The park itself is open all year, but the two halves of a visit do not run on the same calendar: the ranger-guided cliff dwelling tours are a warm-season affair, from mid-May to late October, and Wetherill Mesa opens and closes with them. Outside that window you still have the mesa-top road, the overlooks and the museum, which is the shape most visits with a toddler or a pushchair take anyway, since the dwellings themselves are reached on foot down rough trails with steep dropoffs, uneven steps and ladders that need both hands free. In season, rangers also give free Spruce Tree House Overlook Talks with no reservation needed, which gets you a ranger and a view of a dwelling without the climb. Bring a card rather than notes and coins, and plan water and sun cover for the Wetherill Mesa trails, which cross ground burned in the 2000 Pony Fire and have no shade at all.
Family FAQ
How much does Mesa Verde National Park cost?
Private vehicle USD 30.00 from 1 May to 22 Oct, valid 7 days and covering driver and passengers, or USD 20.00 from 23 Oct to 30 Apr; on foot or by bicycle USD 15.00 per person in summer.
Do you need to book Mesa Verde National Park in advance?
Every ranger-led tour to Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Square Tower House must be reserved in advance at recreation.gov, on top of the park entrance pass.
Is Mesa Verde National Park a good choice in bad weather?
All Wetherill Mesa trails cross ground burned in the 2000 Pony Fire and have no shade, so carry sun cover and water.
