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Maps & Trails

ASPEN AREA TRAILS:
Government Trail, Lincoln Creek Road, Little Annie Road Loop, Owl Creek Road, Rio Grande, Smuggler Mountain Road / Hunter Creek Loop

BOULDER AREA TRAILS:
Fourth of July Trail, Jamestown, Lefthand Canyon, Meyers Gulch, Sourdough, Switzerland, St. Vrain Mountain, Walker Ranch, White Ranch

Mesa Verde National Park
Fort Collins Ride Summary
Gunnison Ride Summary
Hermosa Creek Ride Summary
Colorado: Mesa Verde Adventure Guide

Maps & Trails

 

Colorado Mountain Biking Trails

Rich in mining history, the Aspen area has over 100 miles of trails suitable for mountain bikes and may be the most beautiful place to go for mountain biking. Biking the low elevation trails one has the opportunity to view and visit the history of the inter-city; while taking the higher elevations provides one the chance to visit old mining sites that once thrived during the late 1800's.

There are six popular trails with local bicyclists that challenge the beginner to the advanced biker: Rio Grande Trail, Smuggler-Hunter Creek Loop, Midnight Mine Road/Little Annie Road, Owl Creek Road, Lincoln Creek Road, and the Government Trail. These trails vary from difficulty to length, depending on the route one chooses.

ASPEN AREA:

Government Trail

Young Timmy blasting through mud on his way through a stream...

Directions: From Snowmass take Woods Road to Pine Lane, follow Pine Lane to where it dead ends. Pass through the gate onto the ski area and across the ski slopes to a gate. This is the ski area boundary and the start of Government Trail (a.k.a.: Brush Creek Trail). Look for a Forest Service sign directing you to Buttermilk.

Ride: From Snowmass Village take the steep ride up Wood Road to the end where a ski service road leads to Pine Lane to the Government Trail (also known as Brush Creek Trail). The first part of the trail has several stream crossings and muddy sections before a gentler section in the woods. Be sure to stay above Whites Lake before the Owl Creek crossing. The trail crosses the West Buttermilk ski slopes and the Tiehack Ski Area before dropping steeply to a bridge over Maroon Creek. After a short, steep climb up from the other side of the creek, the trail ends at Iselin Park. From here you can follow the bike path along Maroon Creek Road into Aspen.

Notes: Stay on the trail, parts of the trail crosses through private property. Check with the Forest Service for trail closures.

Maps: USGS. 7 ½' Highland Peak and Aspen Quads Information: White River Nat'l Forest - Aspen Ranger Dist. (970) 925-3445

Lincoln Creek Road

Description: Drive 10 miles southeast of Aspen on Colorado 82, park at the entrance to Lincoln Creek Road at Lincoln Gulch Campground.

Ride: Ride up the road along Lincoln Creek for 6 miles to Grizzly Reservoir, (Portal Campground) continue for 5 miles to Ruby. The road from Grizzly Reservoir is a 4wheel drive, bumpy, rocky gradual ascent to the ghost town Of Ruby.

Notes: Collegiate Peaks Wilderness borders both sides of the ride, riding in the wilderness area is prohibited. Respect private property signs at the top of the ride.

Maps: White River National Forest

Information: Aspen Ranger District (970) 925-3445

Little Annie Road Loop

Ride: From Colorado 82 ride up Castle Creek Road for 7 miles, turn left onto Little Annie Road. Follow Little Annie Road for about 2 miles to the Midnight Mine Road, continue on Little Annie Road down the last couple of miles to Castle Creek Road, which can be followed back to Aspen.

Note: An option to this ride is the more difficult ride up the Midnight Mine Road to Aspen Mountain.

Maps: USGS 71/2' Aspen Quad

Information: White River Nat'l. Forest Aspen Ranger Dist. (970) 925-3445

Owl Creek Road

Ride: North from Aspen on a paved path (ABC Trail) on the north side of Colorado 82 for approximately 2 miles. Go left and cross Highway 82 and pick up the Owl Creek Road (County Road 12). Follow the road and bike path over Sinclair Divide to Snowmass Village.

Notes: Except for a few hills the Owl Creek Road from Aspen to Snowmass is an easy ride.

Maps: White River National Forest map.

