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Mesa Verde is located in southwestern Colorado midway between Cortez and Mancos off US 160.

Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. Mesa Verde National Park is a spectacular monument to the area’s history. It is the only American national park that protects man-made structures, as opposed to natural features.

Today, the park protects over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States. The stunning landscape of Southwest Colorado, near Four Corners, is the backdrop as you explore Mesa Verde National Park.

Cliff Palace is a must see when visiting Mesa Verde National Park. The hike to/from the Palace is relatively easy (although there is a climb of around 100 steps on the exit). There is a small additional charge to see Cliff Palace but it is well worth the money. The walk is lead by a NP Ranger and this adds to the interest. It lasts an hour and you really get to walk among the palace. It is the best preserved of the houses at Mesa Verde and well worth the price of admission. You get a great feel for how life used to be around here. It is a ranger guided tour so you get some really great background info as you go along. If you only have a few hours at MV, make this one of your stops.

Balcony House had a different feel than the other dwellings. The views into the valley below it are pretty spectacular and seeing these stone dwellings built 700-800 years ago using only stone tools in such a forbidding location is impressive. The tours are smaller than those at Cliff Palace and your get a very intimate experience. You will complete with a 32 foot ladder climb and crawling through a tunnel. Tickets must be purchased at the visitor center; arrive early for best choice of times.