Want to experience Native American history while visiting Durango, Colorado?  Mesa Verde is a must-see. The third most visited National Park in the United States is Mesa Verde National Park which contains the authentic Ancestral Puebloan ruins, formerly named Anasazi,. The ruins are some of the oldest preserved sites in all of the National Park system. They were formed more than a 700 years ago from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300 and are spectacular. These Mesa Verde National Park ruins extend for miles upon Mesa Verde, Spanish for “Green Table” is a geographical wonder.

With more than 50 miles of marked hiking trails, you can take an easy, moderate or strenuous hike to visit the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwelling such as Cliff Palace, Balcony House or Long House or 600 other sites. These sites You’ll find it interesting that to get to a water source, you have to hike down to it. Not up to it. There are many natural springs, surrounded by sagebrush valleys and pinion-juniper, forests that you can hike to in Mesa Verde National Park.  You can buy tickets to see the sites in person, only, at the Far View Visitor Center, Mesa Verde National Park.

Once you are here, you can do many outdoor activities besides hiking, such as biking, camping, backpacking, photography, rock climbing, rappelling, stargazing or take a scenic drive.  Just remember, Mesa Verde National Park normally has a great range of weather from mild to hot during summer months where June through September are going to be warm to hot, with mild evenings and afternoon thunderstorms are common.

Some winters, the weather is also mild. If you are lucky, you’ll be able to see Mesa Verde National Park under a serene blanket of snow that highly contrasts with the brick red sandstone.  The snow can fall as late as May and as early as October, but usually both of these months are mild weather for Mesa Verde National Park goers. 

The Drive is one of the most beautiful scenic drives anywhere. You can drive for miles from one end of Mesa Verde National Park to the other. The speed limit is 35 miles an hour, which is perfect. This allows you to see wildlife right from the comfort of your car. Stop at any of the many Mesa Verde National Park overlooks to take in the views.