Hiking Mesa Verde National Park
Discover the Interactive hiking trails of Morefield and Wetherill Mesa
Updated September 8th, 2024
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Walk in the footsteps of the Ancestral Puebloans through mesa and ancient cliff dwellings in an interactive, interpreted national park accessible to folks of all ages and abilities.
Mesa Verde is a living place; although the people who built the cliff dwellings here left the site before 1300, at least 26 current/modern-day tribes draw their heritage from the Ancestral Pueblo people, and many still make pilgrimages to the Park.Five additional tribes also have a special connection to the area.
If you plan to explore the hiking trails of Mesa Verde National Park, here’s what you need to know about Morefield and Wetherill Mesa, including camping, water, trails, permits, and other logistics, as well as how to respectfully visit and the history.
Distance: Various trails ranging from a 1-mile round trip to a 6-mile loop.
Days: 1-3 days
Best season: Late Spring/Early Summer, Late Summer/Early Fall
Permits: None for a self-guided tour. A ranger-guided tour requires a permit. Many trails and cliff dwellings require advance tickets for guided tours.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
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More than 600 cliff dwellings can be found in Mesa Verde National Park, some of which are only accessible by ranger-led tour, like Mug House seen here. Photo by Brian Davidson.
Background
Mesa Verde National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and DarkSky International Park that is a place to learn, wonder, and appreciate more than 700 years (550 A.D. to 1300 A.D.) of indigenous cultural heritage.
The mesas and canyons form a unique ecosystem, home to over 1,000 species of plants and animals — many found nowhere else on the planet. Spanish colonialists named it “green table,” or mesa verde in Spanish, due to the abundance of forested pines and junipers on the flat plateau. Through hikes, bike rides, scenic drives, stargazing, and ranger-led tours, Mesa Verde is an unforgettable national park for those with a curious mind and respect for people and nature.
The Ancestral Pueblo, who called Mesa Verde home, are the ancestors of 21 Pueblos (this term can refer to communities, villages, or entire tribes, depending on context). Additionally, the ancestors of five other tribes, including the Ute and Navajo, lived in the area after and possibly at the same time as the Ancestral Pueblo, for a total of 26 Associated Tribes of Mesa Verde that claim a special relationship to the region. The National Park is coordinated in cooperation with these 26 indigenous peoples of the area.
Nomadic people have been in what is now the Four Corners area for at least 12,000 years and have been living permanently there since at least 1500 AD. Communities and agriculture spread across the region until around 1200 AD, when the Ancestral Pueblo migrated to New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. Many of their traditions, including songs, art, games, dances, and stories, have been passed down to their modern-day descendants. The migration predated European colonizers and there are many theories as to why they left including climate change.
How to be a more respectful Mesa Verde visitor
The Park is not only for visitors but is also a place of pilgrimage for those whose heritage is rooted in Mesa Verde. As such, we encourage visiting with respect. One way to do so is by listening to the Mesa Verde Voices podcast, which connects modern descendants of the Ancestral Pueblo with the past.
We highly recommend the Mesa Top Loop Drive: A Pueblo Perspective of Mesa Verde podcast by TJ Atsye, a Laguna Pueblo and direct descendant of the Ancestral Pueblo. Even if you aren’t able to visit the Mesa Top Loop Drive as part of your Mesa Verde Tour, Ranger Atsye gives us ideas of how to “not just learn about, but learn from” Mesa Verde and to “see these places as we do — not as ruins, but as homes.”
“Not just learn about, but learn from Mesa Verde...see these places as we do — not as ruins, but as homes.”
This guide covers the Morefield Campground and Wetherill Mesa portions of the National Park. Morefield Campground is a staging ground for most visitors to the Park, where hikes and ranger-led talks are easily accessible. Wetherill Mesa is considered to be the quieter side of the Park, in contrast to the busier Chapin Mesa. It sees fewer visitors while also being one of the more accessible parts of the Park for bikes, those with pets, and people with reduced mobility or who get around in wheelchairs.
We recommend this piece by Amanda Machado Wanderlust and stolen land: how to mindfully explore the outdoors, which recommends practices such as learning about the land’s stewards and the (often, colonial) history that led to the park’s creation. Some of that is addressed in this guide, but we recommend doing additional research.
