Best Things to Do in Mesa Verde

Be sure to check out our Southern Colorado 2 Week Itinerary. It includes all of the best things to do in Mesa Verde National Park and Southern Colorado!

*Last updated July 19, 2024

 

Best Things to Do in Mesa Verde National Park

Table of Contents

  1. How Long to Spend at Mesa Verde National Park
  2. The Best Month to Visit Mesa Verde National Park
  3. About Mesa Verde National Park
  4. Mesa Verde Research and Visitor Center
  5. Cliff Palace
  6. Soda Canyon Overlook and Balcony House
  7. Cliff Palace Tour vs. Balcony House Tour
  8. Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum
  9. Spruce Tree House
  10. Petroglyph Point Trail
  11. Mesa Top Loop Drive
  12. Far View Sites
  13. Wetherill Mesa and Long House
  14. Nearby Areas
  15. Next Time

HOW LONG TO SPEND AT Mesa Verde National Park

I really think it is best to carve out an entire day for your visit. It is a big park and there is a far amount of driving to get through the park. In fact, there are a lot of people that complain they missed their tour time, because they showed up at the visitor center not realizing it is another 45 minutes to get to Cliff Palace or Balcony House.

Also, if you have two days, that is even better. We just had one day and I loved it! I’m sure some people feel like if you’ve seen one cliff dwelling, you’ve seen them all. However, I love these kind of sites and would have loved to have an extra day or two to hike and explore.

THE BEST MONTH TO VISIT Mesa Verde National Park

We went in June and I think that might be the best month to visit! It should be not too hot, not too cold and not quite as busy as the summer months of July and August. However, I do think anytime May through October is a good time to visit since you have long days and everything is open. Also, be aware that some roads, trails and sites might be closed during winter months due to snow.

About Mesa Verde National Park

The Ancestral Puebloans (also known as Anasazi) lived in the Mesa Verde area from the 600s to the 1300s, before migrating south to present day Arizona.

Mesa Verde became a national park in 1906 and a World Heritage Site in 1978. Additionally, it was established By Theodore Roosevelt as the 7th national park. Also, it was the first US “human built” national park.

Be aware that Mesa Verde is a very large park and it takes approximately 45 minutes to drive from the main visitor center to the cliff dwellings (like Cliff Palace and Balcony House). However, the drive is extremely picturesque, so enjoy the drive.

Mesa Verde Research and Visitor Center

Mesa Verde Research and Visitor Center is a great starting point at the beginning of the park. You can pick up information, Jr Ranger packets and get your book stamped. Additionally, rangers are always helpful to hand out a map and direct you to points of interest.

Be aware that it is about a 45 minute drive through Mesa Verde from the visitor center to the other end of the park (where the tours begin for Cliff Palace and Balcony House).

Cliff Palace

Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America! Also, it is one of 3 tours offered where you can visit the cliff dwellings up close. Be aware that you have to purchase reservations in advance. At the time of this writing, reservations open 2 weeks in advance and sell out immediately.

The tour itself is about an hour and has some rocky steps and a few ladders, which might be difficult for some people. However, if you are able, it is really a “must see” destination.

However, if you are unable to get a tour, you do get a great view of Cliff Palace from the overlook. Also, you can’t enter any of the rooms on the tour, it just gets you a little closer.

Soda Canyon Overlook and Balcony House

Balcony House is one of the three tours that you can book to tour the cliff dwellings up close. Be aware that you have to purchase reservations in advance. At the time of this writing, reservations open 2 weeks in advance and sell out immediately.

Unlike Cliff Palace, you cannot see Balcony House from the parking area. In the picture, you can see the cars above Balcony House. Also, from the parking lot you are directly above the Balcony House, so you cannot see it from there without going on the tour.

Additionally, you can hike Soda Canyon Overlook Trail to an overlook to see Balcony House. It is 1.2 miles roundtrip and an easy flat trail. However, it can feel longer if you are hiking in the heat of the day.

