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Ultimate Guide to the Cliff Palace Tour at Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde National Park, located in the southwestern corner of Colorado has captivated tourists for decades since two cowboys happened upon Cliff Palace in December 1888. Since then, Cliff Palace has been the quintessential stop for those admiring the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde. The National Park Service provides tours of Cliff Palace between April and October each year. Privileged to take the tour, we present an ultimate guide to the Cliff Palace Tour.

About Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde National Park , in the southwest corner of Colorado, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the U.S. National Park Services oldest sites. The 55,000 acre park was the first national park designated specifically to preserve the cultural heritage of a people (in this case the Ancestral Puebloan people who lived in the Mesa Verde from 600-1300 A.D.).

The park is famous for some 5000 archaeological sites, from pit houses to the famed cliff dwellings.

What makes Mesa Verde so fascinating is the mystery surrounding the departure of the Ancestral Pueblo people around 1300 A.D. Many theories abound regarding their sudden departure from the valley. People conjecture that famine, fire, drought, or enemies brought about the transition of the people from Mesa Verde south to present day New Mexico and Arizona. Modern Day ancestors claim that it was time to leave the region.

Tours of Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House run every half hour during the summer months. Tours last one hour.

The answer may remain a mystery. But the allure of Mesa Verde is palpable today. Hundreds of thousands of visitors journey to the park yearly.

About Cliff Palace

Cowboys Richard Wetherill and Charles Mason discovered the Cliff Palace structures in December 1888 while searching for stray cattle on the snow-bleached mesa. The cowboys are the first modern Americans to find Cliff Palace. For the next 18 years, the men made expeditions into Mesa Verde collecting artifacts and exploring.

Cliff Palace is one of the largest dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park. The structures contain 150 rooms and 22 kivas (a circular religious structure that could be equated to an in-home chapel). The Ancestral Puebloans built rooms on the sandstone “floor” and into the recesses of the cliff using sandstone, mortar, and timber.

As one of the largest and most famous of the cliff dwellings, Cliff Palace was a popular site for early “archaeologists,” many of whom ransacked the artifacts. Today, access is limited to tourists and Park Rangers, although ancestors of the Ancient Pueblo now living in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas have unfettered access to the structure.

Taking the Cliff Palace Tour

Tours meet every half hour and last for one hour. Tickets for the tour can be purchased up to two days in advance at the Visitors Center or the Archaeology Museum near Spruce Tree House. This is a popular tour, so tickets can sell out and tour groups may include 30-40 people.

Your Park Ranger walks you through the aspects of the tour. The tour does include climbing up and down a number of steep sandstone steps and ascending ladders. The tour involves about .25 miles of walking, although the walking is scattered throughout the hour.

Rangers are knowledgeable and answers questions throughout the tour.

While you get to walk over the cliff dwellings and look into a room, much of the rooms are off limits. Also, Rangers discourage touching the brick or mortar, since oily residue stains and darkens the structures. The sandstone is not off limits, and you can walk on and touch it as much as you like.

The Descent Down to Cliff Palace

After a brief introduction, your tour group heads past a gate and down a number of sandstone steps. The steps were built by the National Park Service shortly after Mesa Verde became a park site. Some of the steps are steep and narrow, and moisture can make them slippery. There are a number of handrails to assist you, but there are some areas without handholds, so be careful.

Once you get off the steps, you cross a narrow sandstone walkway into the Cliff Palace dwellings. Our son is afraid of heights, so I encouraged him as he walked over the walkway, asking him to hug the cliff wall for assurance.

Admiring the Structures

After you make your way down and into Cliff Palace, it is time to sit, learn, and admire the craftsmanship of the structures. The Ranger seats you within the cliff dwellings and tells some of the history of Cliff Palace.

While it was once believed that the Cliff Dwellings were built in order to protect the inhabitants from their enemies, these ideas are changing. We know now that the cliff dwellings were painted in bright colors and would be easily seen from the valleys below or the mesas above. Time has washed away the vibrant colors or the structures, leaving the beige or light red bricks and mortar today.

The mesa was very populated when the Ancestral Pueblo made Mesa Verde home. It is highly unlikely that they moved into the cliff side in order to hide from enemies.

We also learned that given the right conditions, sounds from Cliff Palace can be heard far away at the neighboring Wetherhill Mesa and its structures, such as Long House. So Rangers believe that the inhabitants of Cliff Palace could have had loud religious ceremonies or celebrations replete with shouting or banging of instruments. In other words, instead of hiding from foes, Cliff Palace residents may have preened like a peacock in search of a mate.

We had ample time during this portion of the tour to ask questions and to admire the structures from afar. Here we were better able to see the depth of the cliffs and see that the rooms recessed into the cliff much better.

In the Heart of Cliff Palace

We again were able to move on from the side of Cliff Palace across a sandstone bridge into the heart of Cliff Palace. Our tour took us between two kivas, and we were able to see the full size and depth of Cliff Palace.

A kiva is a circular room that was the center of family religious ceremony. It is comparable to an in-home chapel. The kivas had thatched tops and were entered from the roof by ladder. Kivas were well ventilated, and the Ancestral Pueblo masterfully crafted the structures to optimize air flow in the chapel. Today, the roofs are long gone, and tourists look down on the structures. At the center of the kiva is a hole , where ancients thought spirits rose from the world of the dead.

The End of the Tour

After circling the kiva, our Ranger asked us for our thoughts on why the Ancestral Pueblo left Mesa Verde in the 1300s. No one knows the answer. Some conjecture that drought, plague or enemies may have forced them south. We know that their meat sources, such as deer and elk became scarce, forcing some to eat the chickens and turkeys that had been their pets before.

During our tour, one woman made a strange conjecture that the Pacific Islanders, after moving to South America, drew the Ancestral Pueblo away from Mesa Verde into central and South America. Our Ranger guide patiently listened to her theory until finally telling her that there was no archaeological evidence to support this theory. However, we had a good chuckle over this theory.

Our Ranger guide told us that the answer to this question is unclear, but that the descendants of the Ancestral Pueblo say that it simply was time to move on. Their cultural stories tell of a migratory peoples, so maybe after 700 years in one place, it was simply time to move on.

We then had the opportunity to look up in one room to see artwork on the inside walls. Like peoples of all times, the Ancestral Pueblo created art to beautify their dwellings.

This was the official end of the tour. Our Ranger stayed behind to answer some questions, and we were instructed to leave the cliff dwellings via the path most likely used by the inhabitants to enter Cliff Palace.

The Steep Ascent

While the descent into Cliff Palace was mildly strenuous, the exit from the tour was steep and taxing. Some of the ascent involves climbing steeply inclined sandstone steps. Here you can see the foot and hand holds carved into the sandstone used by the ancients.

The exit also involves climbing a series of pitched ladders. The key is to not look back or down. Press forward. After finishing the climb, I admit that I was winded, even though I am acclimated to a high-altitude environment. Those not adjusted to the high altitude should take their time and rest as appropriate. On a side note, carry lots of water with you on the tour. While it lasts only an hour, water is essential during the warm summer months when the tours take place.

Have you been on the Cliff Palace Tour? What did you think? Please let us know your thoughts.

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Family Well Traveled also took a memorable tour of Balcony House  at Mesa Verde .

Take a tour of Mesa Verde National Park with our guide .

All photos and content are by Family Well Traveled and use of photos or content without permission will result in legal action.

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5 thoughts on “Ultimate Guide to the Cliff Palace Tour at Mesa Verde”

I love visiting these types of sights. I find it amazing how well preserved it is. Good to know that the tour is worth it!

The U.S. has so many fantastic national parks. Mesa Verde seems to have so much history. I will have to add it to my list!

This is a spot we missed while we were RVing n Colorado, there were a few places we didn’t get to and now I know I need to go back. We have similar ruins in Arizona but on a smaller scale and I’ve been to a few places in New Mexico, it is always fascinating to see how these ancient peoples lived and how much is still around today!

This seems like a spot with so much history! I love learning about history behind a place. I would definitely love this place.

I visited the Manitou Cliff Dwellings in Colorado but I hadn’t heard of Cliff Palace. It looks much more expansive and I like that it takes a bit of a hike to get to it. Looks like a really cool experience!

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Cliff Palace vs Balcony House: Which Tour Should You Do?

In this post, we’re breaking down the details of visiting Cliff Palace vs Balcony House, and which Mesa Verde dwelling tour is right for you.

Mesa Verde National Park is a truly special place – one that preserves the history and culture of the Native Americans who lived here hundreds of years ago.

While the nature in Mesa Verde is pretty, the park was created to preserve human creations, not natural wonders. This was the first national park, and one of only a few even today, with that aim.

The Pueblo tribes lived here for nearly 700 years, from around 600 AD to 1300 AD. Unfortunately, they eventually abandoned their communities in Mesa Verde after enduring a 40-year drought and relocated down to New Mexico + Arizona.

Over 6,000 Pueblo Native Americans lived in the Mesa Verde area and the surrounding regions at its height, and were spread out among thousands of settlements and cliff dwellings.

These cliff dwellings are honestly pretty shocking – structures are built in cracks and caves on a sheer cliff face. They are a testament to human ingenuity. It’s absolutely wild to imagine people regularly scaling cliffs to make it down to the caves and up to the plateaus.