One place to start is in these guides written by or interviewing Indigenous Americans on perspectives on visiting archeological sites such as Mesa Verde:
Mesa Verde National Park is home to more than 600 cliff dwellings, some of which have been excavated, preserved, restored and are accessible to the public. Photo by Brian Davidson.
Quick Facts
Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado is over 6,000 acres and encompasses archeological sites built and lived in by the Ancestral Pueblo people, preserving and teaching about the ancestors and heritage of at least 21 Pueblos: The Hopi of Arizona, the Pueblo of Isleta del Sur of Texas, and nineteen Pueblos in New Mexico: the Pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Ohkay Owingeh, Picuris, Pojoaque, Sandia, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Zia, and Zuni. Besides the Ancestral Pueblos, five other tribes lived in the area, some of whom still live adjacent to the National Park: the Navajo, Northern Ute, Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Tribe, and Jicarilla Apache.
Interpretative signs and docent rangers throughout the park help you learn, appreciate, and respect the people who lived here for thousands of years. You’ll learn about the architectural, scientific, astronomical, and civil engineering achievements that helped them adapt to their environment. In 1200 AD, the area was home to 25,000 linguistically diverse people — more than live in the same area today. Scientists and rangers are increasingly relying on indigenous knowledge to understand the history of the area.
Types of places to visit in Mesa Verde:
Preserved, restored, and excavated cliff dwellings have accessible, well-marked paths accessible to folks of varying physical abilities and experience with archeology.
In contrast, the Yucca House National Monument is an unexcavated Ancient Puebloan archaeological site that requires driving on dirt roads that may need a high clearance vehicle, some hiking off-trail through bushes, and a keen eye for understanding archeology.
While there’s plenty of hiking to do in Mesa Verde, backpacking, climbing, mountain biking, and hiking off-trail aren’t allowed. Mesa Verde is also home to numerous plants and wildlife, some of which are endemic to the area (found no where else on earth). So if off-trail is more of your interest, we’d suggest visiting San Juan National Forest Dolores Ranger District for more ideas.
A highlight of Mesa Verde National Park is walking in the footsteps, climbing ladders, and standing in rooms built by the Ancestral Pueblo. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
Highlights
Walking, climbing ladders, and scrambling through thousands of years of human history
Learning and appreciating the past in the place where it happened
Quality of interpretive signs, ranger talks, and facilities like restrooms and water availability make visiting such a remote area more enjoyable for all
Challenges
Temperature fluctuations: Summer can be hot, and the climate is dry. Weather can turn quickly in spring and fall with unpredictable cold wind and storms. Bring plenty of water, sun protection, and extra layers. The National Park keeps up-to-date winter road conditions and weather conditions live on their Facebook page.
Advance tickets required for some sites: Many ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings can only be visited on a ranger-led tour to reduce the impact. See our section on permits for strategies to get tickets.
Remoteness: To reach most of the cliff and mesa dwellings, you’ll have to drive 50 miles minimum. The only gas here is at the Morefield Campground store. Be sure to fill up. Don’t count on cell reception, even from the road.
Although some hikes in Mesa Verde require using your hands or walking on uneven terrain, other hikes are along paved trails, so you can tailor your trip to your comfort level. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Difficulty and Skills
Navigation
All trails are well-signed and marked. The exception is backcountry ranger-led tours, in which case your guide will make sure that you stay on the correct path. In addition, each portion of the park has a detailed map brochure of the trails in the area.
Elevation gain and Rough Terrain / Scrambling / Rock Climbing / Technical Skills
All self-guided trailheads clearly state what elevation gain and obstacles to expect so you can decide before you start a hike.
Some sites, such as Long House, have wooden ladders that are modern-day replicas of the types of ladders that the Ancestral Pueblo used to access the upper portions of cliff dwellings. For longer ladders, rangers are stationed at the ladder to ensure you can climb safely. Other sites, including backcountry ranger-led tours, may only be accessible through rougher trails with steep drop-offs and some minor rock scrambling.
mESA vERDE Permits and Fees
Park Entrance Fees
Reservations are no longer required to enter the National Park. However, there is an entrance fee of $30 in the summer ($20 in winter). Mesa Verde entrance fees are waived for those with an America the Beautiful Pass, also known as the National Park Pass.
