The Best Photography in Mesa Verde National Park

The Far View Community is located four miles north of the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum. In around 800 AD, the Ancestral Pueblo people lived in this area for several centuries. They mostly farmed the mesa tops, but were also hunters. It was one of the most densely populated regions of Mesa Ver...

The Farming Terraces Trail is located in Mesa Verde National Park and is a quick hike (0.4 miles) and is perfect for families and people of all skill levels. The trail is best used from March until October. The trail takes approximately ~15 minutes to complete. 

The Spruce Canyon trail is very well taken care of. The trail begin with a descent into Spruce Tree Canyon and then follows a stream for 3/4 of a mile before climbing a side canyon back up to the ridge. The trailhead is located on the Chapin Mesa within Mesa Verde National Park. The trail is open...

The Park Point Trail is the highest point in Mesa Verde National Park, and being close to the four corners, you can see for hundreds of miles in every direction on a clear day. It's a very short walk from the car, and there are several nice lookouts along the way, but be sure to walk all the way ...

Pick up a trail brochure for information on the interpretive signs. There are some steep and narrow portions of the trail, so make sure everyone in your party is of able physical capability. 

The Soda Canyon Overlook Trail is a relatively popular hike perfect for viewing Soda Canyon and Balcony House. This hike is perfect for families and people of all skill levels. Soda Canyon Overlook Trail is a 1.3 mile hike in Mesa Verde National Park.The trailhead is clearly marked, and is about ...

Tickets for this tour are $4 per person and are available at the visitor center near the entrance of the park. This tour is best taken from April to November. This hike features The milky way is often visible from the top of Mesa Verde at night.  This one-hour, ranger-guided tour involves climbin...

The 6-mile Mesa Top Loop Road, open 8 am to sunset, stops at 12 sites including surface ruins and cliff dwelling overlooks. The most famous feature of the park, Cliff Palace, is visible from the Sun Point and Sun Temple overlooks. Sunrise photography isn't possible on the loop due to operating ho...

Starting at the trail head at 7,000 feet, you will head down the trail until you get to the cliff dwellings. There will be a wooden ladder you will have to climb, a recreation of the ladder used hundreds of years ago by the tribes living there. Once you get to the top of the ladder, the trail wil...

The Badger House Community Trail is a 1.5 mile loop with minimal elevation gain. The Badger House Community Trail is a unique hike in Mesa Verde National Park as it goes along the top of a mesa, instead of heading down into a canyon.This trail is perfect for all skill levels and for families. The...

The Prater Ridge Trailhead is in the southwest corner of Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde National Park. The trail is best used from spring to mid fall. The Prater Ridge Trail is a 7.3 mile loop. 

This two mile round-trip trail leaves from the information kiosk near Long House and Step House, and leads through and area severely burned by the 2000 Pony Fire.  There's no shade on this trail, so if you are doing it during the hotter months, be sure to bring a lot of water and sun protection. ...

This is a great opportunity to see two historic cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park within a relatively short period of time. Schedule your day around getting tickets to Long House, then taking a bit of a side trek to the Step House when you have the time. The tour begins at the Weatherhi...

The Long House Trail is a 0.6 mile out and back hike in Mesa Verde National Park. The trail features wildflowers and a river. This hike is a great option for families or individuals wishing for a unique immersion in a dwelling without having to pay extra fees.

The Knife Edge Trail leaves from a small parking lot located in Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde National Park. It's definitely an easy trail, but it is perfect for the entire family. It offers an unhindered view westward, so it is a prime place to catch the sunset in the park, especially if yo...

This trail is located within Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde National Park. The parking lot also serves as the parking lot for the amphitheater, so it's pretty huge - unless there's a program going on you shouldn't have to worry about finding a spot.  The trail starts out nice and level, facin...