Things to do in Mesa Verde National Park

Located within a massive sheltered sandstone alcove, Cliff Palace has been wonderfully preserved for over seven centuries. Visitors are often awed with the sheer size and scale of the dwelling, the largest in the national park. Explore the dwelling’s rooms and ceremonial sites, which give a sense of what life would have been like for its ancient inhabitants .

As the best-preserved cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park, and the largest after Cliff Palace and Long House, Spruce Tree House is a favorite to visit at any time of year. Built between A.D. 1211 and 1278 by the Ancestral Puebloan people of southwestern America, the impressive dwelling features about 130 rooms and eight ceremonial kiva chambers. Note that the large alcove housing the dwelling measures 216 feet (66 meters) wide and 89 feet (27 meters) deep at its greatest width and depth.

Explore Balcony House, a 40-room cliff dwelling carved into a rock face in Mesa Verde National Park. The dwelling was most likely constructed during the 1200s by the ancestors of the Pueblo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico. Enjoy an educational and adventurous tour of this fascinating ancient residence.

While many other prominent petroglyphs in Mesa Verde can be seen only during a guided tour, you can view the wall art perched above Petroglyph Point Trail independently. Follow this 2-mile (3-kilometer) loop trail to view the ancient art as well as the attractive surrounding scenery.

For hikers of all levels, the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail is a great place to visit during your trip to Mesa Verde National Park. Follow the easy, family-friendly walk leading to great views of Balcony House and Soda Canyon’s other archaeological sites. The park has 5,000 known sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.

In a national park filled with enthralling archaeological history and sensational natural views, Park Point literally stands tall above the rest. At an elevation of 8,572 feet (2,613 meters), Park Point is the highest spot in Mesa Verde National Park. Come here to admire far-reaching vistas, hike, picnic and learn about the importance of early wildfire detection.

Filling a sandstone alcove that is 298 feet (91 meters) long, Long House is one of the most fascinating ancestral dwellings within the entire Mesa Verde National Park. The site features about 150 rooms and 21 kivas (ceremonial structures) and may have been inhabited by 175 people at one time.