I highly recommend getting one of those passes if you’re on a road trip. A popular circuit of southwestern National Parks includes: Great Sand Dunes (CO), Black Canyon of the Gunnison (CO), Zion National Park (UT), Canyonlands National Park (UT), or Hoovenweep National Monument (CO/UT). The pass allows you to visit national parks, monuments, and some other federal lands without paying entrance fees in the next year.
Mesa Verde’s backcountry is closed, and it is illegal to hike off-trail in the wilderness area. Therefore, there are no overnight, backpacking, or backcountry permits given except for park ranger-led backcountry tours. Camping is only allowed at the fee-required Morefield Campground.
An America the Beautiful Pass not only gets you into National Parks, monuments, and fee-based public lands for free, but also goes to support the National Park Foundation. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Ranger-led Tour Tickets and Fees
Some of the more environmentally and structurally sensitive archeological sites can only be visited on ranger-led tours, including Cliff Palace (the largest cliff dwelling in the park) and Balcony House.
Even if you are unable to get tickets in advance, there are plenty of self-led hiking options.
For all ticketed areas, carry a printed version of your ticket for entry to ranger-led tours. Show up 15 minutes prior to your tour for orientation.
At Wetherill Mesa, Long House requires tickets to enter.
Additionally, ranger-led backcountry tour tickets are required to visit the most sensitive sites. These trips are generally more strenuous, on unpaved and uneven hiking trails, with steep drop-offs, and may require scrambling over boulders.
Backcountry tours to Mug House, Square Tower House, and Spring House are extremely limited. In the case of Spring House, only four tours are available per year.
Some cliff dwellings are only accessible by ranger-led tours, like this tour to Mug House. Photo by Brian Davidson.
Strategies for NPS Cliff Dwelling Tickets
Tour sizes are limited to between 10 and 25 people. Tickets become available on recreation.gov exactly two weeks before the date you plan to take the tour at 8 am Mountain Time. For weekend ticket dates, especially during peak season, expect tickets to sell out at 8:01 am.
I recommend practicing and familiarizing yourself with recreation.gov and specifically their Mesa Verde ticket system several days before you hope to get a ticket. Additionally, when planning your Mesa Verde trip, it’s worth staying flexible on your dates. For example, I could not get tickets for my preferred date of Saturday, so I pushed my trip back to Sunday when I could get a ticket.
Some tickets are available at the visitor center the day before.
You can learn more about how to book tickets and their availability at the NPS Cliff Dwelling Tour Tickets page.
During summer, portions of the Mesa Verde can be quite warm and will require sun protective clothing. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Best Season TO vISIT mESA vERDE
Portions of the Park are open year-round, but early summer and fall are best for moderate temperatures. For summer hiking, bring plenty of water and sun protection. During spring and fall, bring extra layers and keep track of the weather in case cold wind and winter storms come in. The Park keeps up-to-date winter road conditions and weather conditions live on their Facebook page.
There’s plenty to see in Mesa Verde National Park that is accessible for people of all fitness and skill levels and abilities. Photo by Liz Thomas.
What to Do at Mesa Verde
If you want to go backpacking or hiking off trail, Mesa Verde is not your park. As a historical and cultural park, this is a place to protect cultural artifacts and learn about history — not for adventure. There are no overnight, backpacking, or backcountry permits given except for ranger-led backcountry tours. Camping is only allowed at fee-required Morefield Campground.
Morefield Campground is the trailhead for several ~2 mile hikes with great views. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Camp at Morefield Campground
Mesa Verde has one campground inside the Park, Morefield Campground. It’s located 4 miles from the entrance station. This immaculate campground has picnic tables and fire pits for each campsite, as well as locking bear boxes to protect your food from critters. Each campsite is separated from others by shady trees and vegetation. So although it’s a large campground with many people, it is possible to get some privacy.