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How to See the Dwellings of Cliff Palace or Balcony House

While you can see many, many cliff dwellings on walks or from roadside stops in the park, there are only a few dwellings that the public can actually enter and walk through. The two main dwellings open to visitors are Cliff Palace and Balcony House.

Both of these dwellings are only accessible by going on a tour with a specific time slot (and fee). There are quite a few similarities between the two locations and tours, and it can be hard to figure out which one you should do!

We did both tours on our most recent trip to Mesa Verde National Park, and we have lots of thoughts and opinions to share with y’all.

In this post, we’re going to give a full breakdown of what each tour is like. We’ll also compare and contrast the different benefits and features of each tour to help you make your decision!

How to Get a Tour Reservation

Reservations for tours open up two weeks in advance, at 8am MT. You will need a Recreation.gov account to make a reservation, so I would recommend making sure you have an account and remember your password at least a day or two ahead of time.

Because there are many tours every day, tickets are usually not gone within 30 seconds of them becoming available like some other tours I could mention (*cough* Fiery Furnace *cough*).

However, time slots are mostly gone within about 30 minutes. Morning time slots go faster than afternoon time slots. Once you select a time slot, you have 15 minutes to complete the reservation. 

We did afternoon tours for both hikes on the hottest day of the year in 2023, and honestly, it wasn’t bad at all. Once you get into the cliff dwelling, you’re almost completely shaded, and the temperatures are then very manageable.

Practical Details

• Fee : Whether you visit Cliff Palace or Balcony House, the fee is the same. It costs $8 per person for anyone ages 3 and above. Infants (2 and under) are $1
• Tour Length: 1 hour
• Time to Get from Entrance to Tour Meeting Point: At least 45 minutes. The park is long, and these cliff dwellings are at the very far end of the park. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the tour parking lot from the parking entrance.
• Tickets : You must bring either a printout or a download of your tickets to the tour – there’s no cell service to pull up your email and they won’t have a list – so a physical or saved digital copy is essential.

Important Rules About Visiting the Dwellings

The most important rules for visiting Cliff Palace or Balcony House are to not touch or sit on the structures, as this will damage the fragile sites. You are also not allowed to bring any food or drink besides water into the dwelling.

Just be respectful in general of the dwellings. Remember, these sites are sacred to the Native Americans. There are 21 Pueblo native tribes that currently live near Mesa Verde and they regularly come into the dwellings to perform spiritual rituals in the kivas. These are important spots for them.

Balcony House vs Cliff Palace: An Overview of Each Cliff Dwelling Tour

In this next section, we’re going to give a detailed description of what each dwelling, and each tour, is like.

In the two dwellings (and in any dwelling you observe in Mesa Verde), you will see the regular buildings and towers, and then kivas. Kivas are the circular shaped structures that are dug into the ground. They are very culturally significant structures used for religious ceremonies and political governance.

Cliff Palace

For this tour, you’ll meet a ranger at the Cliff Palace Viewpoint – you actually get a great view of the dwelling from this overlook. The ranger will go over some precautions and rules and then send you on down.

You’ll descend down a metal staircase, and then several sets of uneven stone stairs to reach the cliff dwelling.

For the morning tours, the tour is structured and guided, with the ranger taking you personally through the dwelling the entire time.

In the afternoon, the tours are unstructured – you get the briefing at the top, but then you are free to roam around as you please. However, there is a ranger in the dwelling who is available to answer questions, but it’s not a “guided tour” per se.

Cliff Palace is large and sprawling – there are over 150 structures and 21 kivas in the dwelling, and it feels extremely grand.

The dwelling is absolutely spectacular – the cove in the cliff is tall and deep. There are all sorts of towers, ladders, structures, and kivas on different levels and in various shapes and sizes.

There’s a lot to look at, and it’s all very visually stimulating!

Despite the fact that you see many rooms and structures in Cliff Palace, there were only 20 families living in the complex at one time. Most of the rooms were not occupied year-round. 

Instead, Cliff Palace functioned as a religious and administrative center for the many dwellings and habitations around Mesa Verde. It was almost like a capital city. Different groups would come to Cliff Palace to perform their religious ceremonies in one of the many kivas, or have important political meetings.

If you’re doing an afternoon unguided tour, toward the end of your time, the ranger will do an informal presentation about Cliff Palace and the surrounding area, and describe the significance of the structures and kivas found there.

Getting information from the ranger is incredibly interesting and enhances the experience immensely, so I’d definitely recommend asking them some questions and hanging around until they’ve done their presentation.

When you’re done, you will walk back up 4 flights of stairs and then up a ladder to reach the top. Overall, you’ll ascend/descend 110 feet from the viewpoint to reach Cliff Palace. 

Balcony House

Unlike Cliff Palace, where there is a fantastic overlook of the actual cliff dwelling at the meeting point, the meeting point for Balcony House is right above the dwelling and there is no viewpoint. In fact, the only viewpoint of Balcony House in the entire park is from the Soda Canyon Loop.

On this tour, you’ll go with the ranger through the entire cliff dwelling, and they will give you an in-depth background and explanation of the dwelling, the structures, the history, the Pueblo Indians, and a lot of other fun facts. 

You’ll first descend a metal staircase and walk along a path under a rocky overhang. You’ll pass by a small seep spring that the Native Americans used for water to build their dwellings, and of course for drinking and cooking.

Entering the Dwelling

Then you’ll arrive at the very tall, 32-foot ladder that takes you up into the dwelling – it’s a long way up, but very sturdy and nailed into the canyon wall.

Once on the ledge at the top of the ladder, you’ll walk through a short but narrow tunnel and up another small ladder to take you to the first room. This room is fairly small, but it’s notable for having a building with a “balcony” on it – which gives the dwelling its name. 

Juniper trees were the main wood used in dwelling construction because it was hard, solid, and fairly straight wood. Thanks to these trees, scientists can use dendrochronology to date how old the wood is, which helps with dating the dwellings and creating timelines.

After the Balcony Room, you’ll walk through a small passage to reach the main area with the kivas and structures. Here, you’ll observe 2 kivas, as well as many other one-story rooms, and a natural spring running at the back of the cliff. The presence of the spring is actually why Balcony House was built.

The walls of most of the non-kiva structures and rooms here are in partial ruin, with their front walls collapsed, and you can see into the rooms. Interestingly, many of the buildings were used for grain storage, not necessarily for people to live in.

In this area, you’ll also see the evidence of early archeological excavations – numbers on the walls, reinforcing beams, etc. 

Exiting Balcony House

After this room, you’ll climb on hands and knees through a small, narrow tunnel that’s 18 inches wide and 12 feet long.

While it might seem like a freaky thing to go through, it’s really not a big deal. It actually is wide enough that the vast majority of people can make it through without a problem, and the tunnel is not scary at all.

Also, it isn’t narrow and short the whole 12 foot length. You go through the 18-inch opening, and in the middle the tunnel expands and you can stand up. Then you crouch down again to exit. Plus, light shines through and you can always see where you’re going.

After the tunnel, it’s back up another tall ladder. Make sure you pay attention to the rock wall next to the exit ladder, as you can actually see the little hand and toe holds (known as moki) that the Native Americans used to scale the walls.

In fact, if you put your fingers into the holds, you can feel their finger grooves still there!

Pros and Cons: Balcony House vs Cliff Palace

Okay, now that we’ve done a thorough breakdown of what each dwelling tour is like, let’s breakdown the pros and cons of visiting Cliff Palace vs. Balcony House.

The big pros of Cliff Palace are the incredible up-close views of the entire dwelling that you get as you walk through, and also the enormity of the complex. It’s well-maintained and in pretty good condition overall.

If you go in the afternoon, you don’t have a formal guided tour, and it’s a very loose and self-directed experience. This could be a positive or a negative, depending on your preference.

Either way, you are more in control of how much time you spend in the dwelling, so it may be the better choice if you are short on time or are with kids who might not make it through an entire hour-long tour.

This is also the best place for an epic photo, as I think Cliff Palace has the most visually impressive structures in the entire Mesa Verde area.

However, you really can’t walk through and explore all the buildings and passages. You can walk down the main pathway in front of the dwelling, and then up into one small area, but you aren’t allowed to wander through all the structures and kivas.

Pros for the Balcony House tour are that you get a guided, expert experience on every tour, with a ranger telling stories and sharing detailed information about the structure. You also get to experience a dwelling that not many people see (since there aren’t a lot of easy overlooks like there are with Cliff Palace).

It’s really the only spot you’ll get to observe the seep springs that were crucial for Native American life. 

Unlike Cliff Palace, you get to really be in the middle of the structure, instead of just walking along the edge of the structure. Finally, the adventure aspect is strong here – with the ladders, the passageways, and the tunnel.

However, you don’t get the same kind of cool photo op like you do at Cliff Palace, and the dwelling is definitely not nearly as big. You do have to stay with the tour group in a more structured setting – again, maybe a pro, maybe a con, depending on your preferences. (We really liked hearing the stories and historical information)

Cliff Palace or Balcony House – Which One Should You Do?

Three of our four girls preferred Balcony House, with the oldest child (who is 12) preferring Cliff Palace. The little girls were a bit disappointed to not be able to roam and explore through the dwelling at Cliff Palace and liked that we could do that a lot more at Balcony House.

I think I would have to give a slight preference to Cliff Palace – I loved the sweeping views and large complex.

Really, you’re not going to have a bad experience on either dwelling tour, so it really comes down to personal preference. If you’re more interested in the fun of climbing up the tall ladder, going through tunnels, and being in the middle of the dwelling, then go with Balcony House.

