Alt Text Map of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Ute Mountain Ute Reservation runs north to south through the park, whose boundaries are outlined in green. The terrain is rendered in perspective and is shaded tan and green. Extended Description The park’s west and south borders touch the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. US Route 160 brushes by the top edge of the park, and the eastern edge runs along Mancos Canyon. The park boundary travels west and then south, creating a ledge-like panhandle in the upper right corner of the park. Three main areas around the perimeter are denoted by green boxes marking information centers. Two are in the lower section of the park and the third is in the northern panhandle, near the park entrance off US Route 160. The park road connects the three areas, running down from the entrance and Visitor and Research Center to a junction at the Far View Area. The main park road continues south from here to the Mesa Verde Museum along the Chapin Mesa. A side road branches off from the Far View Area, winding west across the north edge and then down the west border to the Wetherill Mesa information center near the bottom-left corner of the park. Several overlooks are labeled along Wetherill Mesa Road. Each of the three main points has a separate inset map. This description will begin in the top right edge of the park at the Visitor and Research Center, then will go to the Wetherill Mesa information center, and finally to the Mesa Verde Museum. Trails and points of interest in these areas and along the main road will be described, followed by a full transcription of the legend. Visitor and Research Center Sites along the main park road in the panhandle include the Visitor and Research Center, which has information and a park store; a trailer parking area, with a note stating that trailers and towed vehicles are not allowed beyond the Morefield Campground; the Park Entrance Station, which has a restroom; the Mancos Valley Overlook with a picnic area nearby, to the east; and Morefield Campground=. At 8,427 feet (2,569 meters), Point Lookout sits at the top of a northbound hiking trail that can be accessed at the campground. Prater Ridge Trail (7.8 miles/12.6 kilometers) begins at the campground and winds around a peak. A short trail heading northwest branches off from the campground and leads to the Knife Edge lookout point at 8,290 feet (2,527 meters). The main road loops through a tunnel and around Prater Ridge Trail before reaching Montezuma Valley Overlook, which has restrooms and a picnic area, and then ripples west along the North Rim. Mesa Verde Museum Down Chapin Mesa, before the museum, is the Cedar Tree Tower mesa-top dwelling, which is near the half mile-long Farming Terrace Trail (1 kilometer). Mesa Verde Museum sits off the park road, next to some parking areas and the sinuous Spruce Canyon Trail and Petroglyph Point Trail, which are both 2.4 miles long (3.9 kilometers). Visible from the road or trail is Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling. The road splits off left and right into two loops, both 6 miles (10 kilometers) in length. On the left, Mesa Top Loop circles around several mesa-top dwellings open to the public including Sun Temple, Pit House, and Pithouse and Villages. Several no-entry cliff dwellings, including Square Tower House, are also along the road, as are pullouts at Navajo Canyon View and Sun Point View. On the right, Cliff Palace Loop, which is closed in winter, features two cliff dwellings open when a ranger is present (Cliff Palace and Balcony House, which both require reservations) and the 1.2 mile/1.9-kilometer-long Soda Canyon Overlook Trail, two restrooms, and a picnic area. A no-entry cliff dwelling, Hemenway House, is nearby on another mesa at the south corner of the park. North Rim About 6 miles (10 kilometers) away from Mancos Valley Overlook and after passing a site with restrooms, a side road leads north off the park road to Park Point Overlook (elevation 8,572 feet/2,613 meters), which has Fire Lookout, restrooms, and a picnic area. Continuing west is the Geologic Overlook with a restroom. Dipping slightly south is the Far View Area, with an elevation of 8,040 feet (2,452 meters), featuring the Far View Lodge, which is open seasonally and has food service, lodging, and a gift shop; and the Far View Terrace, which is also open seasonally and has restrooms, food service, and a gift shop. The mesa-top dwelling Far View Sites are also near here, just south of the Far View Area along the park road. The Mesa Verde Museum is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Far View. Wetherill Mesa Road branches off from the park road at the Far View Area and stretches over to the far west edge of the park. A note in this area reads, “Wetherill Mesa Road is open seasonally. Vehicles are restricted to under 8,000 pounds GVW and less than 25 feet in length. Bicycles are prohibited.” Down the western edge is the McElmo Canyon View, followed by the Rock Canyon Tower View, and then the Wetherill Mesa information center. Wetherill Mesa area Wetherill Mesa is at an elevation of 7,240 feet (2,208 meters) and has a ranger station, restrooms, picnic area, food service, and a note reading “No motorized vehicles are allowed past this point.” Two cliff dwellings, open to the public with a ranger present, are noted by brown boxes: Step House is near Wetherill Mesa and has a self-guiding tour; and Long House is farther down and requires reservations. Long House Loop paved trail (6 miles or 10 kilometers) leads down in an oblong shape, along which are the Nordenskiöld Site #16, restrooms, Badger House Community mesa-top dwelling, Kodak House, and Long House. Nordenskiöld and Kodak House are cliff dwellings visible from the trail, but no entry is permitted. Legend The legend is in the lower right quadrant of the map. A north arrow shows north angled slightly to the right. A scale measures distances of 1 mile and 1 kilometer, and a note reads, “Scale varies in this perspective view. Approximate scale at Mesa Verde Museum.” Features are noted as follows: Red-colored half circle for Cliff dwelling open to the public when ranger is present, Red-outlined half circle for Cliff dwelling visible from road or trail; no entry permitted, Red dot for Mesa-top dwelling open to the public, Gray line with thin oval in the middle for Parking area, Gray line with half circle in the middle for Pullout or viewpoint, Dark gray thin triangle and numbers for Distance indicators, Dashed line with black half circle for Trail overlook, Teal line for Paved trail (wheelchair-accessible, and bicycles and pets are allowed), and Black dashed line for Hiking trail (restricted to designated trails; no bicycles allowed). Symbols for Ranger station, Campground, Picnic area, Camper store, Gift shop, Restrooms, Food service, Lodging, and Fuel follow.