The Morefield campground features clean bathrooms with running water and flushing toilets. It also has faucets with potable water. There are free showers and coin-operated laundry near the store, as well as free WiFi. Morefield Campground has RV hookups and dump stations for those arriving with campers, pop-ups, or RVs. However, RVs are not permitted on Mesa Verde Road past Morefield Campground.
Morefield Campground store has some groceries, ice, beer, and gas. The Knife Edge Cafe next door to the store serves breakfast. Three hiking trails leave from the campground for some recreation after setting up camp. It also has an amphitheater for ranger-led evening programs. Mesa Verde is one of the newer International DarkSky Parks, so it is a great place for stargazing.
This campground is relatively expensive, but it rarely fills up. Although I grumbled at the price, Morefield campground was convenient and made it easy to get an early start to make our morning tours on time. You can make camping reservations at www.visitmesaverde.com
Lookout Point as viewed from the Knife Edge Trail, two hiking destinations accessible from Morefield Campground. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Hiking near Morefield Campground
All of the trails out of Morefield Campground are self-guided and don’t require permits. Bikes are allowed on the campground roads — including all the way to the Amphitheater and Point Lookout Trailhead — but not on the trails in this area.
The Knife Edge
The Knife Edge Hiking Trail is a 2-mile round trip moderate hike in the Morefield Campground area that has great views of Point Lookout and the Mancos Valley and the Montezuma Valley below. This trail has interpretive posts along the way and a brochure where you can learn about the area’s plants, geology, and cultural history. It follows an old roadbed along the mesa’s edge, giving it an exposed view. It’s a great place to see the sunset to the west (don’t forget your headlamp).
Point Lookout
The Point Lookout hiking trail is a 2.2-mile roundtrip hike that is more strenuous, climbing 500 feet on switchbacks on a well-maintained trail to the edge of the Point Lookout Mesa. The views are more dramatic than the Knife Edge with some bigger drop-offs at the end. It’s a great place to see the sunrise to the east.
Prater Ridge
The Prater Ridge hiking trail is a 7.8-mile loop trail and is strenuous with significant climbing. Due to a wildfire that burned most of the trees on the ridge, it’s exposed. There are a lot of views of the campground. For the effort-to-view ratio, I recommend the Knife Edge or Point Lookout over Prater Ridge.
The Long House is the largest cliff dwelling at Wetherill Mesa. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Hiking and Biking Trail at Wetherill Mesa
The Wetherill Mesa Kiosk is 27 winding and slow paved road miles from the entrance station. You’ll pass Far View Lodge about halfway there (15 miles in) and turn right onto Wetherill Mesa Road. This gated road is not open in the winter and has limited hours in the summer months. As of September 2024, the road is closed due to safety concerns with no opening date planned. Plan your hikes accordingly.
Long House Loop
This 6-mile hike or bike paved trail visits the Badger House Community, Long House Overlook, and Kodak House Overlook. There are shaded stops along the way and places to lock up bikes before taking the short path to the overlook (where bikes aren’t allowed). Unfortunately, due to a fire that burned some of the trees on the mesa, the sun exposure can make this a hot hike. Still, it’s a whirlwind to access many archeological sites and more than 1,000 years of history. The Long House Loop is the main access trail for almost all the points of interest on Wetherill Mesa. To walk around Long House itself requires tickets, but is a highlight of the area and well worth it.
Badger House Community
You can cut down the length of the Long House Loop by choosing just to visit the Badger House Community for a 2.25-mile loop. This can be accessed by either a paved trail or a mix of paved and gravel paths. Badger House has four excavated pit houses dating back to the 600s as well as parts of mesa top villages. Each area is under a sunshade and has interpretive signs. Pit houses, some mesa top homes, and kivas pre-date the 600 cliff dwellings in the Park, allowing you to better understand hundreds of years of history. It also provides context for seeing the more famous cliff dwellings in the Park. You can ride your bike here, but you must walk it when you enter the archeological site shelters. There’s also a bike rack to lock your bike near several of the mesa house shelters.
