Mesa Verde National Park Tours

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Mesa Verde National Park Tours

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 to preserve and interpret the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home from 600 to 1300 CE. Today, the park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.

Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 to preserve and interpret the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home from 600 to 1300 CE. Today, the park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.

Need to Know

  • How to book tour reservations

    NOTE: All 2026 Ranger-Led tours will require reservations through the Recreation.gov website or toll free number 1-877-444-6777. Reservations are available 14 days in advance, beginning at 8:00 am MDT and fill up early. However, if someone cancels their reservation these tickets become available and can be purchased only at recreation.gov up to two hours before a tour.

    Reserving a tour is much easier if you create a recreation.gov account in advance. Go to recreation.gov and select the "Sign Up/Log In" tab in the upper right corner. For more information on the variety of tours offered next season, please visit the Mesa Verde National Park Cliff Dwelling Tours page .

  • Reservations

    • Please check back in March for Mesa Verde's 2026 cliff dwelling tour schedule.

    • During the ticket season which runs from May to October, tickets will go on sale 14 days in advance at 8:00 a.m. MDT, on a rolling daily window.

    • Tours are limited and sell out daily, especially on holiday and weekend dates. Cliff Palace is limited to 50, Balcony House to 35. Long House to 30, and Square Tower House to 10 participants per tour.

    • If booking more than one tour on the same day, please ensure you allow enough time to drive from one site to another and allow adequate time between tours. Please follow the suggested tour times listed on each tour page.

  • Tour Reservation Receipt

    Important! Cell signal is not available at tour locations. Please either print your reservation confirmation email or save a screenshot on your mobile device before arriving at the park. You will present this to the ranger before your tour. No other ticket will be provided. Cell service is extremely limited in the park and rangers cannot access tour reservation lists.  

  • Health Warning
    • All tours are appropriate for well-prepared hikers, but are strenuous, so please consider your physical health before choosing a tour/hike, especially if you have heart or respiratory problems, or other physical difficulties. Elevations range between 7,000 and 7,500 feet (2134 and 2286 m) above sea level.
    • We suggest wearing sturdy shoes or boots and bring plenty of water. Your safety depends on your good judgement, adequate preperation, and constant attention.
    • All tours require participants to climb ladders and descend/ascend stairs. Plan to attend tours with hands available for ladders; packs or pockets for water, cameras, or other devices are encouraged.
    • Children must be able to walk the extent of the trails and climb all ladders on their own without diffculty. All infants must be carried in backpacks while on tours and adults carrying children in backpacks must be able to maintain mobility and balance.
  • Entrance Fees and Passes
    • All visitors to Mesa Verde National Park must present a pass (Interagency Annual Pass, Interagency Senior Pass, Interagency Military Pass, Interagency Access Pass, or an annual 4th Grade Pass) or pay an entrance fee upon arrival (or purchase a digital site pass in advance).
    • Please be prepared to present your hard copy pass or digital pass on your mobile device. Please also have your photo I.D. available to present to the ranger with your pass. Photo copies or digital pass images will not be accepted if you left your hard copy pass at home.
    • Do you already own a pass? Mesa Verde National Park honors the Interagency Annual and lifetime Passes that are valid at multiple national park and federal sites. 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.
    • Are you visiting multiple parks? Upon arrival at Mesa Verde National Park you may purchase Interagency Annual and lifetime passes that allow entry at multiple national parks and federal lands.For information about other pass options, please visit Recreation.gov " Buy a Pass" page or compare the passes at the USGS Pass Store 
    • The park no longer accepts cash or checks for any entrance fees, Interagency Passes, or ticket reservations. All purchases must be made by credit card only (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or Diners Club). NO CASH ON THE PREMISES.
  • Park Operations

    • Although the park is open year-round, overnight accommodations and some areas (including Wetherill Mesa) are closed during the winter months. Be sure to check the park's Operating Hours page or pick up a Visitor Guide upon arrival for details on services available during your visit.

      ***These two locations are closed during the federal government lapse in funding***

    • The Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center is open from 8:30 am -4:00 pm, daily. The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum open from 10:00 am- 3:00 pm daily.

  • Food and Drink

    Only plain water is allowed on any tour. Sugary beverages, food, candy, tobacco or gum are NOT permitted into any cliff dwelling.

  • Morefield Campground

    Morefield Campground at Mesa Verde National Park is operated by Aramark . You may book online at Aramark's Mesa Verde website or call 1-800-449-2288. The campground is open to primitive camping Only in the Pueblo Loop from Oct 20-27.

  • Timed Ticket Entry

    Mesa Verde National Park does not require a Timed Ticket Entry to enter the park.

Booking Windows

In 2026 tour reservations will be available 14 days in advance, 8:00 am MDT, on a rolling daily window. (For example, reservations for May 4 will be available starting Apr 20 at 8:00 am MDT. All Ranger-Led tours require a tour reservation.

Booking a reservation in advance is strongly encouraged. All tour reservations will be sold online or by calling 877-444-6777. No reservations are reserved in person. The park does not have a waiting list available. We recommend to check recration.gov for any cancellations.

Changes and Cancellations

Cancellations completed at least 24-hours before your scheduled tour start time will receive a full refund minus the non-refundable per-ticket reservation fee. There are no refunds for cancellations or changes less than 24-hours before the scheduled tour time. All reservations are NON-TRANSFERABLE AND NON-REFUNDABLE unless the tour is cancelled by the National Park Service.

Contact Information

Mailing Address

PO Box 8 Mesa Verde CO 81330

Phone Number

970-529-4465

Photo Gallery

  • A uniformed NPS Park Ranger stands and talks in front of many stone buildings in a large rock alcove.An NPS Park Ranger describing Cliff Palace.
  • Stone buildings line a rock alcove; a long canyon under a cloudy sky extends to the right.A view of Balcony House without visitors.
  • People exploring ancient stone buildings in a cliff alcove.Visitors on a ranger-guided tour of Balcony House.
  • People climb a large wooden ladder up a sheer rock face towards a stone building with wooden beams protruding from the walls.Visitors climb the ladder to Balcony House.
  • Large stone walls and rooms surround a plaza space in a rock alcove.T-Shaped doors and large rooms in Spruce Tree House surround a round kiva.
  • Stars of the Milky Way and lit clouds soar above a large cliff dwelling in a major alcove under a mesa lined with trees.The Milky Way over Cliff Palace.
  • A brightly colored lizard with green, yellow, red, brown, tan, and black coloring sits on black rocks.A male Collared Lizard at Mesa Verde.
  • A rainbow emerges from dark blue clouds and streamers of rain on a tree-covered landscape.Nature's Majesty as seen from Mesa Verde National Park.
  • A canyon dotted with trees is topped with several alcoves and stone buildings under a blue sky with scattered clouds.Mesa Verde offers great views on hiking trails.
  • A series of stone doorways with sandstone walls on both sides line up in a straight line.Stone doorways lead to the interior of Ancestral Pueblo rooms.
  • A tall sandstone tower stands above smaller rooms against a rock wall.Square Tower House shows off one of the best-preserved towers in the park.

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