If you are more interested in seeing a “big city” with a lot of structures, or getting the best photo op, then do Cliff Palace. Also, if you want to go through the tour faster, then a Cliff Palace afternoon tour is probably a better option.

Can You Do Both Cliff Palace and Balcony House in One Day?

Yes, definitely. Both tours last an hour, so there is plenty of time to visit other viewpoints and points of interest in Mesa Verde, do a hike or two, and also do both dwelling tours.

If you do decide to do both tours, it’s recommended to give yourself 2 hours between the start times. (So, for example, one tour at 11am and the next at 1pm).

And whether you are just visiting for one day or several, I would recommend doing both of the tours! Each one is unique and distinct enough from the other that you are really getting a different experience.

While there are lots of other cliff dwellings to view from the road or from overlooks, it’s not even close to the same as actually being *in* the dwelling. These are really the best experiences you can have in Mesa Verde National Park.

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What to Expect on a Premium Mesa Verde Cliff Palace Tour 

By Kim Cassels    •    July 26, 2022

After a long wait of moseying around the construction projects in Mesa Verde, the Cliff Palace tour is finally available for exploration! WOOHOO!!!!

Cliff Palace is the most significant cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park, both for its impressive size and incredible design. At Cliff Palace, you’ll get an up close look into what life was like in these alcoves over 800 years ago. This high-rise city is a must visit if you’re looking to roam the park’s top architectural sites.

While this cliff dwelling is the largest of its kind on the continent, the tour is actually a bit brief. A Half Day tour with Mild to Wild allows you to see the other hot spots in the park with a personal guide. 

Read on for more details about what to expect on a Cliff Palace Tour, as well as the added bonus of joining an expert on Mesa Verde with Mild to Wild.   

The Palace 

Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America, and one of the most renowned archaeological sites in the world. It boasts 150 rooms and 23 kivas which makes it more than double the size of the other cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde.  

Cliff Palace tours last about 45 minutes, which includes the time it takes to get up and down from the cliff dwelling. 

The tour also starts with a brief safety orientation as you’ll be climbing four sets of ladders to and from the site, along with a century-old sandstone staircase. In total, you’ll walk ¼ of a mile. 

These tours are “ranger-assisted” meaning that the rangers will be available for questions and interpretations, but visitors are free to explore the ruin on their own to allow for social distancing. 

Tours leave every ½ hour, and Mild to Wild guides shoot to have you at your Cliff Palace adventure between 9:30 and 10 AM. 

Exploring the Rest of an Ancient Society 

If you choose to join a Mild to Wild guide for your Mesa Verde venture, after Cliff Palace your guide will take you to a variety of other archeological wonders, including: 

• The oldest structures and villages in the park. 
• Various overlooks of other impressive cliff dwellings. 
• Looming, panoramic views of the entire Four Corners region where you’ll see four states at once. 
• Ancient ceremonial spaces up to 1000 years old. 
• Mesa top ruins where ancient pottery still scatters the ground.

These tours last about 4 hours, and come with the added ease of being shuttled around the park. Your guide will provide interpretations on the drive between sites, and in-depth historical insights at each stop along the way.

After the tour is finished, your guide will drop you off at your original meet location in picturesque Mancos, CO.

Perks of Having a Mesa Verde Guide VS Going on Your Own

Mesa Verde is unlike other National Parks in that it is a massive outdoor museum. While there are placards at each site, these interpretive signs only provide general information rather than detailed knowledge about this ancient culture. 

Exploring Mesa Verde without someone to provide the interesting facts, hidden gems, backstories of the ruins, and their discovery means you’ll miss out on the majority of what this fascinating park has to offer.  

Mesa Verde Guides have  a wealth of research under their belts, and they are just as informed as the park rangers of Mesa Verde— who aren’t usually present at the majority of the sites. 

Having your own personal Mesa Verde guide means you’ll fully experience the rarity of American history before colonialism. This park is one of the last residing treasures of original American culture, and it’s something to be deeply cherished for generations. 

More Reading 

What the Cliff Dwellings of Mesa Verde Tell Us About the Ancient Ones 

Do You Really Need a Guide in Mesa Verde? 

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Hike the Cliff Palace Loop Trail

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

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The Cliff Palace Loop Trail is a .4 mile guided tour in Mesa Verde National Park. The tour is led by a ranger who takes you through the many cliff dwellings located in Mesa Werde. This tour is great for families and anyone looking for a hands on experience. You will climb lots of ladders, so make sure everyone in your party is of able capability!

Tickets for this tour are $4 per person and are available at the visitor center near the entrance of the park. This tour is best taken from April to November. This hike features The milky way is often visible from the top of Mesa Verde at night. 

This one-hour, ranger-guided tour involves climbing five, 8-10ft ladders, on a 100ft vertical climb. Total walking distance is 1/4-mile round-trip.

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Hike the Cliff Palace Loop Trail Reviews

Crystal Sibson

Amazing Cliff Dwelling

This is a short hike to see the Cliff Palace Dwelling. The lookout can be crowded but the view of the dwellings is amazing. It's really impressive how something like this was built so long ago.

Jenna Mulligan

Christmas for the Family!

Have been multiple times, but to see the ruins covered in snow and lit up with hundreds of luminarias during the holidays was so special!!! Love.

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Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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23 Practical Tips for FIRST VISIT to MESA VERDE National Park

This site uses affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Are you ready to check Mesa Verde National Park off your bucket list and looking for some tips for first visit to Mesa Verde ? Read on! In this post, I share simple but practical tips for first visit to Mesa Verde National Park. Not only will these tips help you have a more enjoyable trip, but they will help you make the most of your time.

Make sure to check out my post: 2 Days in Mesa Verde: Perfect Mesa Verde Itinerary for First Vist

Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde National Park 

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• 1. 23 Practical Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde National Park
• 1.1. Mesa Verde National Park Needs to Be on Your Bucket List of Places to See
• 1.2. Visit Mesa Verde in Late Spring or Early Fall to Enjoy Mild Temperatures and Avoid the Crowds
• 1.3. Visit All Three Regions of Mesa Verde National Park
• 1.4. Fly in to the Closest Airport to Mesa Verde to Save Time
• 1.5. Stay Inside the Park or in Cortez
• 1.6. Rent a Car or Drive Your Own to Get Around in the Park
• 1.7. Buy America the Beautiful Pass Instead of a Single Entrance Ticket
• 1.8. Buy Tickets for Ranger Tours As Soon As They Are Released
• 1.9. Do Not Rely on Cell Phone Reception Inside the Park
• 1.10. Be at the Entrance to the Park No Later Than 7:30 am
• 1.11. Don't Run Out of Gas
• 1.12. Tour a Cliff Dwelling
• 1.13. See Spruce Tree House
• 1.14. Take a Self-Guided Tour of Step House
• 1.15. Hike Petroglyph Point Trail
• 1.16. Hike Soda Canyon Overlook Trail
• 1.17. See the Sights Along Mesa Top Loop
• 1.18. Explore Far View Sites Complex
• 1.19. Go to Park Point Fire Lookout and Hike Point Lookout Trail
• 1.20. Hike Nordenskiold Site No. 16 Trail
• 1.21. Hike Badger House Community Trail
• 1.22. Spend At Least One Day in Mesa Verde National Park
• 1.23. Come Prepared for Your Visit to Mesa Verde: Things You Will Need
• 2. Intrepid Scout's Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde National Park

23 Practical Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa verde national park needs to be on your bucket list of places to see.

Mesa Verde National Park is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States. It is home to over 4,700 archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings of the Pueblo people consisting of pit houses, a farming community, towers, and temples.

Pueblo people inhabited Mesa Verde for more than 700 years (from 550 to 1300 AD). They built elaborate stone communities in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls. During the height of the Puebloan civilization, it is estimated that 22,000 people lived here. Then, in the late 1200s, due to overpopulation, drought, and cold temperatures, they left their homes and moved away to New Mexico and Arizona.

Mesa Verde National Park / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde 

On June 29, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt established Mesa Verde National Park to “preserve the works of man,” the first national park of its kind.

Not only this is a national park, but also UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Pueblo structures and history make the park an important part of the United State’s history, however, Mesa Verde is also home to some breathtaking views and some of the most rewarding hikes. In fact, the park gets its name Mesa Verde , which means “green table” in Spanish, from the abundance of Juniper trees and other greenery that cover the mesas, canyons, and valleys.

Visit Mesa Verde in Late Spring or Early Fall to Enjoy Mild Temperatures and Avoid the Crowds

Weather averages in Mesa Verde National Park:

Mesa Verde National Park, Mesa Verde, CO. Weather averages. Image credit: Google / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde 

Late Spring or Early Fall in Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde National Park is open year-round. However, late spring and early fall are the best times for visiting Mesa Verde. The temperatures are pleasant and the number of visitors is low.

Also, what you need to know is that some of the most popular spots in Mesa Verde are only open from May to October. So if you visit during early spring or late fall, you will miss all of the Ranger Assisted or Guided Tours (and, they are awesome!).

In addition, be prepared for some occasional chilly conditions, especially at night and during early morning hours. Make sure to pack some warm clothes and always dress in layers.

To sum up, my favorite months to visit are either late May or early October . The temperatures are mild, the crowds are low, and all the Ranger-led tours are fully operational.

