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Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

Durango, CO

Mesa Verde - Colorado - Mild to Wild Land Tours

Established in 1906, Mesa Verde National Park serves to preserve and interpret the archaeological history of the Ancestral Pueblo people. With over 5,000 known sites, including 600 cliff dwellings, Mesa Verde is overflowing with fascinating, centuries-old history. In fact, there’s so much to see and do at Mesa Verde, one might feel overwhelmed trying to plan a visit out there.

But fear not, inquisitive citizens (cue superhero music)! Mild to Wild has got your back with this detailed guide on everything Mesa Verde. In it, we’ve broken down which sites to visit first, how to prepare for your day at the park, the operating hours and weather for each season at the park, camping options, and a few select insider’s tips to get the best bang for your buck. Whether you’re planning your first trip to Mesa Verde, or you’re a seasoned mesa-trekking vet, there’s useful information here for anyone.

Cliff Palace

As the name would suggest, Cliff Palace is a regal-looking structure and perhaps the most impressive site at the park. It’s almost certainly the most photographed. Cliff Palace ranks as a mild adventure level to reach, making it a great option for all visitors. This structure contains a staggering 150 rooms, 23 kivas, and it’s estimated to have housed a population of 100 people. Although you can only enter Cliff Palace by ranger-guided tour, there are plenty of vantage points to view it clearly from afar.
Cliff Palace

Balcony House

Like Cliff Palace, you can only enter Balcony House by ranger-guided tour. In terms of getting in and out of a site though, there’s no option more thrilling than Balcony House. After descending a short staircase from the top of the Mesa, you’ll ascend a 32-foot ladder to reach Balcony House. From there, your guide will lead you through tunnels and passageways all while providing insights on how the Ancestral Pueblo people lived there over 700 years ago.
Balcony House

Long House

Whereas Balcony House and Cliff Palace are located at Chapin Mesa, Long House sits at Wetherill Mesa in the western portion of Mesa Verde. You can reach it by driving out on a 12-mile route that leaves the main park road just past Far View Lodge around mile 15. The National Park Service advertises the Long House tour as the most in-depth daily tour, clocking in at 2.5 hours. The tour includes a 2.25-mile round-trip hike, two 15-foot ladders to climb at the site, and then ends at the Long House trailhead. From there, you can go to the Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk or go explore the mesa on your own.
Long House

Mug House

This site gets its name from the three mugs tied together with yucca that were hanging inside one of its rooms. The Mug House tour is the most strenuous on our list, clocking in at 3 hours along a 3-mile hiking route that includes steep drop-offs and switchbacks. However, for those looking for a more wild and unique experience, this tour is hard to beat. In addition to Mug House, you’ll get to visit other Ancestral Puebloan sites and experience fantastic views of Rock Canyon along the way.

How Much Time Do I Need To Explore The Park?

The reality is that there’s simply too much of Mesa Verde to experience in just one day. To get the most out of your visit, we recommend you plan on taking a full day to explore the park. We recommend this for two reasons:

  1. Tour Trip Lengths: Each daily tour lasts between 1 – 2.25 hours, and specialty tours last anywhere between 1.5 – 8 hours long. If you want to visit multiple sites and/or take on one of the specialty tours, you’ll need to plan for a full day.
  2. Drive and Break Time: It takes approximately 45 minutes just to get from the park entrance to either Chapin or Wetherill Mesa. The drives in and out of the park combined with the time allocated for purchasing tickets, stopping along the routes for pictures and bathroom breaks, and getting to and from each site will take a chunk out of the day.


So, when planning your trip to Mesa Verde, keep in mind that you’ll have quite a bit of ground to cover throughout your day. It’s a fun and beautiful place to behold, but there’s a too much to see in one go.

Weather In Mesa Verde National Park

Since the park is open year-round, weather conditions will vary from season to season. Monitor weather conditions close to when you plan to visit so you can be prepared when you arrive.

  •  Mean Maximum and Minimum Temperatures
    • Spring: 50 – 75 degrees (High), 25 – 45 degrees (Low) 
    • Summer: 75 – 90 degrees (High), 45 – 60 degrees (Low)  
    • Fall: 50 – 75 degrees (High), 25 – 50 degrees (Low)
    • Winter: 40 – 50 degrees (High), 15 – 25 degrees (Low)

No matter the time of year, remember to drink plenty of water. The elevation at Mesa Verde ranges between 7,000 – 8,400 feet and the climate is dry. In those conditions dehydration can set in fast, so drink plenty of water during your visit. You can refill water bottles at park facilities, and water is available at Cliff Palace and the Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk during the summer months.

For current weather conditions at Mesa Verde, visit the Weather page on the NPS Mesa Verde website.

Mesa Verde-durango CO-mild to wild rafting

Take Guided Tours

Although you can explore Mesa Verde on your own, the best way to experience the park is through ranger-guided tours. Not only are these tours the only ways to get access to signature sites, but the rangers who lead the tours are true experts on everything park-related. As you get up close and personal with magnificent structures like Cliff Palace and Balcony House, your guide will provide fascinating information on what life was like for the Ancestral Puebloans over 700 years ago.

Mesa Verde-durango CO-mild to wild rafting

Book Ahead

The best way to take control of your personal touring schedule is by booking ahead of time. We recommend booking at least a few days ahead of your visit. If you need to cancel any of your tours, Mesa Verde will provide a full refund (minus a $1 reservation fee) so long as you cancel up to 24 hours in advance. You can book online at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. The NPS Mesa Verde website also provides a handy graphic for scheduling multiple tours which you can find here.

Mesa Verde-durango CO-mild to wild rafting

Golden Hour Tours

Alright now, this one is really cool. In addition to standard guided tours, Mesa Verde also offers specialty sunrise and twilight tours at Cliff Palace and Balcony House. If you’re looking to get some next-level photos or video at Mesa Verde, these are 100% the tours for you. Dress appropriately for colder early or evening temperatures, and make sure your camera is fully charged for the many pictures you’ll take.

Mesa Verde - Colorado - Mild to Wild Land Tours

Bonus Insider tips

  1. The NPS website has a photography page with instructions to help visitors get the best photos possible. The page provides recommended times to take photos according to the time of year when you visit, and it links to site-specific photography tips.
  2. Do not bring any kind of unmanned aircraft (drone, model airplane, etc.) to Mesa Verde. According to Policy Memorandum 14-05, the launching, landing, or operation of unmanned aircraft is prohibited at all national parks. Failure to comply could result in the confiscation of your aircraft and a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. So yeah, just don’t bring your drone or RC aircraft of any kind.