Mesa Verde National Park
For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. This World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park is home to over a thousand species, including several that live nowhere else on earth.
Alerts
- InformationNPS ↗Road Construction
Road work will begin on the first four miles of the Main Park Road during the week of September 20 - 26. Expect delays up to 15 minutes. Far View Sites and Cedar Tree Tower are closed for road improvements. Wetherill Mesa Road has compacted gravel for 30 feet; motorcycles should take extra caution on this road.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleValid for 7 days. | $30 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $25 | |
| Per PersonValid for 7 days. | $15 | |
| Private VehiclePurchase digital park entrance passes on recreation.gov at no additional cost. Once purchased, passes for Mesa Verde National Park must be printed or saved on your mobile device prior to use. Connectivity is limited in the park, therefore printing the permit or saving it on your phone is highly recommended. Passes, including the America the Beautiful, National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands… | $20 | |
| Per PersonPurchase digital park entrance passes on recreation.gov at no additional cost. Once purchased, passes for Mesa Verde National Park must be printed or saved on your mobile device prior to use. Connectivity is limited in the park, therefore printing the permit or saving it on your phone is highly recommended. Passes, including the America the Beautiful, National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands… | $15 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $15 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkDetails: Fee good for a year, beginning from the date of sale. | $55 | |
If you already have a valid Interagency Annual Pass, you will not be required to pay the 7-Day entrance fee. Pass holders must provide their Interagency Annual or Lifetime pass for validation or will be required to pay the entrance fee. Be prepared to show photo ID with your pass.
Hours
| Mesa Verde National Park Hours | Daily · All Day |
When to go
June draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Morefield Campground | 267 sites | |
| $38 a night · Closed Nov 3 to Apr 24 · Books through visitmesaverde.com | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center ↗Passport stamp
Located at the park entrance, off Highway 160, this is the park’s primary facility for orienting visitors to opportunities within the park and surrounding area. Accessible exhibits explore the richness of Ancestral Pueblo culture and daily life.
- Mesa Verde Museum ↗Passport stamp
Located at milepost 20, the Mesa Verde Mesa Museum offers exhibits and cultural objects that provide insight into the Ancestral Pueblo lifeways. An orientation film is shown on the hour and half-hour, providing an excellent overview of the history at Mesa Verde.
Explore
Things to do
- Visit Mesa Verde's Historic Administrative District
Take a walk amid the early park structures that comprise the Historic Administrative District of Mesa Verde National Park. Established in 1987 the historic district comprises structures with architectural designs based in strong indigenous cultural…
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore the Mesa Top Loop Road45-60 Minutes
The 6-mile (10 km) Mesa Top Loop takes you through 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo history. From remains of early pithouses and masonry villages to multi-storied cliff dwellings, the archeological sites along this loop show how early Pueblo…
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Webcams
Camera images load live from the National Park Service and partner agencies
Events
- Sunday Bird Walk10/1807:00 AM · free · registration required
News
- Wildland Firefighters are Working to Contain a Fire in the Wetherill Mesa Area of Mesa Verde National Park ↗2026-07-07
Firefighters Responding to Long Canyon Fire in Mesa Verde National Park.
- Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Begin on July 3, 2026 ↗2026-07-01
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions at Mesa Verde National Park and Yucca House National Monument
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Mesa Verde National Park and Colorado's national parks
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Local history books for Mesa Verde National Park
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthGreat Horned Owl 2× · American Badger 2× · Red Fox 2× · Red Junglefowl 1× · Belted Kingfisher 1× · American Black Bear 1× · Bobcat 1× · Mountain Lion 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 194 birds, 72 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Broad-winged Hawk · California Condor · Cooper's Hawk · Ferruginous Hawk · Flammulated Owl · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Harris's Hawk · Hen Harrier · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Mexican Spotted Owl · Mississippi Kite · Mountain Pygmy Owl · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Short-eared Owl · Snowy Owl · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture · Western Screech-Owl
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Coot · American White Pelican · American Wigeon · Black-crowned Night Heron · Black-necked Grebe · Blue Goose · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Cinnamon Teal · Common Merganser · Common Teal · Great Blue Heron · Northern Pintail · Pied-billed Grebe · Ring-necked Duck · Ruddy Duck · Sandhill Crane · Snowy Egret · Wood Duck · white-faced ibis
Shorebirds & seabirdsKilldeer · Marbled Godwit · Mountain Plover · Ring-billed Gull · Solitary Sandpiper · Wilson's Phalarope
Gamebirds & dovesBand-tailed Pigeon · Blue Grouse · Gambel's Quail · Mourning Dove · Rock Pigeon · Scaled Quail · Wild Turkey
