A large stone building with a ladder in front of it

Mesa Verde National Park

Located in the southwestern corner of Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park is a place brimming with mystery and beauty. While the main attractions are the cliff dwellings, visitors will quickly find there are multiple other attractions that can entrance and excite.


Mesa Verde is one of the most popular attractions in the Southwest, and the Gable House is the perfect place to stay for a visit to this one-of-a-kind National Park. The Gable House is only 35 miles from Mesa Verde National Park, and the drive takes about 40 minutes. 


Please note the area is considered sacred by multiple Native American tribes, so be respectful and follow all park regulations during your visit.

Canyons of the Ancients Tour with Durango RiverTrippers

As stated above, the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings are the primary attractions of the park, being some of the most notable and well preserved of their kind in all of North America. For almost a hundred years, many of the Ancestral Pueblo peoples lived in the alcoves of the area, farming the mesa tops and expanding the cliff villages.


Today, five major cliff dwellings are available for sightseers to visit:

  • Balcony House
  • Cliff Palace
  • Long House
  • Spruce Tree House
  • Step House


All but Step House require a ranger guide in order to visit. On Chapin Mesa some of the cliff dwellings can be viewed from afar from overlooks situated along the park road.


You can learn more about the cliff dwellings and ranger guided tours by visiting the official Mesa Verde website at https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm 

or book a private tour with Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours. Click the "Learn More" button for details.


Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings

Being of great cultural significance to a number of Native tribes, Mesa Verde National Park periodically hosts cultural dances, performances, and demonstrations by members of these tribes.


Not only do these performances and demonstrations help maintain the vital connections between the land and the Native tribes, they can also help connect visitors with the cultures and traditions of the tribes.


All performances are free with a park pass or entrance fee.


Cultural Performances

A woman in a colorful dress is holding a piece of fabric.

For those interested in astronomy, you’ll be pleased to find Mesa Verde offers one of the darkest skies in the mainland United States. A combination of high elevation, climate, sparse population, regularly clear skies results in exceptional stargazing. 


Visitors will be able to see a similar sky as ancient peoples saw thousands of years ago. In fact, the park was named as the 100th International Dark Sky Park, recognizing the great lengths of care to preserve the quality of  night sky viewing


While much of the park is closed during the night, there are still plenty of great locations to gaze at the heavens. Far View Lodge and the Morefield Campground are the two most promoted areas to stargaze, but there are also numerous overlooks along the park road that will allow just as unfettered and expansive views of the stars.


Stargazing in Mesa Verde

milky-way

Mesa Verde National Park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who love hiking. 


Due to how large the park is, there are plenty of trails to explore. These trails can vary widely in length and difficulty. There are even paved trails for those looking for a more leisurely hike.


Due to the National Park area being sacred to 26 Native American tribes, the park does have strict rules in place, such as no off trail hiking and no smoking on the trails. It is also advised to bring and drink plenty of water as well as eat salty snacks due to the hot, arid climate.


All in all, every hiker should show the proper respect that this area deserves. To get a more comprehensive list of hiking rules and regulations, visit the park website.


Hiking in Mesa Verde