Mesa Verde National Park Road Trip Info
Visit Mesa Verde National Park
If your road trip through Colorado includes the southwest corner, an overnight stop at Mesa Verde National Park is well worth it (map). This spectacular National Park offers a look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people, whose communities developed cliff dwellings and mesa-top villages and lived there for over 700 years. These spectacular cliff dwellings and villages were built between 550 and 1300 A.D. Today, Mesa Verde National Park protects almost 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. Visitors may walk, drive, or take a bus tour through the Park. Hiking and climbing ladders in and out of cliff dwellings are available or walk through less rigorous self-guided routes. The suggested visitation time for the Park is two days.While in the area, check out:
- Mancos State Park is just 12+ miles north of the National Park. It offers camping and a beautiful lake.
- The Aztec ruins, south of Durango, are slightly off the beaten path, but another great stop to add to your trip through southwest Colorado.
- If heading to Durango, plan a scenic train ride on the D&SNGRR.