MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
What to Do in Mesa Verde National Park
Hiking, Museums & More in Mesa Verde National Park
Balcony House, Cliff Palace, or Long House
Cliff Palace and Long House are some of the largest dwellings in the park with 150 rooms. The Balcony House is another cliff dwelling that is known for its size, consisting of 38 rooms. To go into the dwellings, you must book a guided tour through the park.
Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum
The Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum gives visitors a better look into the Ancestral Puebloan’s lives and will answer many of the questions that come up while in the park. In the museum, you will find ancient artifacts, dioramas, and chronologies of the Puebloan’s who built the cliff dwellings.
Petroglyph Point Trail
Petroglyph Point Trail is a 2.4-mile loop trail that is known for its beautiful wildflowers. The best time to hike the trail is March through November. You will find the petroglyphs near the most southern part of the trail. There are a lot of stairs on the trail and it can be difficult in some areas.
Mesa Top Loop Road
On the loop, you will see cliff dwellings and other remains from the Ancestral Puebloans. Off the 6 mile loop are paved roads that will take you to 12 different archeological sites. The road is open from 8 am to sunset. Learn more about the 12 archeological sites.
Campfire at Morefield Amphitheater
In the evening the rangers put on a free campfire presentation about the park. You can find the amphitheater at the end of the road in the Morefield Campground. Presentations can last from 45 minutes to an hour.
Farming Terraces Trail
This short trail is only a .5-mile loop but has a lot to offer. On the trail, you will find check dams that helped the Ancestral Puebloans farm and an array of wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for lizards and hummingbirds!
Park Point Fire Lookout
This lookout is a great spot for sunsets after a day of exploring the park. The lookout was first built to aid in the early detection of wildfires and is the highest point in the park sitting at 8,572 feet. Today, it is still used for early fire detection and has become a popular stop for people visiting the park.
Getting Here
Wherever your journey takes you, there’s a MileMarker Van to get you there. Our vehicles are built for the Colorado roads and designed to keep you and all your passengers safe and comfortable along the way. Book the best van for your Colorado travels today.