Verde in summer evening programs at the Morefield Campground Amphitheater.

Explore with the Park App, Podcasts, and Audio Tours: Install the National Park Service App, then download content for Mesa Verde for help exploring the park. Dig deeper into the stories of Mesa Verde with audio tours and podcasts.

Go on a Cliff Dwelling Tour: Tours are offered May through October. Tickets are required and are available online 14 days in advance of tour. Tickets must be printed or downloaded before tour. Cell service is very limited inside the park.

You may also want to learn more about:

• Winter Activities
• Bird Watching
• The Four Corners Lecture Series
• Geology
• Observing Wildlife
• Photography