Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is located in the southwestern United States in Montezuma County, Colorado. The closest towns are Cortez, Mancos, and Durango, with Cortez being only about 10 miles away. The park is situated near the Four Corners region, where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. Established in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt, Mesa Verde National Park was created to preserve the ancient cliff dwellings and archaeological heritage of the Ancestral Puebloans. The park contains more than 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings, which date back over 700 years. Parking facilities at Mesa Verde are plentiful, with multiple lots located near the Visitor and Research Center, Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum, and at various trailheads and viewpoints throughout the park. There is no fee for parking, but entrance fees to the park apply. Parking areas accommodate cars, RVs, and buses, with some limitations on larger vehicles due to narrow roads. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including mule deer, black bears, mountain lions, and wild turkeys. Smaller species such as rabbits, squirrels, and numerous bird species are also common. The park's diverse ecosystems, ranging from pinyon-juniper woodlands to mountain shrublands, support a variety of plants. Common flora includes pinyon pine, Utah juniper, and Gambel oak, with wildflowers like Indian paintbrush adding color in the summer months. Mesa Verde’s iconic features include the famous Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America, as well as Balcony House and Spruce Tree House. Visitors can also explore hiking trails, viewpoints, and ancient petroglyphs. Public transportation to Mesa Verde is limited, with most visitors arriving by car. Tours of the cliff dwellings often require tickets, which can be purchased at the Visitor Center.