
Mesa Verde National Park is an incredible historical destination renowned for its well-preserved ancient Pueblo Dwellings. Home to the Ancestral Puebloans from approximately 600 to 1300 AD, the park boasts of 600 known cliff dwellings, including the largest cliff dwelling in North America, called the Cliff Palace.

Tips for Visiting Mesa Verde National Park
- 1) Book Cliff Dwelling Tours two weeks in advance, there will not be same day tickets available. They do sell out fast!
- 2) Be aware that tour start locations are about an hour away from the visitor’s center, so plan accordingly to avoid missing your tour. They will not let you reschedule your tour if you miss it. We did see some people come to our tour & ask if they could tag along if everyone didn’t show up. The ranger did allow that AFTER he counted all the reservations.
- 3) The Cliff Palace is the most popular tour without big climbs or tight squeezes. It’s a short tour, only 30 minutes. But, you get to see the largest cliff dwelling in the park & it’s great for kids to do.
- 4) There will be a climb down from heights to the cliff dwelling. Prepare yourself for that if you’re scared of heights. It’s worth it though!
- 5) Pro Tip: Download the Guide Along App. There is so much to see in this park beyond the cliff dwellings. If you want to learn the in-depth history of the park & the people who lived there, then the Guide Along App is what you need! It is a road trip app offering real-time navigation, points of interest, & is like having a personal tour guide in the car with you! Be sure to buy the Mesa Verde Tour, it’s worth the money!
- 6) National Parks do cost money to visit. There are various prices depending on the circumstances. If you have a 4th grader, be sure to look into the ticket option that will get the entire family in National Parks for free! Check out the Annual 4th Grade Pass here.