Information: Aspen Parks & Recreation Dept. (970) 920-5120

Rio Grande Trail
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Directions: Begin the ride at the intersection of Mill & Puppy Smith Street by the post office. Ride north crossing over the Roaring Fork river and Hunter Creek along the north side of the Roaring Fork River to Woody Creek

Ride: A very popular Aspen trail for biking follows the old roadbed of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad along the Roaring Fork River. The first 2 miles of the trail from Aspen are paved, the next 5 miles are dirt, the last 1 mile from Upper Woody Creek Bridge to the Woody Creek Tavern is on paved road. There are no steep grades or technical challenges on this ride.

Notes: Rest areas along trail; fishing and wildlife habitat along river.

Maps: Aspen City Map.

Information: Aspen Parks and Recreation Dept. (970) 920-5120

Smuggler Mountain Road / Hunter Creek Loop

Directions: In Aspen from Hopkins and Park Ave (East side of Aspen) left on Park Avenue, right on Smuggler Mountain Road. Trail begins at trailhead for Smuggler Mountain Road.

Ride: The first section past the Smuggler mine and up to the Iowa Mine is a series of switch backs, the road is steep, gravely and rough. From the Iowa Mine the road descends down into the Hunter Valley. Cross the reservoir bridge turn left, follow Hunter Creek down for .75 mile stay left , cross the 10 Mountain Bridge, follow the trail down along Hunter Creek stay left to Red Mountain Road, the road will take you Back to Aspen.

Note: The ride is very strenuous at the beginning and easy on the downside through Hunter Valley!

Maps: White River National Forest map USGS 7 1/2' - Aspen and Thimble Rock Quads

Information: Aspen Ranger District (970) 925-3445

Boulder Area:

4th of July Trail

Directions: From Canyon and Broadway, drive west on Canyon (Hwy 119) to Nederland. From Nederland, bear left on 119 for 0.6 miles to BC Rd. 130, the road to Eldora. Stay right at the turn-off for the Eldora Ski Area and continue for 2.5 miles to the stop sign at 6th St., in the town of Eldora, and park off the road.

Ride: Up the Eldora road to the end of the pavement and continue along a dirt road. Stay right at a turn-off for Hessie and climb more steeply. Stay straight on the main road, at all junctions. Follow the South Fork of Upper Boulder Creek to the 4th of July Campground at 5.7 miles one-way

Note: Bikes are not allowed in the Indian Peaks Wilderness area, beyond the 4th of July Campground.

Maps: USGS 7/12' Topos

Information: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest Boulder Ranger District - Phone (303) 444-6001

Jamestown Trail

Directions: From Boulder north on US 36 for approximately 3 miles to Lefthand Canyon Drive. No designated parking area, park well off road.

Ride: Lefthand Canyon upstream along Lefthand Creek approximately 5.5 miles to the turn-off to Jamestown, turn right for 3.0 miles. to Jamestown. The ride is a steady uphill climb with a few steep grades. Shoulders are narrow or nonexistent, stay right.

Maps: Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest. map.

Information: Boulder Ranger District (303) 444-6001

Lefthand Canyon Trail

Directions: From Boulder north on US 36 for approximately 3 miles to Lefthand Canyon Drive. No designated parking area, park well off road.

Ride: Lefthand Canyon is a twisting mountain road that follows Lefthand Creek upstream from Boulder to Ward at Colorado 72. The 16 mile ride is a fairly even climb, except as you approach Ward, here the climb gets tougher. The shoulders are typical for mountain county roads, very narrow to non-existent, stay to the right. The ride ends in Ward at Colorado 72.

Note: Peak to Peak Scenic Byway runs directly through Ward. Colorado highways 7, 72, 119, between Estes Park and Blackhawk. is a National and State Scenic Byway.

Maps: Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest Service map.

Information: Boulder Ranger District (303) 444-6001

Meyers Gulch Trail

Directions: From Boulder take Baseline Road west (becomes Flagstaff Road) for 7.5 miles to the trailhead parking-lot.

Ride: 2 1/2 miles to the overlook, the route has an average grade of nearly 6%. The grade makes the ride harder for such a short ride but it's still a good place for early conditioning rides for skilled riders or beginning mountain bikers.

Note: Walker Ranch is part of the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Areas. Walker Ranch has trails for mountain biking that are suitable for novice and more skilled riders. The boundaries of the ranch property are marked on the map, the property surrounding the area is private property.

Maps: Boulder County Parks & Open Space: Walker Ranch (free) Information: Boulder County Parks & Open Space - (303) 441-3950

Sourdough Trail

Directions: From Boulder drive west on Colorado 119 to Nederland, turn right on Hwy 72 toward Ward. Drive 7.5 miles and turn left at the C.U. Research Station road (FS 298). Continue for 4 miles to the Sourdough trailhead and the park off the road.

