When a trip to Durango, Colorado is on the calendar and you’re the type of traveler with a passion for rich history, a trip to nearby Mesa Verde National Park is a must! Here, the past comes to life in incredible architectural style, mesmerizing the mind and casting light on another way of life from once upon a time.
A Sacred and Inspiring Place
Taking time to enjoy a visit to Mesa Verde National Park is a chance to step into over 700 years of history. The cliffside mesas were home to the Ancestral Pueblo people whose communities thrived within these unique structures. Mesa Verde National Park protects land that once housed 26 pueblos and tribes in total. It’s an official World Heritage Site as well as a designated International Dark Sky Park. The park was officially established back in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt to preserve the incredible works of man. Today, it’s a vital place of preservation in terms of culture and natural resources alike.
Visit This Amazing National Park Near Durango
While the vast majority of visitors to Mesa Verde National Park come to admire the cliff dwellings that remain, this is also a prime place for incredible hiking and wildlife watching too. Guided tours through the area are available upon request for those who are looking for insightful commentary along the way. Mesa Verde National Park is located at Mile .7 Headquarters Loop Road and hosts a Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center and museum which are open year-round and make for a great place to start a visit. Those arriving with a vehicle in the winter can enter the park for $20 while the summer fee is $30. Motorcycle fees are $15 and $25 respectively while individual entrance fees in the winter are $10 and summer entrance can be enjoyed for $15. Year-round, entrance fees are food for Park visits for seven days.
Those who come to explore the trails and ecosystems housed by Mesa Verde National Park will find over 52,000 acres of Colorado Plateau waiting. This area enjoys a semi-arid climate and the park sits within the transition zone between forest and scrublands. Mesa Verde National Park near Durango is home to a variety of wildlife ranging from birds and reptiles to migratory mammals and fish. Some wildlife that can be spotted in the park that are rare elsewhere in the region include the Mexican spotted owl and peregrine falcons.
Enjoy Your Stay in Durango
When travel plans bring you this way, the team at Durango Colorado Vacations has the rental you need to top off your trip in style. Reach out to learn more and to start planning!