Summer in Mesa Verde

Summer is the busiest time of the year in Mesa Verde National Park. Be prepared to have plenty of company wherever you go in the park and patiently wait to be able to snap some pictures without any tourists in them.

Summers are not incredibly hot. You can expect average highs of about 85F . However, due to the lack of tree coverage, it might feel warmer than 85F. Make sure to protect yourself against the heat – wear a hat, apply sunscreen, and drink plenty of water.

Something to keep in mind is that afternoon thunderstorms are very common during the summer months. Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly before heading out for a day.

Winter in Mesa Verde

In winter you will have Mesa Verde National Park pretty much to yourself. And, the park looks very picturesque blanketed in snow.

The temperatures range from about 40F to 20F, so make sure you are prepared for the cold weather.

Check out a more in-depth guide to winter at Mesa Verde National Park  here .

Visit All Three Regions of Mesa Verde National Park

First of all, Mesa Verde National Park has one entrance and it is located on Hwy 160. Once you pass the main entrance, you will travel to the top of a mesa.

Second, Mesa Verde National Park has three regions to explore (there are many different breakdowns, but to keep it simple and manageable, I will cover the major ones here):

Mesa Top Ruins Road

Chapin mesa, wetherill mesa.

Map of Mesa Verde Regions / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

The first region, Mesa Top Ruins Road , runs from the main entrance to the park to Far View Lodge. The distance is about 15 miles (30 minutes of driving).

It is a very picturesque drive. Along the way, you will pass a campground, several scenic overlooks, and a few hiking trails.

The second region, Chapin Mesa , starts at Far View Lodge and runs through two loop roads: Mesa Top Loop Road, and Cliff Palace Loop.

The distance from Far View Lodge to All-Way Stop (junction between the two loops) is about 5 miles.

First, drive Mesa Top Loop and stop along the way at a few viewpoints of the cliff dwellings and the canyons. Next, drive Cliff Palace Loop and visit Cliff Palace (ticket required), Balcony House (ticket required), and hike Soda Canyon Overlook Trail.

From the entrance to the park, it takes about 40-50 minutes to drive to Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop.

Wetherill Mesa region starts at Far View Lodge and goes to Wetherill Mesa part of Mesa Verde National Park. Here, you have Step House Trail (no ticket required), Long House Trail (ticket required), and Long House Loop Trail (no ticket required).

It takes about 1 hour to drive from the entrance of the park to the end of Wetherill Mesa. And, it takes about 40 minutes to drive from the end of Wetherill Mesa to Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop.

Fly in to the Closest Airport to Mesa Verde to Save Time

Mesa Verde National Park is in Southwestern Colorado . The park entrance is along Highway 160 between the towns of Mancos and Cortez, and about 35 miles west of Durango. The best way to get to the park is to fly into one of the closest airports, then rent a car and drive.

The closest airport to Mesa Verde National Park is Durango La Plata County Airport (DRO) in Durango, CO. The airport is served by three major commercial airlines: Delta, American Airlines, and United. It’s approximately a 50-mile (1-hour) drive from the airport to the Mesa Verde National Park Entrance Station.

The closest international airport to Mesa Verde National Park is Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) in Albuquerque, NM. It’s approximately a 250-mile/4-hour drive from the airport to the Mesa Verde National Park Entrance Station.

If you plan on driving to Mesa Verde National Park, here’s how long you can expect to drive from other popular destinations nearby:

• Moab, Utah:  2 hours, 124 miles
• Page, Arizona : 3.5 hours, 225 miles
• Grand Junction, Colorado : 4 hours, 202 miles
• Denver, Colorado:  6.5 hours, 371 miles

Stay Inside the Park or in Cortez

• Staying Inside Mesa Verde National Park

My top recommendation is to stay at Far View Lodge . It is located in the middle of the park and nothing beats staying inside the park. You are right within a short driving distance of all viewpoints, hiking trails, and locations of all the ranger-led tours.

Far View Lodge is only open from May 1st till the end of September . If you decide to stay there, make sure to make your reservations as soon as possible since it gets booked well in advance.

There is one campground , Morefield Campground , located pretty much right at the entrance to the park. It has 267 sites, and the campground rarely fills. Each site has a table, bench, and grill. Camping is open to tents, trailers, and RVs, including 15 full hookup RV sites.

• Staying in Cortez

Cortez is the largest town near Mesa Verde National Park, located no more than a 15-minute drive from the entrance to the park. There are lots of choices for places to stay, plus there is a good selection of restaurants.

My recommendation is to stay at Holiday Inn Express . The rooms are clean and the beds are comfortable, and breakfast is included.

Rent a Car or Drive Your Own to Get Around in the Park

There is no shuttle bus service at Mesa Verde National Park. You will need to either  rent a car or drive your own to get around or look into joining a tour to take you to the top sites.

The downside? Parking. Finding a parking spot can be challenging especially if you are visiting during the summer months.

My recommendation is to start your days early to avoid circling parking lots and waiting for someone to leave. Get to the trailheads by 7:30 am to ensure parking availability.

Buy America the Beautiful Pass Instead of a Single Entrance Ticket

It costs between $20 and $30 per vehicle, depending on the time of the year, to enter Mesa Verde National Park. The entrance pass is good for 7 consecutive days.

You can either pay at the entrance gate (credit cards only) or buy a digital pass  in advance to show when you get there. If you buy the digital pass, make sure to take a screenshot of it, as there is barely any cell service in the park.

If you are visiting several national parks, then you should buy America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass . It costs $80 and covers more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Buy Tickets for Ranger Tours As Soon As They Are Released

Most cliff dwellings can be entered only on a ticketed tour with a ranger . The tour season usually will run from May 1 through October 22.

Tour tickets can be purchased only on  recreation.gov  or by calling 877-444-6777. Tickets are available 14 days in advance, 8:00 am MST, on a rolling daily window.

My recommendation is to purchase your tickets as soon as you finalize the dates for your tips and try to get the tickets on the day they are available. Tickets sell out very fast!

Following are the tours that are offered at Mesa Verde National Park:

Ranger-Assisted Tours

Ranger-assisted tours are timed-entry tours that allow visitors to move through a cliff dwelling at their own pace. Rangers stationed along the route will facilitate and provide interpretation.

• Long House Tour

Long House Tour is located on Wetherill Mesa . Long House is the second-largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park.

Long House Tour is about 60 minutes long and involves hiking 2.25 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of about 130 feet and climbing two 15-foot ladders within the site. Tours are scheduled every 30 minutes between 9 am to 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to 3 pm. The cost is $8 per person with 25 spots per time slot.

• Cliff Palace Tour

Cliff Palace Tour is located on Chapin Mesa (Cliff Palace Loop).

Cliff Palace is a world-famous masterpiece of architecture and design and the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Built between 1190 and 1280 AD. Cliff Palace was once home to over 100 people.

The tour is about 30 minutes long with a distance of 0.25 miles. You will need to climb four ladders. Tours are scheduled every 30 minutes between 9:00 am to 11:30 am and 1 pm to 3:30 pm.

Long House in Mesa Verde National Park / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

Cliff Palace / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

Ranger-Guided Tours

Ranger-Guided Tours are more in-depth small group tours into the park’s backcountry to visit several of the park’s lesser-seen cliff dwellings.

• Balcony House Tour

Balcony House Tour is located on Chapin Mesa (Cliff Palace Loop). It is one of the most adventurous tours in the park. You will have to climb several ladders, squeeze your way through a narrow tunnel on your hands and knees, and explore some of the same passages used over 800 years ago. Also, you will see some very well-preserved kivas.

There are only four tours offered each day at  9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.

Ranger-Guided Tours / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

A Quick Read:

What are kivas? Kivas are spaces used by Puebloans  for rites and political meetings, many of them associated with the  kachina  belief system. Among the modern  Hopi and most other Pueblo people, kivas are large rooms that are circular and underground and are used for spiritual ceremonies.

On the Balcony House Tour, you will see kivas / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

• Mug House Tour

Mug House Tour is located on Wetherill Mesa .

Mug House was a village of 80 to 100 residents from 1100 to 1200s AD.

Along the rough trail to Mug House, you will be able to experience Adobe Cave, Ancestral Pueblo rock art, and wonderful views of Rock Canyon.

This tour is 2.25 miles long and lasts 90 minutes. It is only offered twice a day (May 1 to May 21 at  9 am and 12 pm and May 22 to October 22 at 9 am and 11 am). The cost is $25 per person. A number of spots per tour: 10 per time slot.

• Square Tower House Tour

Square Tower House Tour is located on Chapin Mesa ( Mesa Top Loop).

This tour features the tallest standing structure in the park, a 28 ft tall tower, an intact kiva, original plaster and paint, and plentiful rock art.

Square Tower House is one of Mesa Verde’s most impressive cliff dwellings.

This tour is 1 mile long and lasts 90 minutes. It is offered twice a day from May 1 to May 27 at 8:30 am and 11 am, and only once a day from May 28 to June 15 at 8:30 am. The cost is $25 per person. The number of spots per tour is only 10 per time slot.

Square Tower House Tour / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

Do Not Rely on Cell Phone Reception Inside the Park

Cell service inside the park is very limited.

IMPORTANT! Make sure to take screenshots of all your tour entry tickets. Also, download offline Google Maps, and AllTrails maps.

Be at the Entrance to the Park No Later Than 7:30 am

The park is always open, however, sites, picnic areas, and most trails are not open until 8 am and close at sunset .