Ride: A well marked trail that starts with a steep section through dense pines, follow the markers to Peace Memorial Bridge. Cross the bridge and continue up the trail to the top of the climb. From the top of the trail, descend to the paved Brainard Lake road before returning the way you came.

Note: Hard packed dirt, sometimes rocky trail.

Maps: USGS 71/2' Ward Quad

Information: Roosevelt Nat'l. Forest - Boulder Ranger Dist. (303) 444-6001

St. Vrain Mountain Trail

Directions: From Boulder Drive 3.4 miles north on Broadway to Lee Hill Rd., turn left for 6 miles to Sunshine Canyon Rd. Turn right on Lefthand Canyon Drive for one mile, left three miles to Jamestown and continue for another 6.8 miles to the signed St. Vrain Trail. Turn right and park at the trailhead.

Ride: Start on a single track trail and follow it upstream along St. Vrain Creek. The trail ends where it intersects the creek. Turn left at the stream and climb a steep, rocky jeep road to the top of the climb, turn left on Miller Rock Road for .5 mile to Miller Rock. Turn around follow the trail back to trailhead.

Note: There are several options to this ride in the area.

Maps: USGS 7/12' Raymond Quad

Information: Roosevelt National Forest - Boulder Ranger Dist. (303) 444-6001

Switzerland Trail

Directions: From Boulder Travel west Colorado 119 toward Nederland Drive 5.4 miles and turn right on Sugarloaf Rd., travel 5 miles, turn right on Sugarloaf Mtn. Road, continue for I mile to the trail head parking.

Ride: On the right side of the parking area there is a sign with an arrow pointing to Sunset marking the start of the ride, the trail is marked with forest service signs at all major intersections. A old railroad bed with a 4% grades, the surface varies from smooth to rocky.

Notes: A gravel road that follows the old narrow gauge railroad route that served mines in the Ward/Nederland area.

Maps: USGS 71/2' Ward and Gold Hill Quads.

Information: Roosevelt Nat'l. Forest - Boulder Ranger Dist. (303) 444-6001

Walker Ranch Trail

Directions: From Boulder take Baseline Road west (becomes Flagstaff Road) for 7.5 miles to the trailhead parking lot.

Ride: From parking area follow old fire road to the Columbine Gulch Trailhead. Turn left and begin a gradual descent for I mile, then the trail rapidly descends into Eldorado Canyon. Turn left and begin the climb up the Eldorado Canyon Trail to the Pika Road. Left on Pika Road to Flagstaff Road, left on Flagstaff Road to the parking area.

Notes: The Walker Ranch offers 2,690 acres of open space, plus picnic area and restrooms.

Maps: Walker Ranch Park Map (Free)

Information: Boulder County Parks and Open Space (303) 441-3950

White Ranch Trail

Directions: From Denver drive west on 6th Ave. (US 6) to Golden. Go north on CO 93 about 1 mile and turn left on Golden Gate Canyon Road. Turn right on Crawford Gulch Road and follow White Ranch Open Space signs to the top of White Ranch Park; park in the main, lower parking lot.

Ride: From the main parking lot .4 mile up the road to the entrance gate. Go left on Belcher Hill Trail and climb the singletrack .5 mile to the top of the hill. This is the highest point on White Ranch - about 8000 feet. Stay on Belcher Hill Trail, passing a rocky crag on your right. From this vantage point you can see west across Crawford Gulch Ranch and south to Lookout Mountain. Continue down Belcher Hill .8 mile to Sawmill Trail, pass on down to Maverick Trail and turn left. After about a mile Maverick intersects Longhorn Trail. Go left on Longhorn, at .3 mile veer right at the Y, and continue to Rawhide Trail. Turn right on Rawhide for a wild .4 mile descent there are many water bars erected on this section so ride in control (please don't ride around the water bars). At the bottom of the hill cross a small creek and go straight onto Wrangler's Run. Wrangler's climbs gently for half a mile. At the end of Wrangler's Run turn left on Rawhide Trail (now a dirt service road) and ride 1.1 miles back to the parking lot.

Maps: White Ranch Park map free, 271-5925

Fort Collins Ride Summary

Technical: Variable

Physical: Moderate- difficult

Located just four miles from Fort Collins, Colorado, Horsetooth Mountain Park has over 2,100 acres of beautiful riding terrain. Outstanding park features include cascading waterfalls, abundant wildlife, expansive views and impressive rock formations including Horsetooth Rock, a familiar landmark in Larimer County. Trails vary in difficulty and are well marked throughout the park. Your best bet is to explore the park, linking up as many trails as possible. You can gain 1,500 feet riding up to Horsetooth Rock, which, at 7,255 feet, is the highest point of the park.

