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Southwestern Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde protects thousands of archaeological sites, including cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Pueblo people. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Official visitor website(opens nps.gov in a new tab)
Cliff Palace, stone dwellings built into a sandstone alcove at Mesa Verde.

All landmarks

Photo: Tobi 87, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The story

  • Indigenous History & Living Cultures
  • Nature & National Parks

Why it matters

Mesa Verde protects thousands of archaeological sites, including cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Pueblo people. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Why it may matter to you

It shows that the land's history reaches back many centuries before European arrival.

The fuller story

Present-day Pueblo and other tribes maintain ancestral ties to Mesa Verde. These are places of deep cultural meaning to living communities, not only ruins.

Plan your visit

Hours, prices, reservations, and closures change. Check the official visitor website.
Time to allow
A full day; 2 days to see more (our estimate)
Setting
Mostly outdoor
Tickets and reservations
Entrance fee; cliff dwelling tours are ticketed. Check the official visitor website.
Getting there
A car is needed; park roads are long and winding.
With family
Some cliff dwellings require climbing ladders on ranger-guided tours. High elevation and heat; bring water.
Seasons and weather
Some areas and tours are seasonal; winter snow can close roads.
Accessibility
Accessibility information from the operator(opens nps.gov in a new tab)
Times are estimates and distances are straight-line. Citizen Navigator is an independent educational resource. Visitor access and conditions change. Confirm current details with the destination's official operator.