mesa-verde | CO | Find park

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde's Largest Cliff Dwelling

Visitors enjoying Step House, on Wetherill Mesa

A cliff dwelling within a cliff alcove seen from across a canyon

View of Balcony House from the Soda Canyon Overlook

View of cliff dwelling from above a canyon

Square Tower House from overlook along the Mesa Top Loop

View of cliff dwelling from across canyon

Spruce Tree House

Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde's third largest and best preserved cliff dwelling

Visitor center entrance with sculpture of Ancestral Pueblo climber in front plaza.

Stop by the Mesa Verde Visitor & Research Center at the park entrance where park staff will help you plan your visit.

Physical Address:

34840 Hwy 160

Mancos, CO 81328

Mailing Address:

PO Box 8

Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330

contact-details

Phone Number: 970-529-4465 Voice
Phone Number: 970-529-4637 Fax

Email Address: meve_general_information@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle: $30.00

This pass if good for 7 days.

Entrance - Motorcycle: $25.00

This pass is good for 7 days.

Entrance - Per Person: $15.00

This pass is good for 7 days.

Entrance - Private Vehicle: $20.00

Purchase digital park entrance passes on recreation.gov at no additional cost. Once purchased, passes for Mesa Verde National Park must be printed or saved on your mobile device prior to use. Connectivity is limited in the park, therefore printing the permit or saving it on your phone is highly recommended. Passes, including the America the Beautiful, National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Passes, such as the Annual, Access, or Senior pass may be purchased at the entrance station upon arrival.

Entrance - Per Person: $15.00

Entrance - Motorcycle: $15.00

This pass is good for 7 days.

Entrance Passes

Annual Entrance - Park: $55.00

Details: Fee good for a year, beginning from the date of sale.

For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. This World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park is home to over a thousand species, including several that live nowhere else on earth.

park designation:National Park

Directions:

Mesa Verde National Park is in Southwest Colorado. The park entrance and the Visitor and Research Center are located ten miles east of Cortez, nine miles west of Mancos, and about 35 miles west of Durango, Colorado along Hwy 160. Mesa top ancestral sites, Cliff dwellings, tours, and the Mesa Verde Museum are 20 to 21 miles (approximately 45 minutes) south along the park road which which is steep, narrow, and winding.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Mesa Verde National Park Hours

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

Weather Information:

SPRING: This season offers a range of weather including clear skies, wind, rain, cloudy days and temperatures from 40–70°F (4–21° C). Snow may fall into May. SUMMER: Most days are sunny and temperatures can reach above 90°F (32°C) . Thunderstorms are common in July and August. FALL: Temperatures range from 50–75°F (10–24°C). Snow may fall as early as October. WINTER: Temps range from the teens to low 30s F (below -1°C) . Icy roads are common. Snow tires, all-wheel drive, or chains may be required.