Mesa Verde National Park Colorado Travel Information
Mesa Verde National Park protects some thousands of archaeological
sites in southwest Colorado, including some of the most striking and
best-preserved structures made by the Ancestral Pueblo people
(formerly known as the Anasazi). Guided tours of several large cliff
dwellings and interpretive hikes allow visitors to see the structures
up close, and a museum and scenic drive are also available. The
park offers a unique mixture of geological and manmade splendor, with
multi-story native buildings blending with natural sandstone shelters.
Three sites at Mesa Verde have over a hundred rooms, and a wide
variety of smaller and older ruins, some dating back 1500 years, are
spread throughout the area. The park also offers breathtaking views of
the Four Corners region and the nearby San Juan Mountains. Mesa
Verde is located off Highway 160 in southwestern Colorado, about 35
miles west of Durango or a short drive east from Cortez. The park is
open year-round, but only limited services are available in winter.
For more information on Mesa Verde National Park, select a topic of
interest from the left-hand column.
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