To get here from Fort Collins, drive south on Hwy 287, take a right on Horsetooth Road until it forms a "T" with Taft Hill Road. Take a left at the "T" and then a right on road 38E, following the signs to the park entrance.

For more information, contact Larimer County Parks Department, 1800 South County Road 31, Loveland CO 80537, (970) 679-4570.

Gunnison Ride Summary

Technical: Moderate- difficult

Physical: Moderate- difficult

For some great under-rated trails check out Gunnison Colorado. Hartman’s Rocks’ mountain bike playground is enough to keep most riders amused for hours on end. While much larger, Gunnison lives quietly in the shadow of its world famous neighbor, Crested Butte.

Located just a half hour away, Gunnison offers a much longer ride season (sometimes year-round) because of it’s lower elevation and desert terrain.

While there are plenty of places to ride in the Gunnison area, Hartman’s Rocks (picture above) is the ideal place to both explore & ride great singletrack. Whether your riding the "Rage in the Sage" course loop, or any of the other trails networked throughout this area, you’ll find everything from highspeed "luge" style riding to rocky technical sections.

To get here, you can either ride or drive from town. The main entrance is about three miles due south of town. A good map is available at local bike shops including the Tune Up Ski & Bike Shop (970) 641-0285.

Hermosa Creek Ride Summary

Technical: Moderate (possible water crossing)

Physical: Moderate-difficult

The Hermosa Creek Trail in Durango Colorado is a beautiful romp through the Land of Singletrack!. Like the name implies, this trail follows Hermosa Creek as it heads through the heart of the San Juan National Forest.

Most people use the two car shuttle system, allowing them to ride 21 miles of single track that is almost entirely downhill. The trail crosses the creek twice, so be prepared to wade through waist-deep water if riding this one during the spring.

To get here from Durango, drive highway 550 north for 11 miles until you reach the town of Hermosa. Drop off a car and continue to drive north until you reach the Purgatory Ski Area. Turn left and drive until you reach Forest Road 578. Turn left and follow 578 until you reach Hermosa Creek and the trailhead.

Mesa Verde

Take a few minutes to plan your Adventure
(Click on the underlined passages for a high resolution picture)

From the entrance station near U.S. Hwy 160, it is 21 miles to the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, Headquarters area, and Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling. You will be driving a winding mountain road. Allow an hour for driving time depending on weather and traffic conditions. It is a very scenic trip with spectacular views into four states. Watch for deer and wild turkeys -- you may see them along the road at any time!

No this is by no means a mtn. biker's mecca, but for a killer workout...and one of the coolest chances for speed since the Going To The Sun Road, (in Glacier N.P.) check this park out;... after you're done with Gunnison

½ Day or Less…

Visitors should plan to spend at least three hours at Mesa Verde. Two hours of this time will be drive time into and out of the park. Your first stop should be at the Far View Visitor Center, located 15 miles from the park entrance, for information and orientation. From there we suggest you visit the Chapin Mesa Museum and Spruce Tree House. Another option if you have just a few hours would be to drive the Mesa Top Loop Road.

The wayside exhibits and the canyon overlooks offer a glimpse of the Mesa Verde story. Highlights of the loop for those pressed for time would be the Square Tower Overlook, Twin Trees Ruin and Sun Temple. These could be completed if you have 1/2 of a day to visit the park.

One Day…

Stop at the Far View Visitor Center for park information and to orient yourself. Purchase $1.35 tickets for the Cliff Palace or Balcony House tour (open May I 1) if you wish to see those sites. Visit the Chapin Mesa Museum and Spruce Tree House. Drive the Mesa Top Loop Road to learn the chronological story of Mesa Verde. Plan to fit in either the Cliff Palace or Balcony House tour and take the time to stop at the overlooks on this loop of Mesa Top Loop Road. As you leave Chapin Mesa stop at Cedar Tree Tower and perhaps consider the 1/2 mile hike on the Farming Terrace Trail or further up the road, enjoy visiting and learning about Far View Sites, a site inhabited for about three centuries.