I usually like to start my hikes early in the morning (sunrise) to beat the crowds and be able to find a parking spot at the trailhead. I am not sure why the trails are not open earlier than 8 am. With that being the case, my recommendation is to enter the park no later than 7:30 am and head to where you want to hike first.

Don't Run Out of Gas

Give yourself plenty of time to get from place to place in Mesa Verde National Park and don’t run out of gas . Morefield Campground is the only place in the park to fill up!

Tour a Cliff Dwelling

Hands down, the highlight of visiting Mesa Verda is the cliff-dwelling tours. Following are the three tours you should not miss:

• Cliff Palace Tour 

Cliff Palace , located on Chapin Mesa (Cliff Palace Loop) is the largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park. It is by far the most popular cliff dwelling to visit and photograph.

Of course, on a Cliff Palace Tour, you will get the most spectacular views. However, if you can’t get tour tickets, then the best place to photograph Cliff Palace is on the Cliff Palace Overlook . The overlook is located along the walk to the cliff dwellings. You can still go there, even if you are not taking the tour. Another great spot to view and photograph Cliff Palace is from Sun Temple .

Balcony House Tour is also located on Chapin Mesa (Cliff Palace Loop). It is one of the most adventurous and yet, one of the most fun tours at Mesa Verde. Not only you will get to explore the famous dwelling, but also, you will have. to climb several ladders, squeeze your way through a narrow tunnel on your hands and knees, and experience some of the passages that were used 800 years ago.

• Long House Tour 

Long House Tour is located on Wetherill Mesa. Long House is the second-largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde. This is a pretty strenuous tour, however, it is all worth it.

Mesa Verde National Park / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

See Spruce Tree House

Spruce Tree House , located on Chapin Mesa, is the best-preserved cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde.

Currently, it is closed due to rockfall danger. However, you can get a great view of it from the Spruce Tree Overlook, which is near Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum.

Spruce Tree House / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

Take a Self-Guided Tour of Step House

All in all, if you are not able to get any tickets for any of the tours, then your best bet is to take a self-guided tour of the Step House .

Step House Trail is located on Wetherill Mesa.

• Difficulty – Moderate
• Distance – 1 mile (roundtrip)
• Elevation change – 165 feet
• Trailhead – Wetherill Mesa Kiosk

On this self-guided tour, you will walk through the cliff dwellings, see the pithouse, and, also, see a few petroglyphs.

Step House / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

Hike Petroglyph Point Trail

Petroglyph Point Trail , located in Chapin Mesa, is one of my favorite trails in Mesa Verde. It passes by the Spruce tree House Overlook and then continues along the top of the mesa.

You will catch some awesome views of Spruce and Navajo Canyons on the way.

The trail ends at the petroglyph panel and then loops back to where you started.

• Difficulty – Strenuous
• Distance – 2.4 miles round trip
• Elevation change – 227 feet
• Trailhead – Spruce Tree House Overlook (right by Chapin Mesa Museum)

What are petroglyphs? Petroglyphs are  rock carvings (rock paintings are called pictographs) made by pecking directly on the rock surface using a stone chisel and a hammerstone . When the desert varnish (or patina) on the surface of the rock was chipped off, the lighter rock underneath was exposed, creating the petroglyph. Source: NPS

Petroglyph Point Trail / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde National Park 

Hike Soda Canyon Overlook Trail

Soda Canyon Overlook Trail , located on Chapin Mesa, is a great trail that winds through the pinyon-juniper forest to three overlooks. Also, you will get some awesome views of the Balcony House.

• Difficulty – Easy
• Distance – 1.2 miles roundtrip
• Elevation change – 70 feet
• Trailhead – on the Cliff Palace Loop; 0.5 miles past Balcony House

Soda Canyon Overlook Trail / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

See the Sights Along Mesa Top Loop

Mesa Top Loop , located in Chapin Mesa, is 6 miles long and has several great viewpoints worth stopping by and exploring.

What you need to know is that Mesa Top Loop is one-way and you drive it counterclockwise. The loop opens to visitors at 8 am and closes at sunset. It will take you at least 1 hour to drive it and make a few stops along the way.

Following are my favorite viewpoints on Mesa Top Loop:

• Navajo Canyon View

It is worth making a quick stop at Navajo Canyon View to enjoy some great views of the Navajo Canyon.

• Square Tower House

This is definitely a stop that you do not want to miss! A short trail will take you to an awesome viewpoint of Square Tower House. It is the tallest cliff dwelling in the park, and it was inhabited between 1200 and 1300 AD.

• Mesa Top Sites 

Another great stop that needs to be on your list when you are visiting Mesa Verde. At Mesa Top Sites, you will be able to see kivas, as well as, foundations of towers that either served as defensive structures or as a place of refuge or both.

• Sun Point View

From Sun View Point you will get to see Fewkes and Cliff Cayons and if you look further along the way, you will see the Sun Temple, Mummy House, Oak Tree House, Fire Temple, and Cliff Palace. The best time of the day to visit is in the afternoon when the sun will be behind you and illuminate the dwellings.

• Oak Tree House and Fire Temple Viewpoints

From these two viewpoints, you will be able to get a better look at Oak Tree House and Fire Temple.

From Sun Temple you will get to enjoy great views of Cliff Palace. What you need to know is that Sun Temple was used as a place of worship.

Explore Far View Sites Complex

The Far View Sites is a complex of dwellings and farms that were used between 900 and 1300 AD. The Ancestral Pueblo people lived here before the cliff dwellings were built and at one point it was the most densely populated area of the mesa.

There are a few different areas to explore here, including a reservoir, multiple villages, the pipe shrine house, and the Far View Tower, all of which are connected by pathways.

All in all, the hike is about 0.75 miles long and it should take you an hour to complete it.

The Far View Sites / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde

Go to Park Point Fire Lookout and Hike Point Lookout Trail

Park Point Fire Lookout is located on Mesa Top Ruins Road. It is the highest point in Mesa Verde National Park standing at 8,572 feet. If the weather is good, you will be able to see as far as New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona!

Point Lookout Trail is also located on Mesa Top Ruins Road. This trail starts with steep switchbacks that climb from Morefield Canyon to the top of Point Lookout, the iconic Geological formation towering above the park entrance.

You will be rewarded with views of the San Juan and La Plata Mountains, and the Mancos and Montezuma Valleys.

• Distance – 2.2 miles roundtrip
• Elevation change – 400 feet
• Trailhead – Morefield Campground

Point Lookout Trail / Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde 

Hike Nordenskiold Site No. 16 Trail

Nordenskiold Site No. 16 Trail , located on Wetherill Mesa, will take you to an overlook of the cliff dwelling in Rock Canyon. This village of about 50 rooms is named after the Swedish scholar Gustaf Nordenshiold, who excavated the site in 1891.

• Distance – 1-mile roundtrip

Hike Badger House Community Trail

Badger House Community Trail is a great trail that will take you to four excavated mesa-top villages representing 600 years of Pueblo history.

• Distance – 2.25 miles roundtrip
• Elevation change – 111 feet

Spend At Least One Day in Mesa Verde National Park

You need at least one day for Mesa Verde National Park. My recommendation is to spend 2 full days stopping at scenic viewpoints, hiking a few trails, and taking a couple of Ranger-led tours.

• If you only have half a day , then take Ranger-led Cliff Palace or Balcony House Tour (located at Chapin Mesa). Next, make a few stops at scenic viewpoints along Mesa Top Ruins Road. And, make sure to include a stop at Park Point Overlook and Fire Lookout!
• If you have one day to spend at Mesa Verde National Park , then my recommendation is to take the Ranger-led Long House Tour (located at Wetherill Mesa), then take either Cliff Palace or Balcony Tour (Chapin Mesa). Next, hike Soda Canyon Overlook Trail (1.2 miles, easy). Finish off your day with a stop at Far View Sites and another stop at Park Point Overlook and Fire Lookout.
• If you have two days , then make sure to check out my post 2 Days in Mesa Verde: Perfect Mesa Verde Itinerary for First Visit

Come Prepared for Your Visit to Mesa Verde: Things You Will Need

I have seen many people hiking in their flip-flops, without any sun protection, and above all with no water. So, here is a reminder to make sure you are prepared for a visit to Mesa Verde National Park:

• Appropriate footwear

Trail shoes  are great;  hiking boots are even better since they offer more support. You’ll want sturdy, comfortable hiking boots with solid traction. Don’t forget to break in your shoes before bringing them to Mesa Verde National Park. Also, do not forget merino wool socks . They will keep your feet dry, and protect you from blisters.

• Plenty of water

Without enough water, your body’s muscles and organs simply cannot perform as well. Consuming too little water will not only make you thirsty but susceptible to hypothermia and altitude sickness. I have been using  Yeti Rumbler  26 oz insulated, stainless steel bottle, and I am highly recommending it!

Food will help keep up energy and morale. I like  RXBAR . It is a high-protein bar, gluten-free, and it is super yummy! Make sure to get a variety pack to keep it interesting.

• Rain gear and extra clothing

The weatherman is not always right. Be prepared for unannounced rain or a cold spell. Dress in layers. It will allow you to adjust to changing weather and activity levels.  Two rules : avoid cotton (it keeps moisture close to your skin) and always carry a hat. I have had my  North Face Women’s Osito Triclimate Jacket  for years, and I love it. Also, I am highly recommending these  Patagonia moisture-wicking hiking shirts  and  Patagonia warm fleece pullovers .