The hike leads to a view point where you can see the Nordenskiöld site 16. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Nordenskiöld Site #16 Trail
This 2-mile mesa-top trail is a dirt path that leads to a cliff dwelling overlook. It’s exposed but has vast landscape views into canyons below and the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation across the canyon. Before receiving National Park status in 1906, Mesa Verde was part of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, which by Treaty, gave the tribe ‘the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation’ of these lands. However, Nordenskiöld, the European archeologist for whom the trail is named, snuck onto the land and stole artifacts, as did the Wetherills (whose name is found on the mesa).
Unlike the other trails in the area, this trail doesn’t see much foot traffic. Although you can’t bike this trail, you can ride your bike on the Long House Loop to this trailhead, cutting the distance you’ll be hiking down to 1 mile.
Notably, an interpretative sign at the lookout tells how Swedish archaeologist-looter Nordenskiöld stole artifacts, including funerary objects and human remains, and sent them to Europe. Although he was known for a relatively stronger scientific methodology and archival skills (he published a book that some credit with helping to form Mesa Verde as a National Park), he sold many of the items to a Finnish doctor. They ended up in the National Museum of Finland in Helsinki, where they stayed for 129 years. The human remains were not returned until Fall 2020. Upon their return, descendants of the Ancestral Pueblo performed a reburying ceremony for 20 humans and the associated items.
A restoration and rebuilding of a pithouse at Step House. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Step House
This 1-mile round trip paved trail is a great self-guided tour of a cliff dwelling that doesn’t require a tour ticket. You’ll descend several hundred feet below the parking area to reach the dwelling under the cliff. The trail can be exposed to the sun, so take it slowly. The Park Service says it is wheelchair accessible with assistance. However, because of the steepness of this trail and other users, bikes aren’t allowed.
When you reach the dwelling at the bottom, there are interpretive rangers and signs. Notably, you’ll see a kiva with a symbol that the modern-day Hopi also use, showing their connection to the Ancestral Pueblo. This trail opens from 9 am to 3 or 4 pm (depending on the time of year) with a 1-hour lunch break for rangers.
Mug House can only be visited on a ranger-led tour. Photo by Brian Davidson.
Mug House
This ranger-led backcountry tour starts from Wetherill Mesa. Tickets are extremely limited and sell out almost as soon as they become available. There are no signs for the trailhead but it is a short distance from the parking lot. In total, it’s 2.25 miles round trip — similar to Long House. However, the trail is more rugged with steep drop-offs and some minor scrambling that sounds more extreme on the NPS website than we experienced, but may not be suitable for folks uncomfortable with uneven terrain. Notably, a kiva in Mug House has a Zia sun formation, found nowhere else in the Park. This symbol is found on the New Mexico state flag and older license plates, connecting Ancestral history to symbols we see every day.
mESA vERDE Trailheads
The major trailhead areas for Morefield Campground and Wetherill Mesa parts of Mesa Verde are:
Morefield Campground
A starting point for Knife Edge, Prater Ridge, and Point Lookout.
Wetherill Mesa Kiosk
The Wetherill Mesa Kiosk is the starting point for Step House, Long House, Badger House Community Trail, Nordenskiöld Site 16 Trail, and backcountry ranger-led tours to Mug House.
In addition to the trailheads mentioned in this guide, some trailheads on Chapin Mesa are open in 2021, including the Fairview Archeological Sites Complex and Petroglyph point. Interpretive sites and hikes and the Mesa Top Loop Road are also open in 2021. We recommend listening to the Mesa Top Loop Drive: A Pueblo Perspective of Mesa Verde podcast by TJ Atsye, a Laguna Pueblo and direct descendent of the Ancestral Pueblo.
The Visitor Center at the Wetherill Mesa Kiosk has lots of useful local information and helpful rangers. Photo by Liz Thomas.
mESA vERDE Maps
You can zoom in and out on this online map or download a printable map for the park here.
When you enter, you’ll receive a national park service map for the entire park. In addition, each park region has a local paper map and brochure at its local kiosk. Both of those maps are printable at the link above.
Additionally, National Geographic has a broad view map of the Durango/Cortez area that encompasses Mesa Verde
Getting TO mESA vERDE
By Plane
While there are small airports in Cortez, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico, your best bet is to fly into Durango, Colorado, because more flights are available from commercial airlines. American, Delta, United, and Frontier fly into the Durango-La Plata Airport (DRO). Direct flights are available (depending on the season) from Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Intercontinental, Chicago O’Hare, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles LAX. From Durango, we recommend renting a car as there is no bus service in Mesa Verde.