Two Days or More…

Be sure to make your first stop at the Far View Visitor Center for information and $1.35 tickets to Cliff Palace or Balcony House (open May I 1). Visit the museum area, including the museum and Spruce Tree House. Investigate the hiking opportunities. From the Headquarters Area you may take the Petroglyph Point Trail (2.3 miles) or the Spruce Tree Canyon Trail (2.1 miles). From the Cliff Palace Loop of Mesa Top Loop Road there is also the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail (.75 mile) which offers the opportunity to view Balcony House. Then take the time to stop and enjoy Cedar Tree Tower and the Farming Terrace Trail (1/2 mile).

On the second day stop at the Far View Visitor Center for tickets to Cliff Palace or Balcony House depending on what you visited yesterday. Drive the Mesa Top Loop Road and plan this around your ticketed tour of the day. Later in the day would also be a great opportunity to visit Far View Sites. Take a hike on one of the trails in the headquarters area or plan a hike near Morefield Campground on the Prater Ridge Trail (7.5 miles) or the Knife Edge Trail (1.5 miles). Take the time also as you drive in and out of the park to enjoy the overlooks, the wayside exhibits and especially Park Point: a stop that offers a sweeping panoramic view of four states, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

Self Guided Tours

{Open 8:00AM - Sunset} (H)= Handicapped Accessible

Mesa Top Loop Road (H)

Two six mile loops on this road offer access to sites representing 600 years of cultural development. Twelve excavated sites provide a chronological sequence of the settlement and development of Mesa Verde. Along the beautiful drive you will see the architectural development of the ancient people from Modified Basketmaker (AD 600) to the Classic Pueblo cliff dwellings (AD 1200) including Sun Temple and overlooks of Square Tower House, Oak Tree House and cross-canyon views of Cliff Place.

Far View Sites (H)

Far View Sites is a cluster of villages just off the main road about a mile south of the Far View Visitor Center, the Far View Lodge and Cafeteria. At Far View six sites are open for viewing within easy walking distance of the parking area.

Cedar Tree Tower

The Cedar Tree Tower Road is the first road to the right beyond the 4 way intersection as you are driving toward the park entrance. The site is a two story tower connected to a subterranean kiva by an underground tunnel. To the southwest of Cedar Tree Tower is the Farming- Terrace Trail. On this trail are terraces and check dams across natural water drainages built o stone by prehistoric farmers. The Farming Terrace Trail is marked by a sign and a pullout just before you reach Cedar Tree Tower. In many ways the isolation and smaller scale of these sites convey a more personal image of Mesa Verde than the larger sites.

Open {9:00AM -6:30PM}

Spruce Canyon Trail

The trail starts at the Chief Ranger's Office in the Park Headquarters area and ends at the head of Spruce Canyon. It is a 2.1 mile round trip with a 500 foot ascent and descent. The trail drops off Chapin Mesa to the bottom of Spruce Canyon, then turns north to begin the ascent up the canyon. Registration to hike the canyon is required at the Chief Ranger's Office.

Petroglyph Point Trail

The trail starts at the Chief Ranger's Office in the Park Headquarters area and ends at the museum parking lot. The trail is a 2.3 mile round trip walk which takes almost 2.5 hours to complete. The hike includes a 200 foot ascent, steps and short climbs, drops below the edge of the canyon rim and offers excellent views of Spruce and Navajo Canyons. Registration to hike the canyon is required at the Chief Ranger's Office.

Spruce Tree House (H) With Assistance

Within a few yards of the museum, a sign points to the trailhead leading to the Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling. It is Mesa Verde's best preserved cliff dwelling. The 1 14 rooms and eight kivas were constructed in a natural alcove that measures 216 feet wide and 89 feet deep.

Facilities:

{Open 8:00AM - 6:30PM}

Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum (H)

The Archeological Museum on Chapin Mesa displays superb examples of prehistoric artifacts of the American Southwest.

{Open 8:00AM - 5:00PM}

Far View Visitor Center (H)

Located 15 miles from the park entrance. This is the visitor contact station where you can obtain tickets, information and directions to all ranger guided tours and activities.

Tours: 9:00Am - 5:00PM Tickets $1.35

EVERY HOUR - April 13 - May 10 ** Meet the Park Ranger10 minutes before the

EVERY 1/2 HOUR - after May 10 tour, at the site of the tour. Tours take . approximately 1 hour.

Cliff Palace

Take Mesa Top Loop Road and follow the signs to Cliff Palace. The dwelling may have been home to as many as 250 people. Original designs still decorate the plaster on the interior of some of the rooms. The tour includes a 75 foot ascent, climbing steps and climbing several short ladders.

Cliff Palace can also be seen from an overlook above the dwelling or from across the canyon at Sun Temple or the Sun Point overlook on the Ruins Road.