• First aid kit

Prepackaged  first-aid kits for hikers  are available at any outfitter.

A knife or even better, a  multi-purp ose  tool is always good to have. These enable you to cut strips of cloth into bandages, remove splinters, etc.

• Protect Yourself from the Sun

If you are hiking in the summer, keep in mind that many trails are unshaded, so it’s important to protect yourself from the sun. Sunscreen is essential, however, a  lightweight long sleeve shirt  is a must! My favorite are  sun shirts by Columbia . Also, it is a good idea to wear  lightweight long pants  to protect yourself from the sun and bugs!

Wear  sunglasses with UV protection.  Sunglasses are an important part of your sun-protective wardrobe. When purchasing sunglasses, always look for lenses that offer UV protection.

A  wide-brimmed hat  is a simple and effective way to cover up your face and neck. When selecting a hat, choose one that has a wide brim, which will protect your ears, as well as your head and neck. Avoid baseball hats or straw hats with holes, as these are not as effective in protecting you outdoors.

• Apply an effective insect repellent

Insect repellent  is an important step against mosquitoes and ticks that can spread diseases like West Nile and Lyme.  When selecting an effective insect repellent, do not look at the brand names, but rather, look at the concentration of the active ingredients.  Concentrations of DEET at 25 to 30% are the best  to keep you protected.

• Daypack/backpack

You need something you can carry comfortably and has the features designed to keep you hiking smartly. Don’t forget the rain cover; some packs come with one built-in. I have  Osprey Daylite Daypack  and it is perfect for day hiking.

Mesa Verde National Park is a photographer’s dream! If you are like me, you will be taking hundreds, if not thousands, of photos. The scenery is just breathtaking and constantly changing. I have a Nikon COOLPIX P1000 Super Telephoto Camera  that I bought a couple of years ago and I really like it.

• A spare battery for the camera

Make sure to have a  spare battery  for your camera. I think there is nothing more frustrating than knowing that you still have half a day ahead of you, yet your camera’s battery is gone.

If you are taking photos during the golden hour (shortly after sunrise or before sunset) when the light is softer, a tripod is essential for long exposure shots. Also, I like a tripod since it gives me more stability when taking close-ups of wildlife. I have  Manfrotto Befree Live Carbon Fiber Tripod with Fluid Head . It is only 3.0 pounds and it fits nicely in my backpack.

• Binoculars!

If your camera does not have a good zoom, then  binoculars are a must.

This will make sure that the trail will stay beautiful for generations to come. A zip-lock bag is a great option as well for keeping the trash you pick up along the trail separate from the rest of your gear.

Intrepid Scout's Tips for First Visit to Mesa Verde National Park

• Cliff Dwelling Tours is the highlight of visiting Mesa Verde National Park. However, getting the tickets can be very challenging and frustrating. My recommendation is to button up the dates of your visit and then be right at your computer when the tickets get released. If you do not get the tickets for your visit, then do not despair and continue checking for any cancellations up to the day before your visit.
• Arrive with a full tank of gas . You can fuel up before you leave Durango or Cortez. There’s also a gas station at the exit off of Highway 160 and at the Morefield Campground near the entrance.
• Parts of the park’s roads have restrictions on vehicle size . Weatherill Mesa Road vehicle limits are 25 feet and 8000 pounds.
• Bring a camera with a good zoom or binoculars to view the dwellings from afar in greater detail.

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4 thoughts on “ 23 Practical Tips for FIRST VISIT to MESA VERDE National Park ”

Thank you for this article. It has helped me with my planning of my trip to Mesa Verde. Great advice and descriptions.

Thank you. Very kind of you to take time and send me this message. I appreciate it. Have a great time in Mesa Verde National Park!

Thank you this was really helpful. I am wondering if you have any tips for seniors I am 66 and this will be my 1st trip to Mesa Verde. I am a novice hiker.

I am so glad you found it useful. Some of the Ranger Guided Tours require climbing ladders which might be challenging. Have you reviewed my post: https://www.intrepidscout.com/2-days-in-mesa-verde/ It might help deciding which are the best hikes. Good luck with everything!

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• Park History
• Archaeological Sites
• Balcony House

Cliff Palace

• Spruce Tree House
• United Nations World Heritage
• Travel Tips
• Current Weather
• Getting Here
• Nature & Wildlife
• Photos & Videos
• Green Travel Tips
• Mesa Verde Lodging Experience
• Morefield Campground
• Mesa Verde Dining Experience
• Metate Room Restaurant
• Far View Terrace Cafe
• Far View Lounge
• Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe
• Mesa Verde Tour Experience
• 700 Years Tour
• Group Tours
• Private Tours
• Request for Proposal
• Sample Itineraries
• Cliff Dwellings
• Morefield Explorer Scavenger Hunt
• Upcoming Events
• Lodging Specials
• Member Programs
• Email Sign Up
• Retrieve Reservations

Preserved for 700 Years

A - Cliff Palace

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 8 Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330 970.529.4465

B - Far View Lodge

Mesa Verde Cliff Palace, the largest and most famous cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park, has over 150 individual rooms and more than 20 kivas (rooms for religious rituals). Crafted of sandstone, wooden beams and mortar, Mesa Verde Cliff Palace has been remarkably well preserved from the elements for the past 700 years.

A visit to Mesa Verde Cliff Palace is included in the 700 Years Tour. Tickets to the National Park Service one-hour Cliff Palace Tour may be purchased at the Mesa Verde National Park Visitor and Research Center prior to entering the park.

Cliff Palace Overview

Take a look at the alcove in which Mesa Verde Cliff Palace is built. The rock you see is Cliffhouse sandstone, geologically deposited during the Cretaceous Period some 78 million years ago. Since sandstone is a very porous material, moisture seeps right down through it. Beneath the layer of sandstone, however, is a layer of shale through which the moisture cannot penetrate. In the winter months, when the moisture freezes and expands, chunks of sandstone are cracked and loosened. Later these pieces collapse, forming alcoves such as the one here.

The majority of alcoves within Mesa Verde National Park are small crevices or ledges able to accommodate only a few small rooms. Very few are large enough to house a dwelling the size of Mesa Verde Cliff Palace. Recent studies reveal that Mesa Verde Cliff Palace contained 150 rooms and 23 kivas and had a population of approximately 100 people. Out of the nearly 600 cliff dwellings concentrated within the boundaries of the park, 75% contain only 1-5 rooms each, and many are single room storage units. When you visit Mesa Verde Cliff Palace you will enter an exceptionally large dwelling, which may have had special significance to the original occupants. It is thought that Mesa Verde Cliff Palace was a social, administrative site with high ceremonial usage.

Many visitors look at the size of the doorways in Mesa Verde Cliff Palace and other cliff dwellings and wonder about the size of the people who once lived here. An average man was about 5'4" to 5'5" (163cm) tall, while an average woman was 5' to 5'1" (152cm). If you compare them with European people of the same time period, they would have been about the same size. Compared with today, the Ancestral Puebloan's average life span was relatively short, due, in part, to the high infant mortality rate. Most people lived an average of 32-34 years, however some people did live into their 50s and 60s. Approximately 50% of the children died before they reached the age of five.

Sandstone, mortar and wooden beams were the three primary construction materials for the cliff dwellings. The Ancestral Puebloans shaped each sandstone block using harder stones collected from nearby riverbeds. The mortar between the blocks is a mixture of local soil, water and ash. Fitted in the mortar are tiny pieces of stone called "chinking." Chinking stones filled the gaps within the mortar and added structural stability to the walls. Over the surface of many walls, the people decorated with earthen plasters of pink, brown, red, yellow, or white -- the first things to erode with time.

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Travel Smarter & Better

Your Guide to the Mesa Verde National Park Tours in 2022

Mesa Verde is a U.S. National Park known for its Cliff Dwellings and ancient architecture that goes back years ago. So history and cultures buff will surely appreciate the park, and the best way to do that is to join a tour or two with the park ranger. 

Table of Contents

Mesa Verde Self-Guided Tours: Can You Tour Mesa Verde On Your Own?

Mesa verde tours.

• Cliff Palace
• Balcony House

How Long Does Each Tour Take?

• The Cliff Palace tour takes approximately 30 minutes. 
• The Balcony House  tour takes approximately 60 minutes. 
• The Long House tour takes approximately 60 minutes.
• Driving time . Mesa Verde National Park is huge; believe me, most of your time will be spent driving.  
• You are required to show up 15 mins earlier before each tour to go over the safety information. 
• There may be delays or any unforeseen circumstances during your tour or after. 
• Sometimes, the tour can go longer than anticipated . 
• 2 hours between the time you book this Cliff Palace tour and a Balcony House tour (i.e., 9:00 AM CP and 11:00 PM BH).
• 3 hours between the time you book this Cliff Palace tour and a Long House tour (i.e., 10:00 AM CP and 1:00 PM or later LH).
• 4 hours between the time you book this Long House tour and a Cliff Palace tour (i.e., 10:00 AM LH and a 2:00 PM or later CP). This will allow you a little extra time to enjoy the sites at Wetherill Mesa and drive to Cliff Palace.

Mesa Verde Tour Cost

• General Admission: $8
• Infant (age 2 and under): $1
• Cancellation Fee: $1 per ticket

How Difficult Is Each Tour?