By Car
The park entrance is along Highway 160, between Cortez and Mancos and 35 miles west of Durango, Colorado.
Favorite Local Food and Beer
Zuma Natural Food Store and Co-op in Mancos, Colorado has tasty sandwiches and a good assortment of natural foods and beverages for snacks on your hikes or meals in camp. It’s also a nice place to pick up locally crafted gifts and souvenirs.
Mancos Brewing Company has delicious local beers that are also for sale in the Morefield Campground store.
Rules and Regulations
Follow Leave No Trace Ethics
Do not touch, climb, sit, or lean on archeological sites
Do not eat or drink anything but water while inside archeological sites
Bears: Store your food, drinks, toiletries, and other scented items in a hard-sided vehicle (not a pop-up trailer) or in the locked bear box at your campsite.
Pets and bikes are only allowed at the campground, paved trails, and in parking lots.
Collecting any archeological artifacts is prohibited.
Because there are so many archeological sites throughout the national park, the backcountry is closed, and hiking off trail is illegal. Camping is only allowed in Morefield Campground.
Mesa Verde is a special place for the descendants of the Ancestral Pueblo. Kivas in particular are sacred areas. Treat the park, buildings, and artifacts with respect.
Water Planning
Dehydration and altitude sickness (related to dehydration) are common at Mesa Verde. Mesa Verde has a dry climate. Many hikes are exposed to the sun. The altitude in areas can reach up to 8,000 feet.
Almost all trailheads have spigots and drinking fountains. Carry and drink plenty of water and take electrolytes. Although this article is aimed at runners, there are many tips for hikers, campers, and walkers on how to stay hydrated in dry climates and during the summer.
Bears and Food Storage
Although you are unlikely to encounter bears near the cliff dwelling portions of the parks, they may be in the Morefield Campground.
Store food, drinks, toiletries, and other scented items in a hard-sided vehicle (not a pop-up trailer) or in the locked bear box at your campsite. See REI’s Food Storage story for more tips on keeping food safe.
A visit to Mesa Verde requires minimal day hiking gear as well as the ability to camp.
mESA vERDE gear List: CAMPING EQUIPMENT
| GEAR | PRODUCT |
|---|---|
| Tent | Gossamer Gear The Two Tent |
| Day pack | Gossamer Gear Minimalist 19 Daypack |
| Sleeping bag | Katabatic Palisade 30F Quilt Montbell Seamless Down Hugger #2 |
| Sleeping pad | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Sleeping Pad |
| Stove | MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove |
| Eating utensil | TOAKS Titanium Long Handle Spoon |
| Lantern | BioLite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern |
| Headlamp | BioLite HeadLamp 425 |
| Camp chair | NEMO Stargaze Reclining Chair |
| Water bottle | Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Vacuum Bottle |
| Shoes | Altra Lone Peak Trail Running Shoes (women's) Altra Lone Peak Trail Running Shoes (men's) |
| Sandals | LUNA Sandals Mono Hiking Sandals |
| Hiking shirt | BALEAF Long Sleeve Rash Guard (women's) BALEAF Long Sleeve Rash Guard (men's) |
| Sun hat | KAVU Chillba Hat |
CAMPING OR BACKPACKING TENT
We used the Gossamer Gear The Two Tent for use in the Morefield Campground. Although it is a backpacking tent, we chose this tent because we were road tripping and it doesn’t take up much space in the car. It sets up with trekking poles, which we were bringing for our day hikes anyway. Read our recommendations for Camping Tents and Backpacking Tents for other suggestions.
CAMPING CHAIR
We used the NEMO Stargaze Recliner camp chair on this trip and loved rocking by the campfire while eating dinner after a hike to Point Lookout. This sturdy chair is easy to set up and folds easily into a small zip carry bag for convenient use during our road trip to Mesa Verde. That’s why it is a winner in our Best Camping Chairs guide.
