Mesa Verde National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

When visitors first enter the park, they can take a quick photo at the entrance sign to commemorate their visit.

The Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center is full of artifacts, artwork, and displays for visitors to enjoy. You can also have a chat with the rangers or grab a map to plan your trip easily.

If you don't purchase your entrance pass prior to entering the park, this is where you'll purchase it.

This first roadside overlook offers beautiful views of the Mancos Valley.

The Morefield Area, besides being home to the park's only gas station, hosts the Ranger Station, Campground, and several well-loved trails for visitors to explore.

The Prater Ridge Trail crosses the Prater Ridge between Parater and Morefield Canyons. offers two hiking loops: the North Loop, spanning 3.6 miles (5.7 km), and the shorter South Loop, covering 2.4 miles (3.9 km). Hiking both loops completes the entire Prater Ridge Trail, totaling 7.8 miles (12.6 km).

This historic Trail follows the historic route of the Knife Edge Road and offers beautiful views of Montezuma Valley. This relatively level trail clocks in at around 2 miles or 3.4 km.

Ascending steep switchbacks on the west side of Point Lookout, the 2.2-mile (3.5 km) roundtrip trail offers hikers magnificent views of the historic entrance road and mesa.

The Montezuma Valley Overlook showcases the valley, Cortez, and is also a great place to watch the sunset.

This short, paved walk leads to the highest elevation point in the park, and includes several overlooks, informational signs, and to the park fire watchtower.

A short walk leads to an overlook and wayside exhibits, sheding insights into the area's geology

This easy, .8 mile (1.3 km)hike includes several Ancestral Puebloan sites, such asFar View Terrace, Far View Reservoir, the Pipe Shrine House, and the Far View Tower.

Cedar Tree House is an Ancestral Puebloan Tower Kiva complex just a few steps from the parking lot. The Farming Terrace Trail is a short, easy 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) that showcases some ancient farming terraces.

The Spruce Canyon Trail is a moderately difficult 2.4 miles (3.9 km) point to point trail, starting and ending at the Chapin Mesa Museum. It's one of the park's best trails for wildlife-watching, particularly birding.

An absolute must-do trail, this The 2.4-mile (3.9 km) loop trail is moderately difficult and rock, with some mild scrambling at one end. It's more than wort it however, as hikers are rewarded with not only a stunning petroglyph panel, but also the remnants of an Ancestral Puebloan dwelling, and beautiful views of Spruce Canyon throughout.

The Ancestral Puebloan Spruce Tree House is currently off-limits to in-site visitation due to structural instability, but visitors can still get a great view of the site from the balcony behind the museum. Extra-lucky visitors may also be able to catch a ranger program about the site. Check the museum for details.

The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum is an essential stop for all park visitors. There, visitors can enjoy a film on the history of the park, several exhibits, and get information on ranger talks and tours.

If you aren't planning on packing a picnic lunch, consider stopping by the Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe for a quick snack or a hot meal.

The first stop on the Mesa Top Loop Road, an Ancestral Puebloan Pithouse built around 55o C.E.

This roadside viewpoint offers stunning views of the Navajo Canyon and the Echo Cliff House.

This is the tallest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde--a 4 story structure. The overlook is free, but to visit Square House, tickets are required.

This stop allows vistors to appreciate the changes of Ancestral Ouebloan architecture over time, from the earliest pithouses to the more modern pueblos.

These sites show beautiful Ancestral Puebloan kivas and chimney airflow systems.

This 30-room village was one of the last structures to be built by the Ancestral Puebloans before their departure.

A viewpoint with a viewing scope overlooking several cliffside dwellings.

This roadside stops overlooks the 1250 C.E. Oak Tree House, a large cliff village.

This overlook peaks out at the Fire Temple, which boasts several homes, a firepit, and a central plaza.

Sun Temple, an uncompleted Ancestral Puebloan ceremonial structure, has been puzzling anthropologists as to its exact function since its discovery.

Cliff Palace is one of Mesa Verde's most popular stops--and for good reason. 150 rooms and 23 kivas make up this cliffside wonder. Visitors to this site must schedule a ranger-guided tour in advance.

This "House of Many Windows" is actually swissed by countless small doorways, which are often mistaken for windows.

This carefully perched cliff house was built in the early 1200's as part of the larger Balcony House Community.

Visitors will want to get advance tickets for this ranger-guided tour. The Balcony House is made of 38 rooms, 2 kivas, and a plaza. To visit, visitors need to be in relatively decent health, as they will need to climb through a small tunnel and climb several ladders.

This short and easy 1.2-mile (2 km) out-and-back trail is ideal for wildlife spotting. Along the way, you'll enjoy several views of the cliff houses dotting the adjacent cliffside. Be sure to walk all the way to the Soda Canyon voerlook for teh best view of the canyon.

Wetherill Mesa's geologic overlook and picnic area is a great stop in the afternoon for a quick snack while you take in views of Montezuma Valley.

This quick stop is a great place to look for raptor birds soaring above the cliffs. Visitors can also read the educational displays explaining the area's fires.

This is the final roadside viewpoint for enjoying Montezuma Valley overlook along Wetherill Mesa Road and is another excellent spot for birding

The Rock Canyon Tower is a stop you'll want to pull out your binoculars for. The tower structure is located on the opposite canyon wall.

The Wetherill Mesa Station Kiosk should be your first stop before heading to the Long House Trail. This informative hub, located at the end Wetherill Mesa Road, provides visitors with essential details about the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and archaeological sites in the area. Offering maps, interpretive exhibits, and trail information, the kiosk helps visitors plan their ideal route through the surrounding, intersecting trails.

The Wetherill Mesa Sites include Step House, Kodak House, Long House, Nordenskiold Site 16, and Two Raven House. The hikes here can total up to or over 4.5 miles, if you visit all the sites. Visitors should prioritize Nordenskiold Site and Step House, as well as the by ticket-only Long House.

This is the only Ancestral Puebloan site on Wetherill Mesa Road that requires a ranger guide to visit. This sprawling structure consists of 50 rooms, 21 kivas, and several upper storage rooms.