WoodpeckersAmerican Three-toed woodpecker · Downy Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Lewis' Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-naped Sapsucker · Williamson's Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsAmerican Black Swift · Black-chinned Hummingbird · Broad-tailed Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Bushtit · American Cliff Swallow · American Crow · American Dipper · American Dusky Flycatcher · American Goldfinch · American Grey Flycatcher · American Pipit · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Barn Swallow · Bell's Vireo · Belted Kingfisher · Bewick's Wren · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-throated Sparrow · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Bohemian Waxwing · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Creeper · Brown Towhee · Brown-capped Rosy Finch · Brown-crested Flycatcher · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's oriole · Canada Jay · Canvasback · Canyon Wren · Cassin's Finch · Cassin's Kingbird · Cedar Waxwing · Chipping Sparrow · Clark's Nutcracker · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Starling · Common Yellowthroat · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Kingbird · Evening Grosbeak · Field Sparrow · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Gray Catbird · Gray Vireo · Gray-crowned Rosy Finch · Great Crested Flycatcher · Great Grey Shrike · Greater Roadrunner · Green-tailed Towhee · Hammond's Flycatcher · Hermit Thrush · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Indigo Bunting · Juniper Titmouse · Lapland Longspur · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Least Flycatcher · Lesser Goldfinch · Lincoln's Sparrow · Loggerhead Shrike · Mallard · Marsh Wren · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Northern Goshawk · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Raven · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Phainopepla · Pine Grosbeak · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Plumbeous Vireo · Pygmy Nuthatch · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-winged Blackbird · Rock Wren · Roughleg · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rufous-crowned Sparrow · Sage Sparrow · Sage Thrasher · Sand Martin · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Scott's Oriole · Song Sparrow · Spotted Towhee · Steller's Jay · Townsend's Solitaire · Tree Swallow · Tufted Titmouse · Varied Bunting · Varied Thrush · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Warbling Vireo · Western Bluebird · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Scrub-Jay · Western Tanager · Western Wood Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · Willow Flycatcher · Winter Wren · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-headed Blackbird
Small mammalsAbert's Squirrel · American beaver · Audubon's Cottontail · Black-tailed Jack Rabbit · Botta's Pocket Gopher · Brush Deermouse · Bushy-tailed Woodrat · Canyon Deermouse · Cinereus Shrew · Colorado Chipmunk · Coronation Island vole · Crawford's Gray Shrew · Deer Mouse · Dusky Shrew · Dwarf Shrew · Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel · Gunnison's Prairie Dog · Least Chipmunk · Merriam's Shrew · Mexican Vole · Mexican Woodrat · Montane Vole · Mountain Cottontail · Northern Grasshopper Mouse · Ord's Kangaroo Rat · Piñon Deermouse · Plains Pocket Mouse · Red Squirrel · Rock Squirrel · Silky Pocket Mouse · Spotted Ground Squirrel · Western Harvest Mouse · White-tailed Antelope Squirrel · White-throated Woodrat · Yellow-bellied Marmot · common porcupine · muskrat
PredatorsAmerican Badger · American Black Bear · American Mink · Bobcat · Canada lynx · Common Gray Fox · Coyote · Cross Fox · Ermine · Long-tailed Weasel · Ringtail · Striped Skunk · Western Spotted Skunk · common raccoon
Hoofed mammalsDomestic Horse · Eurasian Elk · Mule Deer · elk
BatsBig Brown Bat · Big Free-tailed Bat · Black Bat · Brazilian Free-tailed Bat · California Myotis · Fringed Myotis · Hoary Bat · Little Brown Bat · Long-eared Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Pallid Bat · Pinto Bat · Small-footed Myotis · Western Pipistrelle · Yuma Myotis · mule-eared bat
Also on the checklistCatamount
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Skiing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
All 18 activitiesHide
Weather & climate
SPRING: This season offers a range of weather including clear skies, wind, rain, cloudy days and temperatures from 40–70°F (4–21° C). Snow may fall into May. SUMMER: Most days are sunny and temperatures can reach above 90°F (32°C). Thunderstorms are common in July and August. FALL: Temperatures range from 50–75°F (10–24°C). Snow may fall as early as October. WINTER: Temps range from the teens to low 30s F (below -1°C). Icy roads are common. Snow tires, all-wheel drive, or chains may be required.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mesa Verde?
Entrance is $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. Valid for 7 days.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Mesa Verde?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Mesa Verde-only annual pass is $55.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Mesa Verde takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Mesa Verde free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Mesa Verde?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Mesa Verde. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
Is Mesa Verde open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Mesa Verde?
Yes. The Park Service lists 1 campground in Mesa Verde: Morefield. 1 takes reservations through Recreation.gov.
Which Mesa Verde campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Showers: Morefield. Dump station: Morefield. Electric hookups: Morefield.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Mesa Verde include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Morefield is $38 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
Do Mesa Verde campgrounds book through Recreation.gov?
No. Morefield takes reservations through visitmesaverde.com.
Source: Campgrounds
When do Mesa Verde campgrounds close for the season?
Morefield is closed Nov 3 to Apr 24.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Mesa Verde right now?
1 active alert as of October 14, 2026: Road Construction.
Source: Alerts
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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