Large cliff dwelling in cliff alcove
Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde's Largest Cliff Dwelling NPS Photo

Mesa Verde National Park

National Park · Colorado · National Park Service

For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. This World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park is home to over a thousand species, including several that live nowhere else on earth.

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
970-529-4465
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

What's here

Highlights: Archeology · Cliff Dwellings · Native American Heritage · Schools and Education · Animals · Climate Change · Fire · Forests and Woodlands · Geology · Night Sky · Trails

Activities & features: Auto and ATV · Scenic Driving · Astronomy · Stargazing · Biking · Road Biking · Camping · Food · Guided Tours · Hiking · Junior Ranger Program · Skiing · Cross-Country Skiing · Snowshoeing · Wildlife Watching · Birdwatching · Park Film · Museum Exhibits · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store

Photos

  • Park visitors visiting a cliff dwelling
    NPS Photo
  • A cliff dwelling within a cliff alcove seen from across a canyon
    NPS Photo
  • View of cliff dwelling from above a canyon
    NPS Photo
  • View of cliff dwelling from across canyon
    NPS Photo
  • Within a cliff dwelling
    NPS Photo
  • Visitor center entrance with sculpture of Ancestral Pueblo climber in front plaza.
    NPS Photo

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12