National Park · Colorado

Trails in Mesa Verde National Park

39 named trails · 26 miles · 31 trailheads. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks mapEvery park with trailsPark on nps.gov

39 trails, A to Z.

Badger House Community Trail

0.8 mi one way · about 10 ft of climbing · 50 ft of descent · 7,081 ft–7,137 ft · asphalt surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

7,130 ft 7,109 ft · 0.1 mi high 7,130 ft

Trailhead Badger House Community Trailhead 7,223 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Balcony House Trail

0.3 mi one way · about 40 ft of climbing · 80 ft of descent · 6,726 ft–6,801 ft · asphalt surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

6,801 ft 6,761 ft · 0.3 mi high 6,801 ft

Trailhead Balcony House Trailhead 6,801 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Chapin Ampitheatre Trail

0.2 mi one way · about 20 ft of climbing · 40 ft of descent · 6,939 ft–6,979 ft · asphalt surface · hiking

6,953 ft 6,974 ft · 0.1 mi high 6,974 ft

Trailheads Chapin Amphitheater Rim Trailhead 6,971 ft Drive there · Fewkes Cabin Trailhead 6,979 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Cliff Palace Trail

0.3 mi one way · about 90 ft of climbing · 6,730 ft–6,826 ft · asphalt surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

ViewsPicnic areas

6,821 ft 6,804 ft · 0.3 mi high 6,821 ft

Along the way Cliff Palace Picnic Area Cliff Palace Overlook

Trailhead Cliff Palace Overlook Trailhead 6,824 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Far View Sites Trail

0.9 mi one way · about 70 ft of climbing · 7,667 ft–7,749 ft · gravel surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

7,686 ft 7,684 ft · 0.7 mi high 7,740 ft

Trailhead Far View Sites Trailhead 7,688 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Farm Terrace Trail

0.4 mi one way · about 100 ft of climbing · 6,997 ft–7,099 ft · soil surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

7,097 ft 7,099 ft · 0.4 mi high 7,099 ft

Trailhead Farming Terrace Trailhead 7,102 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Fire Recovery Viewpoint Trail

8,238 ft–8,241 ft · asphalt surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

Views

8,239 ft 8,238 ft · 0.1 mi high 8,241 ft

Along the way Mesa Verde and the Dine Overlook

Trailhead Fire Recovery Viewpoint Trailhead 8,238 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Geologic Overlook Trail

0.1 mi one way · about 20 ft of climbing · 8,132 ft–8,152 ft · concrete surface · hiking

Views

8,132 ft 8,152 ft · 0.1 mi high 8,152 ft

Along the way Geologic Overlook

Trailhead Geologic Overlook Trailhead 8,129 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Knife Edge Trail

1.0 mi one way · about 70 ft of climbing · 7,831 ft–7,888 ft · soil surface · hiking

7,876 ft 7,831 ft · 0.9 mi high 7,888 ft

Trailhead Knife Edge Trailhead 7,838 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Long House Loop

3.6 mi one way · about 200 ft of climbing · 7,007 ft–7,225 ft · asphalt surface · bike, hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

ViewsRanger stations

7,007 ft 7,080 ft · 0.9 mi high 7,080 ft

Along the way Ranger Station/Snack Bar Long House Overlook

Trailheads Badger House Community Trailhead 7,223 ft Drive there · Long House Loop Trailhead 7,225 ft Drive there · Nordenskiold Site & Badger Trailhead 7,183 ft Drive there · Step House Trailhead 7,223 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Long House Loop Trail

0.3 mi one way · about 20 ft of climbing · 7,183 ft–7,205 ft · asphalt surface · bike, hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

7,183 ft 7,200 ft · 0.3 mi high 7,205 ft

Trailheads Long House Loop Trailhead 7,225 ft Drive there · Nordenskiold Site & Badger Trailhead 7,183 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Montezuma Overlook Trail

7,817 ft–7,823 ft · gravel surface · hiking

ViewsPicnic areas

7,823 ft 7,817 ft · 0.0 mi high 7,823 ft

Along the way Montezuma Valley Montezuma Overlook

Trailhead Montezuma Overlook Trailhead 7,816 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Nordenskiold Site #16 Trail

0.6 mi one way · about 10 ft of climbing · 80 ft of descent · 7,115 ft–7,190 ft · gravel surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

Views

7,180 ft 7,115 ft · 0.4 mi high 7,190 ft

Along the way Nordenskiold Site #16 Overlook

Trailhead Nordenskiold Site & Badger Trailhead 7,183 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Park Point Trail

0.2 mi one way · about 30 ft of climbing · 8,535 ft–8,568 ft · asphalt surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

