Mesa Verde National Park
From Adventure Inn: about 35 miles west to the park entrance
Mesa Verde National Park protects nearly 5,000 archaeological sites, including about 600 cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Puebloan people roughly 700 to 800 years ago. It was one of the first places in the world named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park entrance is about 35 miles west of Adventure Inn on US 160, roughly a 45 minute scenic drive. The famous dwellings on Chapin Mesa, including Cliff Palace and Balcony House, are another 45 minutes or so up a winding mountain road, so plan on a full day.
Many visitors use Durango as their base because it puts Mesa Verde, the train, and the San Juans all within easy reach, with dinner downtown after a long day on the mesa.
Know Before You Go
- Distance from Adventure Inn
- About 35 miles west to the park entrance
- Travel time
- About 45 minutes to the park entrance, plus extra time inside the park to reach the cliff dwellings
- Best time to go
- Late spring through early fall, when ranger-guided cliff dwelling tours run
- Best for
- History lovers, families with school-age kids, photographers, and road trippers
Things to Do
- Join a ranger-guided tour of Cliff Palace, Balcony House, or Long House (tickets required, seasonal)
- Drive the Mesa Top Loop for overlooks of cliff dwellings and pithouse sites
- Walk the short trail to Spruce Tree House overlook and visit the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
- Stop at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center at the entrance for exhibits and tour tickets
- Hike Petroglyph Point Trail to see rock art carved into the canyon wall
Getting There From Adventure Inn
From Adventure Inn, head south on Main Avenue to US 160 and drive west through Hesperus and Mancos to the park entrance, about 35 miles and 45 minutes. From the entrance, the road to Chapin Mesa is about 20 miles of mountain driving with steep grades and curves, so allow about 45 minutes more. A per-vehicle entrance fee applies.
Practical Tips
- Reserve ranger-guided tour tickets ahead of time on Recreation.gov; popular tours sell out in summer
- Start early: the drive inside the park is long, and morning light is best for photos
- Balcony House involves a tall ladder and a tight crawl; skip it if anyone in your group is uneasy with heights
- Bring water, snacks, and sun protection; food and services inside the park are limited and seasonal
- Fill your gas tank in Durango or Mancos before you go
Make Adventure Inn Your Basecamp
27 rooms on Main Avenue in Durango with free parking, a fire pit, an outdoor cedar hot tub, and an in room bike and ski rack in every King room. Spend the day at Mesa Verde National Park and come back to a soak under the stars.