Mesa Verde National Park Colorado - Introduction
Mesa Verde National Park protects some thousands of archaeological
sites in southwest Colorado, including some of the most striking and
best-preserved structures made by the Ancestral Pueblo people
(formerly known as the Anasazi). Guided tours of several large cliff
dwellings and interpretive hikes allow visitors to see the structures
up close, and a museum and scenic drive are also available.
The park offers a unique mixture of geological and manmade
splendor, with multi-story native buildings blending with natural
sandstone shelters.
Three sites at Mesa Verde have over a hundred rooms, and a wide
variety of smaller and older ruins, some dating back 1500 years, are
spread throughout the area. The park also offers breathtaking views of
the Four Corners region and the nearby San Juan Mountains.
Mesa Verde is located off Highway 160 in southwestern Colorado,
about 35 miles west of Durango or a short drive east from Cortez. The
park is open year-round, but only limited services are available in
winter.
For more information on Mesa Verde National Park, select a topic of
interest from the left-hand column.
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