The Details
Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings perched in canyon walls — the best-preserved ancient ruins in North America.
STATE
CO
ESTABLISHED
1906
AREA
52k acres
ECOSYSTEM
Canyon
When To Visit
Best Time To Visit
MONTH BY MONTHBEST TIME TO GO
May–June and September–October; ranger-led cliff dwelling tours typically run mid-April–late October.
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WEATHER
CROWDS
Weather: greatokaytough — heat, cold, snow, monsoon or closures
Crowds: quietmoderatebusy
CROWDS
Summer is busiest, and tours of Cliff Palace and Balcony House need advance tickets that sell out.
WEATHER
Winter snow can close roads and cliff dwelling tours. Summer highs reach the 90s with monsoon storms in July–August.
General patterns — conditions vary by year. Check current NPS alerts and road status before you go.
How Far
Park Entrances
SET YOUR LOCATIONEvery entrance is a different drive. Enter your ZIP to compare:
Main Entrance (US-160)
Nearest Airports
ESTIMATED DRIVE TO THE PARKCEZ
DIRECTIONS →Cortez MunicipalNEAREST
≈ 16 mi · ~20 min drive to Main Entrance (US-160)
DRO
DIRECTIONS →Durango–La Plata County
≈ 46 mi · ~55 min drive to Main Entrance (US-160)
Distances are rough estimates to the closest entrance. Check road and ferry conditions before you go.
What To Do
Top Things To Do
◆Tour Cliff Palace (ticketed ranger tour)
◆Climb the ladders at Balcony House
◆Drive the Mesa Top Loop
◆Hike the Petroglyph Point Trail
Where To Stay
Camping
Campgrounds inside the park are booked through Recreation.gov, and many fill months ahead.
FIND CAMPSITES ON RECREATION.GOV ↗Lodging & Nearby Towns
INSIDE THE PARK
Far View Lodge
GATEWAY TOWNS
MancosCortezDurango
Cool Facts & Figures
By The Numbers
#49
LARGEST OF 64
#7
OLDEST OF 64
52,485
ACRES
120
YEARS PROTECTED
◆Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America.
◆In 1906 it became the first national park created to protect cultural heritage.
Links
Plan Your Visit
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Mesa Verde
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