Cliff Palace Tour vs. Balcony House Tour

I know that a lot people try to decide between doing the Cliff Palace tour and the Balcony House tour. However, if you have time and are able, go ahead and do both! The park suggests leaving 2 hours between tours to give yourself enough time to drive to the next site.

We chose the Cliff Palace tour as we had young children and the ladders are much shorter and the trail is easier to climb. Additionally, Cliff Palace is amazing to see up close. However, you can get a good view from the overlook.

Balcony House would be good for those who are more adventurous and not afraid of heights. Additionally, while you can see Cliff Palace from the overlook, you cannot see Balcony House from the parking lot. Outside of the tour, the only way to see Balcony House is from a distance by hiking the 1.2 mile roundtrip Soda Canyon trail, which can be hot during the day in the summer. However, it is not a difficult hike and gives nice views of both Balcony House and the surrounding canyons.

Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum

Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum is effectively the second visitor center, located closer to the cliff dwelling sites. They also have on display a number of Pueblo items (and another gift shop of course).

Also, there are park rangers on site and it is a good spot to stop before they close to finish off any Jr Ranger badges. Our kids always enjoy going through the Jr Ranger pledge.

Be sure that you make it to see Spruce Tree House, the overlook is just to the right of the museum.

Spruce Tree House

Spruce Tree House is one of the most accessible views of a cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde. Once you drive to the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum (visitor center), it is about a 20 foot walk to get a great view of Spruce Tree House. 

Additionally, Spruce Tree House used to be the only cliff dwelling that you could hike to on your own without a tour reservation. Unfortunately, as of 2024, the trail is closed indefinitely, due to instability in the rock overhang. However, it has been closed since 2015, so it is unknown if it will reopen again.

Petroglyph Point Trail

We did not hike Petroglyph Point Trail, but I wanted to mention it since it is one of the more popular hikes in the park. It is about 2.5 miles round trip and considered fairly strenuous with some rock scrambling portions. It is also has some cliff ledge sections. Unfortunately, my wife is afraid of steep heights and we had some young children in our group. The trail starts by the Spruce Tree House, has great views and leads you to a large section of petroglyphs (drawings).

Mesa top loop Drive

Mesa Top Loop is one of two loops in the south side of the park, the other being the one that goes to Cliff Palace and Balcony House. If you just drive straight through, it takes about 15 minutes. However, there are a lot of sights to see and you could easily spend 2-3 hours along this route.

Additionally, the overlook to see a more distant view of Cliff Palace is on this drive. Also, the Sun Temple and a view of Square Tower House and Oak Tree House are on this drive.

Far View Sites

The Far View Sites include Far View House and Far View Sites Trail. The loop trail is just under a mile long and gives you access to view Far View House, Pipe Shrine House, Coyote Village, Far View Reservoir, Megalithic House, and Far View Tower.

While technically not “cliff dwellings”, since they are not in cliffs, they are mesa top houses occupied by the same people and are a few hundred years older than the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings.

Also, unlike the cliff sites, you are actually able to walk through some of the Far View dwellings.

Wetherhill Mesa and Long House

Wetherhill Mesa is a separate road and west of the road going to all the sites listed above. While we were there in 2024, Wetherhill Mesa Road was closed in order to build a new visitor center in that section of the park. I’d love to go back some day when it is reopened to be able to spend a day at this side of the park. Wetherhill Mesa is also home to Long House, which is the third cliff dwelling tour offered by the national park.

Nearby Areas

Be sure to check out our Southern Colorado 2 Week Itinerary, which includes Great Sand Dunes National Park and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Next Time

Next time, I’ll definitely plan to spend a few days to spend more time at all of the sites. I’d enjoy doing the Balcony House tour, although I’m sure my wife, with her fear of heights, would sit this one out. I’d also like to do the Long House tour and Wetherhill Mesa area, assuming that area is reopened. For more ideas on other cliff dwellings throughout the world, I thought this list was interesting and would be fun to visit some of these other sites.