It’s not so much about hiking to do each cliff-dwelling tour at Mesa Verde National Park. However, each tour requires climbing up and down to go through a cliff dwelling, and the effort can be anywhere from easy and moderate to difficult , depending on your physical conditions. Therefore, the tour is not for you if you have mobility issues or concerning physical health. So plan accordingly before purchasing any tour tickets. 

Best Cliff Dwelling Tours at Mesa Verde

• The Cliff Palace  tour is the easiest and fastest tour, and it’s also the most popular cliff dwelling picture you see when you google Mesa Verde National Park. You go through the tour listening to the ranger’s narrative and move through the cliff dwelling without touching anything. 
• The Balcony House tour requires a better fitness level and takes an hour to complete. It’s also the hardest tour to get tickets because they only offer 3 tours per day with a limited amount of tickets sold. It is one of the most adventurous tours in the park as you move through the cliff dwelling by claiming tall ladders, squeezing your way through a narrow tunnel, etc. See the photo below. This tour lets you touch the dwelling (but not all) as you move through the site. 
• The Long House  tour also takes an hour and is a little further away to drive to it. It’s the least popular Mesa Verde National Park tour and can also be challenging to move through the cliff dwelling. 

How to Book Mesa Verde Tours?

• First and foremost, ensure the cliff dwelling or road is not closed for the date you will visit the park for your tour. 
• You can view the alerts from the official Mesa Verde National Park website .
• Go to the Recreative Gov website and create an account if you do not have one. 
• Sit down and figure out what dates and times you want to do the tour and how many tickets you will need. You can see each Mesa tour hours here:
• All tour reservations can be booked online 14 days in advance at 8 AM Colorado or Mountain Standard Time (MST) . Therefore, 14 days before your desired tour date, set a reminder before 8 AM Colorado time, and get your credit card ready. 
• I suggest you perform a “mock” reservation on a sample date without paying for the reservation to familiarize yourself with the booking process for the tour tickets and quantities you want.
• Simply go to the Recreation Gov Mesa Verde Tour website to book. 
• Remember that the  Balcony House  tour can be sold out in 2-3 minutes, so be strategic and ready to book in front of your computer if this tour is high on your list. 

Best Places to Stay Near Mesa Verde National Park

• I suggest you stay in Cortez to better use your time because Mesa Verde National Park is huge, and you will spend most of your time driving to the park entrance and each cliff dwelling site from the park entrance. 
• Durango is a more interesting town with more attractions, especially its scenic train ride between Durango and Silverton , but it can be far from Mesa Verde. Lodging is also more expensive. 
• If you want to stay in the National Park, there’s a Far View Lodge  inside the park, and they accept pets for $25 per night. 
• Holiday Inn Express Mesa Verde-Cortez – pets are not allowed.
• Hampton Inn Mesa Verde/Cortez – pet fee is $50 per stay, up to 2 pets allowed. 
• Best Western Turquoise Inn & Suites – pet fee is $20 per night, up to 2 pets allowed. However, when I called them, they said $20 per stay, so please double-check. 
• Baymont by Wyndham Cortez – pet fee is $15 per stay, up to 2 pets allowed. 
• Also, some more budgeted  Choice Hotels  are available too. Each hotel charges a pet fee per night instead of per stay, which can add up. 

Are Dogs Allowed In Mesa Verde National Park?

• Never leave your pets in the car unattended. 
• Take turns watching your pet and checking out the cliff dwelling overlook if there are two of you. The Cliff Palace overlook, for example, is not far from the parking lot, so one of you can watch your pet while the other snap a quick photo of the Cliff Palace. A few overlooks along the Cliff Palace loop are just a few steps away from the parking space. 
• Take turns doing each Mesa Verde tour by allowing ample time between switching. 
• Walk the Long House Loop with your pets. The loop is 5-mile long, but you don’t have to do it all. The path is well paved, and some archaeological sites, including the Long House overlook, are where you can enjoy the views with your pets.
• There are also dog kennels near Mesa Verde if you are comfortable. 

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Mesa Verde Tours: The Best Way to See Cliff Dwellings

Article Summary: Mesa Verde Tours

Mesa Verde is one of the most famous National Parks in the country, and for good reason. The park was home to an ancient Native American civilization that left behind over 600 cliff dwellings. These cliff dwellings are among the best-preserved in the United States.

Located in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 and remains one of the best ways to learn about Native American cultures. Indigenous people continue to return here to pay their respects to their ancestors and study their heritage.

Mesa Verde tours are available for visitors who want to explore these incredible archaeological sites. Visitors can take guided tours with a park ranger or go on self-guided tours through these astonishing structures.

Which adventure will you choose? Read on to learn all about the different cliff dwelling tours in Mesa Verde National Park.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, view my privacy policy .

Table of Contents

How to Get to Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde is located near Cortez, CO on Highway 160. It’s about 20 minutes from Cortez and about an hour from Durango.

The closest airports include the Durango-La Plata County Airport, the Cortez Municipal Airport, and the Grand Junction Regional Airport. The Denver International Airport, the closest major airport, is about 7 hours away.

Where to Stay Near Mesa Verde National Park

There are several options near Mesa Verde for visitors to stay the night. These include familiar chains such as Super 8 , Econo Lodge , Hampton Inn , and Baymont . There are also locally-run places to stay, such as the White Eagle Inn , Mesa Verde Farm & Studio , Cozy Inn , and Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch .

There is also one hotel within the park, the Far View .

Camping in Mesa Verde

Camping options inside Mesa Verde National Park are limited to just one campground , but there are plenty of other camping options nearby. Learn more in our Mesa Verde Camping Guide .

When to Visit Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is open every day of the year, 24 hours per day. Certain roads will close at sunset in order to protect the cultural resources in the park.

While the park is open daily, the visitor center is closed on holidays. This includes New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, and Memorial Day.

Mesa Verde tours are offered year-round, but some cliff dwellings are only available in the summer. Ranger-led tours begin in the early summer and continue throughout the season until late fall.

Things to Know Before You Go

The elevation is an important consideration when planning your visit to Mesa Verde. Hiking to the cliff dwellings may be difficult for visitors who are not acclimated.

There is no reliable reception in Mesa Verde National Park. Once you have your Mesa Verde tour tickets, print them out or take a screenshot of the ticket on your phone. You’ll need to show either of these reservation confirmations to the park ranger before you begin your tour.

In order to save money, I would recommend purchasing a  national parks pass . These cost $80 and are valid for a full calendar year (from the date of purchase) at all public lands in the United States. After you visit 3 national parks, it’ll have paid for itself. It also makes a great gift for national park enthusiasts ! Learn more about park entry fees .

Mesa Verde Tours

The cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park are a sight to behold and it is best for visitors to have plenty of time to explore each site.

With a park ranger, visitors have the opportunity to partake in guided Mesa Verde tours at several sites throughout the summer months, while self-guided tour opportunities will be provided year-round.

Self-guided tours through the cliff dwellings are a great way to learn more about these ancient peoples. Self-guided Mesa Verde tours are also a great option for visitors who did not plan ahead and purchase tickets in advance.

Mesa Verde tours are one of the best ways to see the park, and there are many options. If you’re not sure which one is for you, consider the following as you continue to read about the Mesa Verde tours:

• 1) Do you want to go with a ranger?
• 2) Is it important to see sites other than cliff dwellings?
• 3) What level of difficulty would be appropriate for your hiking experience and physical fitness?
• 4) How much time do you have?
• 5) Are there children in your party who might need more assistance on hikes?
• 6) Does anyone in your group have accessibility needs such as mobility limitations or visual impairments that require special accommodations?

Ranger-Led Mesa Verde Tours

Cliff palace & balcony house.

Cliff Palace was recently closed, but is now open for tours again! Beginning in mid-May, rangers will lead groups on a 45-minute tour of this ancestral site, once home to over 1,000 people.

Tours are generally offered every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a lunch break from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

You will need to climb over 100 feet down a steep stone staircase. The full tour also includes climbing 8 to 10-foot ladders.

Reserve your tickets on Recreation.gov .

Considered a ranger-assisted tour rather than a guided tour, visiting Long House is done at your own pace. This allows for social distancing and lowers crowds on sensitive cultural resources.

Yet, visitors are still able to talk to park rangers and learn more about the Puebloan people and their homes. On this ranger-assisted tour of Mesa Verde, park rangers are located along the trail and ready to answer questions.

Long House is the second-largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park. Visitors will see kivas, a small spring, a dance hall, and majestic canyon views.

Tickets are required for this timed-entry experience and can be purchased on Recreation.gov . Tickets are $8 per person.

Tours are offered daily from Memorial Day through late October. Tours occur every half hour between 9:30 and 3:00 with a break from 11:00 to 1:00.

Long House is located on Wetherill Mesa about 1.5 hours from the park entrance. Visitors will need to descend 130 feet to the cliff dwelling, climb two 15-foot ladders, and ascend 130 feet back to the trailhead. The roundtrip hike is 2.25 miles (3.6 km).

Twice per day, rangers lead a backcountry tour to this quiet cliff dwelling. Along the way, visitors can also experience an Adobe cave, rock art, and spectacular canyon views.

Mug House was once home to 80-100 residents. When discovered, three mugs were found hanging from a rope made of yucca in one of its rooms, giving the dwelling its name.

