Ancestral Pueblo people built dwellings in the cliffs and on the mesas in what is now Mesa Verde National Park. The park, which is located in the southwest corner of Colorado near the four corners, is known for its well-preserved cliff dwellings. As a result, a day trip to the Mesa Verde national park is a couple of hours drive from Pagosa Springs.
The park also offers additional activities including bird watching, wild life viewing and hiking. Plus there is a Junior Ranger program for kids of all ages. A Mesa Verde day trip from Pagosa Springs is a great option for the entire family.
Mesa Verde Park Map
Mesa Verde National Park covers over 52,000 acres of land, so it is highly recommended to obtain a map at the entrance or to bring a digital copy. Due to the pure size of the park, you will need to drive to the different cliff dwellings and sites within the park.
Cliff Palace
The Cliff Palace dwelling is the crown jewel of the National Park. It is the largest cliff dwelling in North America, not just within Mesa Verde National Park. Rooms, plazas, towers, kivas and more are built into the sandstone alcoves, protecting the dwelling. The Cliff Palace was used by Ancestral Pueblo people in AD 1200 and deserted in the thirteenth century.
Cliff Palace contains 21 kivas within the dwelling. A kiva is a circular, partly subterranean room, used primarily for ceremonies and gatherings. The dwelling contains more kivas than other sites within Mesa Verde National Park.
Cliff Palace Site Guide from Mesa Verde
Balcony House
Balcony House is a two story dwelling built around the same time as the rest of the dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park. 38 rooms and 2 kivas are present at this site. There is also a tunnel connecting the different sections of the dwelling. Rising 600 feet above the Soda Canyon, a tributary of the Mancos River, Balcony House offers spectacular views of the region.
Balcony House Mesa Verde Site Guide
Spruce Tree House
Spruce Tree House is the third largest dwelling in the Mesa Verde National Park. It is another large dwelling built by the Pueblo people in the AD 1200’s. Spruce Tree House is comprised of 120 rooms, 8 kivas and 2 towers.
Spruce Tree House Site Guide from Mesa Verde
Wetherill Mesa (Long House & Step House)
Long House is about equal in size to Cliff Palace. If measured from end to end, is a 298 foot long sandstone alcove. Long house is comprised of 21 kivas and a row of upper storage rooms, and at one time housed as many as 175 people. Architectural features suggest that Long House was a public gathering place, possibly for trade or community events, used by the people living on the Wetherill Mesa.
Wetherill Mesa (Long House and Step House) Site Guide from Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde Entrance Fees
Mesa Verde is a National Park requiring entrance fees, unless of course, you have a national park pass. However, certain days of the year are free to enter.
2021 Dates Description January 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day April 17 The first Day of National Park Week August 4 One Year Anniversary of the American Outdoors Act August 25 National Park Service Birthday September 25 National Public Lands Day November 11 Veterans Day
Mesa Verde entrance fees – Check for the latest pricing, which is dependent on mode of transportation and day of visit
Pets at Mesa Verde
Activities for Pets are very limited at Mesa Verde National Park. Pets must be leashed and are only allowed on paved paths, in parking lots, and in the campground. – please read the details here.
Directions for Mesa Verde Day Trip from Pagosa Springs
