Mesa Verde National Park: Travel Guide for Families

Mesa Verde National Park in Southern Colorado is the home of some of America's best archeological sites. Known best for its breathtakingly well-preserved cave dwellings, Mesa Verde is the site upon which the Ancestral Puebloans made their homes 1,400 years ago. This national park not only provides a unique setting for families looking to explore the outdoors, but its rich history allows both children and adults a hands-on educational experience unlike any other.

Entrance Fees- For private vehicles, the entrance fee is $10.00 in the off-season and $15.00 in-season (currently May 29 to September 5 for 2011). If you take a non-commercial bus, motorcycle or bicycle, the prices are $5.00 per person during the off-season and $8.00 per person in-season, so the best bet for families is to just take their private vehicles. All the fees grant access to the park for seven days after payment.

Accepted forms of payment include cash, travelers' checks payable in US dollars, Visa cards, Master Cards, and American Express cards. Additionally, you can pay with personal checks, but only from US banks with the check holder's name and current address printed on the check. Also required are a telephone number and tax identification, and if the check is written for over $25.00, a social security number must be provided.

Guided Tours- The easiest guided tour is the tour of the Spruce Tree House, the best preserved cliff dwelling in the park. Unlike other tours, this one does not involve ladder climbing which could be difficult for families with small children. This free tour is only ranger-guided during the winter months (November-March), but it is available self-guided year round. The walking distance is only ½ mile and it begins at the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum.

Other guided tours include the Cliff Palace and Balcony House tours. Both of these hour-long tours involve ladder climbing, and one of them, The Balcony House Tour, involves crawling though a 12 foot long tunnel and climbing up a 60ft open rock face. Unless your kids are older, these tours may not be suited for children.

All guided tours other than the Spruce Tree House tour is $3.00 per person.

Self-Guided Tours- Again, from March to November, the Spruce Tree House is a self-guided ½ mile tour of one of the must-see sites at the park; a definite recommendation for traveling families.

Other recommended family-friendly self-guided tours include the Mesa Top Loop Road Auto Tour, a six-mile road with access to short trails and scenic overlooks; The Far View Sites Complex, a ¾ mile unpaved trail through the Far View house, four other villages and an ancient reservoir; and the Badger House Trail, a combination gravel and paved trail that is 2.5 miles in its entirety, but families can take the tram to the Badger House tram stop that'll shorten the trip by a mile.

Lodging - Inside the national park located at a convenient distance from the visitor's center is the Far View Lodge. Prices on rooms start at around $97.00 as of 2010, but the convenience may be worth the price since it's 15 miles into the park. Currently, the lodge only operates seasonally from April 22-October 21.

If your family is up for some camping, the Morefield Campground, located four and a half miles outside Mesa Verde's entrance, is worth checking out. Not only is it located in a scenic canyon and has an option to provide camping equipment if you don't have any, but there is a café on site that provides an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts for guests in the summertime, pleasing to both kids and parents.

Fun for Kids- To make your child's experience at Mesa Verde even more educational and fun, the national park offers the chance for your child to "be a junior ranger." Your child will fill out the Junior Ranger Booklet while he's exploring the park. When the booklet is complete, he can turn it in at any park information center to get his well-earned Mesa Verde Junior Ranger Badge. Booklets can be obtained in the park, or you can download them online before your visit by clicking this link.

Helpful Links-

United States National Parks Service: Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde Tourism: Visit Mesa Verde