HEADLAMP
Mesa Verde is an International DarkSky Park, which means the campground has little lighting. We used the BioLite headlamp, which is bright and easy to use. It angles and switches between spotlight and floodlight, so is convenient for both walking the dark path over to the bathroom or doing camp chores. It’s the Overall Winner in our Best Headlamps guide.
COOLER
We road-tripped across the Mojave Desert and hot Four Corners in southwestern Colorado to get to Mesa Verde. We brought a Styrofoam cooler to keep our beverages and snacks like cheese, fresh fruit, and veggies cool, but it was insufficient for this heat. As a result, our drinks were warm and our veggies turned soft. See our Best Coolers guide or Best Soft Coolers guide for what we wish we had brought.
LANTERN
As an International DarkSky Park, Mesa Verde’s campground has almost no lighting. So we liked having the BioLite AlpenGlow at our campsite. It provides 360 degrees of lighting, pumps out a lot of light (for when I dropped my spork under the table), and 200 hours of soft light (for the rest of the time). It will be in our Best Camping Lanterns and Camping Lights guide.
SLEEPING BAG
We used the Katabatic Gear Palisades quilt and Montbell Down Hugger. Both have a temperature ratings of 30-35 degrees, perfect for the warm summer night that we visited Mesa Verde. Though it is a backpacking quilt, we decided to bring it rather a bulkier Camping Sleeping Bag because of the limited room in our car during the road trip to Mesa Verde. The Palisades is the winner in our Quilt Guide , and the Down Hugger is a winner in our Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags guide.
SLEEPING PADS
We used the NeoAir XLite and Sea to Summit Ether Light Sleeping Pad on this trip. The Sea to Summit Ether Light is a winner in our Best Camping Sleeping Mattresses guide due to its thick padding and quilted pattern that works well for side-sleepers. The NeoAir XLite is a winner in our Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads guide due to its relative comfort given its light weight and packability.
STOVE
We used the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe stove and TOAKS Long Handle Spoon on this trek. The Deluxe is an affordable, quick-to-boil cookstove that doesn’t take up much room in the car (again, trying to use compact gear to road trip out here). It’s a winner in our Best Backpacking Stoves guide.
WATER BOTTLE
We used the Hydro Flask 32 oz as our main water bottle on this trip because it was HOT and having ice cold water was a treat on these day hikes. It’s the winner in Best Insulated Water Bottle in our Best Water Bottles guide.
What to Wear AT mESA vERDE
DAYPACK
We used the now discontinued Gossamer Gear Vagabond Trail and the Gossamer Gear Minimalist Day Packs. Both are lightweight, have just the pockets we needed, and are compact, so we could easily fit them in a crowded car for the road trip to Mesa Verde. See our Best Day Hiking Backpacks guide for our recommendations.
SHOES OR BOOTS
We wore Altra Lone Peak trail runners and Luna Mono Hiking Sandals on the trail. The Altra Lone Peaks are lightweight breathable shoes that worked well for the backcountry ranger-led hike we took to the Mug House. The Lunas are sturdy hiking sandals that kept our feet cool on all the other hikes. The Altra Lone Peaks are winners in our Best Trail Running Shoes guide. See our guide to the Best Hiking Sandals for more about the Lunas.
SUN shirt
This is definitely a park where sun protection is necessary. We wore Baleaf Sun Shirts. The Baleaf is out Budget Sunshirt winner in our Best Sun Shirts guide.
sun hat and sunglasses
I wore the Kavu Chillba sun hat in Mesa Verde because it provides 360 degree protection and has a reflective material in it that cools my head. Check out our Best Sun Hats guide for recommendations. Be sure to pack a pair of secure sport sunglasses or running sunglasses that will stay on your head during scrambling and climbing ladders, too.
sunscreen
Mesa Verde is at high altitude and doesn’t have a lot of shade. Sunscreen is essential. See our guide to The Best Face Sunscreen and The Best Body Sunscreen for recommendations.
Other Resources
Mesa Top Loop Drive Audio Tour: A Pueblo Perspective on Mesa Verde
Indigenous Knowledge Untangles the Mystery of Mesa Verde, High Country News
Obituary of Peter Pino, Mesa Verde Foundation Board Member and Elder
Crow Canyon Archeological Center, People of Mesa Verde