The hike to reach Mug House is considered strenuous. The trail includes a section of rock scrambling over boulders along the 2.25-mile roundtrip journey. The trail also has steep drop-offs and switchbacks as it descends 100 feet.

Tickets are required for this timed-entry experience and can be purchased on Recreation.gov . Tickets are $25 per person.

Spring House

Mesa Verde tours to Spring House are offered occasionally throughout the summer, usually only a few days per season.

Spring House is the largest unexcavated cliff dwelling in the park. It contains 86 rooms and 7 kivas. Because of its extremely fragile nature, visitors on this tour will not enter the site. It’s similar to the nearby Yucca House National Monument, another of the national parks in Colorado , in its unexcavated nature.

At the end of your 4-mile (one-way) trek, you’ll end at a spectacular view over the dwelling from a platform. The 8-hour adventure does include views of other cliff dwellings as well as you traverse mesas and canyons on this very strenuous hike. The trail also includes one short ladder.

Tickets are required for this timed-entry experience and can be purchased on Recreation.gov . Tickets are $45 per person.

Square Tower House

Square Tower House includes the tallest standing structure in the park, a 4-story tower constructed by the Puebloans. Additionally, you’ll find rock art, a kiva with an intact roof, and original plaster and paint. All of this makes Square Tower House one of the most impressive cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde.

The hike is a strenuous 1-mile roundtrip walk that takes about 90 minutes. Visitors will descend 100 feet on an uneven path with two ladders, switchbacks, and steep drop-offs. There may also be rock scrambling.

Each summer, tours are offered once every morning. It’s important to plan ahead and get your ticket for this special experience.

If you’re unable to get a ticket, you can also view Square Tower House from above along the scenic Mesa Top Loop Road.

Self-Guided Mesa Verde Tours

Cedar Tree Tower

Open from 8 a.m. to sunset every day, the Cedar Tree Tower features the tower and a kiva complex. This is viewable from a small parking area near the Farming Terrace Loop Trail. The trail is a short 1/2-mile roundtrip and will take hikers to ancient dams.

Spruce Tree House

Unfortunately, due to concerns about rock falls, this cliff dwelling is no longer accessible. You can still view it from the Museum on Chapin Mesa.

Located on Wetherill Mesa near the Long House trailhead is Step House. Currently, this is the only cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde that you can enter without a park ranger.

There’s a short trail through the dwelling as well as a short ladder used to peek into rooms.

It takes about one hour to walk the trail and explore the dwelling, so plan accordingly. Plan to hike about 1-mile roundtrip with a 100-foot descent. Step House may not be open during periods of low staffing.

Mesa Top Sites

Additionally, there are a few things to see besides cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde that you can explore on your own.

The Badger House Trail on Wetherill Mesa showcases surface sites where the Puebloans lived above the canyon. Similar sites can be seen at the Far View Sites Complex and along the Mesa Top Loop Road.

Pin Our Overview of Mesa Verde Tours

Mesa Verde features a variety of tours and activities for visitors, including several different ways to experience the cliff dwellings. We hope this post helped you decide which Mesa Verde tours are best for you during your visit. If you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send us an e-mail. Safe travels!

Riley has been visiting national parks for as long as she can remember. Her newest passion is sharing her love of national parks with the world by planning trips, writing about her travels, and offering advice. One day, Riley hopes to visit all 429 national parks.

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Mesa Verde National Park Tours

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 to preserve and interpret the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home from 600 to 1300 CE. Today, the park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.

Need to Know

Daily tours of Cliff Palace and Balcony House are scheduled to start May 6 and Square Tower House May 24. NOTE: In 2024, all Ranger-Led tours will require reservations through the Recreation.gov website or toll free number 1-877-444-6777. For more information on the variety of tours offered next season, please visit the Mesa Verde National Park Cliff Dwelling Tours page .

• During the ticket season which typically runs from May to October, tickets will go on sale 14 days in advance at 8:00 a.m MST, on a rolling daily window. For example, tickets would go on sale April 22 for tours on May 6. 
• PLAN AHEAD! All 2024 tours will require reservations. Tours are limited and sell out daily, especially on holiday and weekend dates. Cliff Palace is limited to 50, Balcony House to 35, and Square Tower House to 10 participants per tour.
• If booking more than one tour on the same day, please ensure you allow enough time to drive from one site to another and allow adequate time between tours. Please follow the suggested tour times listed on each tour page.

Important! Please either print your reservation confirmation email or save a screenshot on your mobile device before arriving at the park. You will present this to the ranger before your tour. No other ticket will be provided. Cell service is extremely limited in the park and rangers cannot access tour reservation lists.  

• All tours are appropriate for well-prepared hikers, but are strenuous, so please consider your physical health before choosing a tour/hike, espicially if you have heart or respiratory problems, or other physical difficulties.Elevations ranges between 7,000 and 7,500 feet (2134 , and 2286 m) above sea level.
• We suggest wearing sturdy shoes or boots and bring plenty of water.Your safety depends on your good judgement, adequate preperation, and constant attention.
• Children must be able to walk the extent of the trails and climb all ladders on their own without diffculty. All infants must be carried in backpacks while on tours and adults carrying children in backpacks must be able to maintain mobility and balance.
• All visitors to Mesa Verde National Park must present a pass (Interagency Annual Pass, Interagency Senior Pass, Interagency Military Pass, Interagency Access Pass, or an annual 4th Grade Pass) or pay an entrance fee upon arrival (or purchase a digital site pass in advance ).
• Please be prepared to present your hard copy pass or digital pass on your mobile device. Please also have your photo I.D. available to present to the ranger with your pass. Photo copies or digital pass images will not be accepted if you left your hard copy pass at home.
• Do you already own a pass? Mesa Verde National Park honors the Interagency Annual and lifetime Passes that are valid at multiple national park and federal sites. If you already have a valid Interagency Annual Pass, you will not be required to pay the 7-Day entrance fee. Pass holders must provide their Interagency Annual or Lifetime pass for validation or will be required to pay the entrance fee.
• Are you visiting multiple parks? Upon arrival at Mesa Verde National Park you may purchase Interagency Annual and lifetime passes that allow entry at multiple national parks and federal lands.For information about other pass options, please visit Recreation.gov " Buy a Pass" page or compare the passes at the USGS Pass Store 
• The park no longer accepts cash or checks for any entrance fees, Interagency Passes, or ticket reservations. All purchases must be made by credit card only (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or Diners Club). NO CASH ON PREMISE.
• Although the park is open year-round, overnight accommodations and some areas (including Wetherill Mesa) are closed during the winter months. Be sure to check the park's Operating Hours page or pick up a Visitor Guide upon arrival for details on services available during your visit.
• The Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center is open from 8:30 am -4:00 pm, daily. The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum open from 10:00 am- 3:00 pm daily.

Only plain water is allowed on any tour. Candy, tobacco or gum are NOT permitted into any cliff dwelling.

Morefield Campground at Mesa Verde National Park is operated by Aramark . You may book online at Aramark's Mesa Verde website or call 1-800-449-2288. The campground will re-open April 26.

Mesa Verde National Park does not require a Timed Ticket Entry to enter the park.

Booking Windows

In 2024 tour reservations will be available 14 days in advance, 8:00 am MST, on a rolling daily window. (For example, reservations for May 6 will be available starting Apr 22 at 8:00 am MDT.  All Ranger-Led tours require a tour reservation.

Booking a reservation in advance is strongly encouraged. All tour reservations will be sold online or by calling 877-444-6777. No reservations are reserved in person. The park does not have a waiting list available. We recommend to check recration.gov for any cancellations.

Changes and Cancellations

Cancellations must be completed at least 24-hours before your scheduled tour start time for a full refund minus the non-refundable per-ticket reservation fee. Refunds will not be given for tours cancelled or modified less than 24-hours before the scheduled tour time. All reservations are NON-TRANSFERABLE AND NON-REFUNDABLE unless the tour is cancelled by the National Park Service.

Contact Information

Mailing address.

PO Box 8 Mesa Verde CO 81330

Phone Number

970-529-4465

Available Tours and Tickets

• Square Tower House
• Balcony House
• Cliff Palace

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Cliff Palace Overlook Trail

“ a great trail to a spectacular cliff palace site. ”.

Point to Point

6,819' 2,078  m, 6,705' 2,044  m, 115' 35  m, 128' 39  m, know this trail, dogs no dogs, features views, description.

Land Manager: National Park Service - Mesa Verde National Park

Trail Ratings

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Current trail conditions, conditions history, add check-in, nearby recommended routes.

Balcony House Trail

0.4 mi 0.7 km • 80' Up 24.43 m Up • 81' Down 24.8 m Down

Petroglyph Point Trail

2.2 mi 3.6 km • 428' Up 130.47 m Up • 169' Down 51.48 m Down

Prater Ridge Trail

7.5 mi 12.1 km • 979' Up 298.47 m Up • 976' Down 297.61 m Down

Point Lookout Trail

1.1 mi 1.7 km • 527' Up 160.75 m Up • 10' Down 3.16 m Down

La Plata Canyon

18.5 mi 29.8 km • 2,870' Up 874.83 m Up • 2,871' Down 875.05 m Down

Deadwood Mountain and Silver Mountain Extravaganza

10.3 mi 16.6 km • 3,750' Up 1143.05 m Up • 3,750' Down 1143.02 m Down

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1. The Central Air Force Museum

2. Church of St. George

40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 21 May 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy , materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes , offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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