Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

As one of only 20 World Heritage sites in the U.S., Mesa Verde National Park stands as a fascinating monument to the unique history and culture of Southwestern Colorado. Home to some of Colorado's earliest inhabitants, Mesa Verde (Spanish for "green table") offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to see and experience a unique cultural and physical landscape. Starting with the earliest of evidence of human habitation and continuing through the development of this ancient civilization, you will enjoy a learning journey designed to gain insight into the fascinating pre-cliff dwelling and cliff dwelling history of the ancient Puebloan peoples (formerly known as the Anasazi).

The Puebloan culture represented at Mesa Verde National Park reflects more than 700 years of history and the incredible remnants of their sheltered villages, commonly referred to as "cliff dwellings.” During their last century, some Puebloan peoples of Mesa Verde left the mesa tops and built their homes in the alcoves that abound in the many canyon walls. This last period marks the climax of the Pueblo culture in Mesa Verde and is known as the Classic Pueblo Period (A.D. 1100-1300). The exact number of dwellings in Mesa Verde is unknown, but over 600 cliff dwellings have been documented.

To fully enjoy Mesa Verde, plan to spend a day or two exploring its world-class archaeological sites as well as its beautiful landscape and enhance your trip with a fascinating guided tour. With full-day, all-inclusive options to half-day, ranger-lead bus tours inside the Park, a guided tour will offers a unique and interpretive learning journey and will provide you with a deeper understanding of what we have come to understand about this ancient culture. Scientists study the ancient dwellings of Mesa Verde, in part, by making comparisons between the Ancestral Pueblo people and their contemporary indigenous descendants who still live in the Southwest today. Twenty-four Native American tribes in the southwest have an ancestral affiliation with the sites at Mesa Verde.

The entrance to Mesa Verde is 9 miles east of Cortez and 35 miles west of Durango in Southwestern Colorado on US Highway 160. We recommend at least 90 minutes drive time from downtown Durango to allow for ample time to arrive at your destination before tour departure times. The park entrance fees are included in Full Day tour options but are not included in the 1/2 day options and vary by season and are currently $10 per vehicle in the off season (Labor Day to Memorial Day) and $15 in the peak season (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Golden Eagle National Parks passes are accepted.