ViewsPicnic areas

8,535 ft 8,545 ft · 0.1 mi high 8,559 ft

Along the way Park Point Picnic Area Park Point Overlook

Trailhead Park Point Trailhead 8,532 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Petroglyph Trail

2.4 mi one way · about 250 ft of climbing · 6,757 ft–6,960 ft · soil surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail, Winter Use Allowed

6,938 ft 6,857 ft · 1.2 mi high 6,960 ft

Trailheads Petroglyph Point Trailhead 6,842 ft Drive there · Spruce Canyon Trailhead 6,798 ft Drive there · Spruce Tree House Trailhead 6,966 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Point Lookout Trail

1.1 mi one way · about 90 ft of climbing · 450 ft of descent · 7,917 ft–8,435 ft · soil surface · hiking

8,375 ft 7,964 ft · 0.9 mi high 8,435 ft

Trailhead Point Lookout Trailhead 7,917 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Prater Ridge Trail

6.4 mi one way · about 950 ft of climbing · 7,733 ft–8,411 ft · soil surface · hiking

8,281 ft 8,198 ft · 1.7 mi high 8,411 ft

Trailhead Prater Ridge Trailhead 7,733 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Rock Canyon Tower View Trail

0.1 mi one way · 20 ft of descent · 7,558 ft–7,576 ft · gravel surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

Views

7,576 ft 7,558 ft · 0.1 mi high 7,576 ft

Along the way Tower Overlook

Trailhead Rock Canyon Tower View Trailhead 7,580 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Soda Canyon Overlook Trail

0.7 mi one way · about 30 ft of climbing · 60 ft of descent · 6,787 ft–6,851 ft · soil surface · hiking

Views

6,851 ft 6,837 ft · 0.4 mi high 6,851 ft

Along the way Balcony House Overlook Soda Canyon Overook

Trailhead Soda Canyon Overlook Trailhead 6,852 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Spruce Canyon Trail

2.2 mi one way · about 200 ft of climbing · 700 ft of descent · 6,476 ft–7,022 ft · asphalt, soil surface · hiking

Picnic areas

7,011 ft 6,479 ft · 1.0 mi high 7,011 ft

Along the way Chapin Mesa Picnic Area Headquarters Picnic Area

Trailheads Chapin Amphitheater Rim Trailhead 6,971 ft Drive there · Fewkes Cabin Trailhead 6,979 ft Drive there · Petroglyph Point Trailhead 6,842 ft Drive there · Spruce Canyon Trailhead 6,798 ft Drive there · Spruce Canyon Trailhead 7,013 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Square Tower House Trail

0.1 mi one way · about 20 ft of climbing · 6,831 ft–6,863 ft · asphalt surface · hiking

Views

6,850 ft 6,831 ft · 0.1 mi high 6,850 ft

Along the way Square Tower House Overlook

Trailhead Square Tower House Trailhead 6,854 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Step House Trail

0.8 mi one way · about 150 ft of climbing · 7,095 ft–7,224 ft · gravel surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

Ranger stations

7,207 ft 7,210 ft · 0.7 mi high 7,210 ft

Along the way Ranger Station/Snack Bar

Trailheads Badger House Community Trailhead 7,223 ft Drive there · Long House Loop Trailhead 7,225 ft Drive there · Step House Trailhead 7,223 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Sun Point View Trail

about 30 ft of climbing · 6,757 ft–6,790 ft · asphalt surface · hiking

Views

6,790 ft 6,788 ft · 0.0 mi high 6,790 ft

Along the way Sun Point View

Trailhead Sun Point View Trailhead 6,790 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Wetherill Mesa Kiosk Trail

0.5 mi one way · about 80 ft of climbing · 7,138 ft–7,221 ft · gravel surface · hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

Ranger stations

7,138 ft 7,198 ft · 0.5 mi high 7,198 ft

Along the way Ranger Station/Snack Bar

Trailheads Badger House Community Trailhead 7,223 ft Drive there · Long House Loop Trailhead 7,225 ft Drive there · Step House Trailhead 7,223 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Wetherill Parking Area Comfort Station Trail

0.1 mi one way · about 10 ft of climbing · 7,225 ft–7,243 ft · asphalt surface · bike, hiking · seasonal: No Winter Use on Trail

Picnic areasRanger stations

7,232 ft 7,243 ft · 0.0 mi high 7,243 ft

Along the way Wetherill Mesa Ranger Station/Snack Bar

Trailheads Badger House Community Trailhead 7,223 ft Drive there · Long House Loop Trailhead 7,225 ft Drive there · Step House Trailhead 7,223 ft Drive there

On the parks map

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.