National park · Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park

Preserves more than 600 Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings — including the 150-room Cliff Palace — tucked into southwestern Colorado sandstone alcoves built and mysteriously abandoned around 1300. America's first national park dedicated to human culture, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Entrance
$30 private vehicle
Hours
Open 24 hours daily Mesa Verde National Park Hours
Established
1906
Region
Rocky Mountains
Mesa Verde National Park
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The Mesa Verde National Park patch

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History

Mesa Verde National Park is home to some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan sites in the United States, showcasing the architectural ingenuity of the cliff dwellings. It is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting its global cultural importance.

Key events

  1. Mesa Verde was established by Congress and President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906.
  2. 1888Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America, rediscovered by Richard Wetherill and Charlie Mason while searching for stray cattle.
  3. 1978Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing the Ancestral Puebloan structures dating from AD 600 to 1300.

Trails

  • Petroglyph Point Trail 2.4 mi · Moderate
  • Knife Edge Trail 2 mi · Easy
  • Point Lookout Trail 2.2 mi · Moderate
  • Prater Ridge Trail 7.8 mi · Hard
  • Spruce Canyon Trail 2.1 mi · Moderate

Plan your visit

Hours · Mesa Verde National Park Hours

Open 24 hours, every day

The park is open daily except for emergency conditions. The Visitor & Research Center and Mesa Verde Museum are open all year but closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Ancestral sites, picnic areas, and trails are open 8 am to sunset. Some park areas including Wetherill Mesa, campground, and other visitor services are closed during winter. Cliff dwelling tours are mid-May through late October. Reservations are required and available 14 days in advance of tour date online at www.recreation.gov.

Entrance fees

  • Private Vehicle $30
  • Motorcycle $25
  • Per Person $15

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Spring. Mild temps, tours operating, wildflowers bloom
  • Fall. Fewer crowds, comfortable hiking, tours still available
  • Summer. All sites open, longest hours, but hot and crowded
  • Winter. Peaceful snow-covered landscapes, limited tours

Wildlife

Mule deerWild turkeysCoyotesMountain lionsBlack bearsGolden eaglesPeregrine falconsCollared lizards

Nearby patches

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