Balcony House (Open May 11) EVERY HOUR - Tickets $1.35

Balcony House is on the Cliff Palace Loop of the Mesa Top Loop Road, one mile on the road past Cliff Palace. You must have a ticket to tour Balcony House. The entire site can be seen from the 3/4 mile long Soda Canyon Overlook Trail. The trailhead is located 1/2 mile past Balcony House on the right side. The tour is one of the most strenuous, requiring visitors to climb a 32-foot ladder and crawl on hands and knees through a tunnel. Those who brave the trail are rewarded with the heady experience of entering a cliff dwelling perched 700 feet above the floor of Soda Canyon

 

Colorado: Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park occupies part of a large plateau rising high above the Montezuma and Mancos Valleys. It preserves spectacular remains of the thousand-year-old ancestral pueblo culture, including elaborate stone cities built in the sheltered recesses of the canyon walls.

Directions

To get the most out of your visit, you should go first to the Far View Visitor Center (open only in summer from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or the Chapin Mesa Museum (open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in summer and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year). The Park entrance is midway between Cortez and Mancos on US 160. It is 21 miles (33.8 km) from the entrance to the museum and the Chapin Mesa ruins area. The Far View Visitor Center is 15 miles (24.1 km) away. The closest airport is Cortez Airport, 10 miles (16.1 km).

Visitor Activities

Photography, interpretive exhibits and lectures, picnicking, auto tours, guided tours, hiking and campfire programs (summer only.) Facilities include gas stations, stores, showers, picnic areas, post office, laundry, hiking trails, and telephones. Accommodations, facilities and services are available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Maximum interpretive services are offered from Memorial Day until Labor Day. The Museum and Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling are open all year. Cliff Palace and Balcony House ruins are closed from about mid-October to mid-April. The Wetherill Mesa ruins are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day only. NOTE: The Museum will be closed through the winter of 1996.

Permits/Fees

The entrance fee is $5 per vehicle or $2 for bus passengers. Tickets are required for Balcony House and Cliff Palace tours. The $1 tickets are available at Far View Visitor Center. Vehicles are allowed only on roads, turnouts or parking areas. The weight and length restrictions for Wetherill Mesa Road are 8,000 #GVW and 25 feet (82 m). Hiking is restricted to 5 trails in the Park. Bicycles are not allowed on Wetherill Mesa roads. Mountain bikes are not allowed on hiking trails.

Accessibility

The scenic overlooks are accessible with assistance. The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum has accessible restrooms and a ranger-assisted portable ramp. The Spruce Tree House and Step House ruins are accessible with assistance. Morefield Campground has accessible parking, restrooms, paved walks and graveled trails. The Visitor Center has parking and ramps. Wetherill Mesa has accessible restrooms.

Camping/Lodging

Morefield Campground is open from mid-April through mid-October for tents and trailers. With more than 400 sites, Morefield has filled only one time in ten years. Campsites loop through a tranquil green valley that is as much home to deer and wild turkeys as to human visitors. Some areas are separate for recreational vehicles and tent campers. The fees are $8 per night for individual sites and $20 per night for organized groups or $1 per person, whichever is greater. The full hookup fee is $14.50 per day plus $2 per person for parties of 3 or more. No reservations accepted. Morefield has restrooms, and each site has a table, benches and grills. Souvenirs, a gas station, showers and laundry facilities are also available. Lodging is available at Far View Lodge, which is closed in winter. It is advisable to make reservations with the Mesa Verde Co., PO Box 227, Mancos, CO 81328, phone 303-529-4421. Other overnight accommodations are available in Cortez, 7 miles (11.2 km); and Mancos, 8 miles (12.9 km).

Food/Supplies

Meals are served in the Park at Morefield, Far View and Chapin Mesa. Food and supplies are available at Morefield. Food and supplies are also available in Cortez and Mancos.

Hospital/First Aid

Emergency first aid is provided at the Chief Ranger's Office and the Morefield Campground Ranger Station. The nearest hospital is in Cortez.

General Information

For your safety - Visits to cliff dwellings tend to be strenuous. Adequate footwear is recommended. Strenuous activity at the high elevations of the Park may adversely affect persons with heart or respiratory ailments. With the exception of Balcony House, all major cliff dwellings may be viewed from overlooks. Do not throw rocks or other objects from rim areas. Established June 29, 1906. Designated a World Heritage Site Sept. 6, 1978.

Mailing Address

Superintendent, Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330

Telephone: 303-529-4465

***Peak visitation is in July!***

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