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Home , Cliff dwelling, Mesa Verde National Park

Service U.S. Department of the Interior Visitor Guide A World Heritage Site May 25 to October 19, 2019

Visitors on a ranger-guided tour of Welcome What’s Inside Safety and Resource Protection 2

Mesa Verde preserves an extraordinary record of the Ancestral people who made Make the Most of Your Visit 3 this place their home for more than 750 years. With over 52,000 acres, Mesa Verde protects nearly 5,000 archeological sites, including nearly 600 cliff dwellings to share with you and Exploring On Your Own 4-5 future generations. Mesa Verde Museum Association 5 As you explore the park, we hope you connect this place to the descendants of the Ancestral Food, Shopping, and Lodging 6 Pueblo people—the 19 in , the in , and Ysleta del Sur in Preserving Your National Park 7 Texas. Understanding this relationship will help you gain an appreciation for the continued Touring a 8 diversity and continuity of both the past and present. We hope you enjoy your visit!

Visitor Services and Facilities *all times subject to change without notice

May 25 to September 2 September 3 to 14 September 15 to 28 Sept. 29 to Oct. 19

Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center, Tour Tickets 7:30 am to 7:00 pm 8:00 am to 5:00 pm 8:00 am to 5:00 pm 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Morefield Campground Ranger Opens May 26 Station, Tour Tickets 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm Closed Closed Closed

Lodging, Food, and Shopping See page 6 for hours See page 6 for hours See page 6 for hours See page 6 for hours

Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum 8:00 am to 6:30 pm 8:00 am to 6:30 pm 8:00 am to 6:30 pm 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Chief Ranger’s Office (Chapin Mesa), 8:00 am to 5:00 pm 8:00 am to 5:00 pm 8:00 am to 5:00 pm 8:00 am to 5:00 pm First Aid

U.S. Post Office (Chapin Mesa) Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm 9:00 am to 3:00 pm 9:00 am to 3:00 pm 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm 10:00 am to 2:00 pm 10:00 am to 2:00 pm 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk 9:00 am to 6:30 pm 9:00 am to 6:30 pm 9:00 am to 4:30 pm 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Durango Welcome Center, Tour Tickets (802 Main Avenue, Durango) 10:00 am to 6:00 pm 10:00 am to 6:00 pm 10:00 am to 6:00 pm 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

...... Park Entrance Fees The park entry fee is $25.00 per private car, $20.00 per www.nps.gov/meve. Federal Interagency annual, access, motorcycle, or $12.00 per person on foot or bicycle. military, senior, and 4th grade passes are available at the For commercial vehicle fees, call 970-529-4465 or visit park entrance gate. For details, visit go.nps.gov/mvfee. Protect the Park, Protect Yourself Make the Most of Your Visit This partial list of regulations is designed to help you have a safe and enjoyable visit, and to Mesa Verde is a fascinating national park. Whether you have a few hours or a few Mesa Verde National Park Superintendent Cliff Spencer protect Mesa Verde’s natural ecosystems and fragile archeological sites. For more on how to days, we invite you to enjoy the spectacular scenery and share this rare glimpse into P.O. Box 8 respectfully enjoy the park, please visit go.nps.gov/mvpolicies or ask a park employee. the ancient culture that shaped this region for over 750 years. Mesa Verde, 81330 Here are a few suggestions for making the most of your time in the park. Rockfall Alert Don’t Rely on GPS or Cell Phone Coverage Park Headquarters Pithouse Archeological Shelter, Mesa Top Loop GPS is not reliable in the area and cell service is limited Use the map in the park brochure for locations. 970-529-4465 The park road is built on unstable soils. As a result, Fax 970-529-4637 rocks and boulders can break loose and fall on the once you drive past the park entrance. Wi-Fi service road, posing a hazard to you and your car. If you is available at Morefield Campground Store, Far View If You Have a Half-Day... If You Have One Full Day... If You Have More Than Two Full Chief Ranger’s Office see boulders blocking the road, do not attempt to Terrace and Lodge, and Spruce Tree Terrace. Days... First aid move them. Call 970-529-4461 or contact a park • Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center You’ll have time for all half-day activities, plus: 970-529-4461 First, stop by the Visitor Center at the park employee. Do You Need Gas? • Ranger-Guided Tour of a Cliff Dwelling You’ll have the opportunity to tour all ticketed entrance where park staff will help plan your Gas is only available in the park at Morefield Camp- Join a one-hour, ranger-guided tour of cliff dwellings, drive all the park roads, and: Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum visit. While there, enjoy the exhibits and 970-529-4631 Share the Road ground. You will drive at least 50 miles while in the either Balcony House or Cliff Palace. Tickets browse through the store for a selection of • Go for a Hike Park roads are steep, narrow, and winding. Pullouts park, so please plan accordingly. are required. See page 8. books and trail guides. This is also a good Hike the Prater Ridge Trail at Morefield, try E-mail are available for slower traffic to use so others may to decipher the art on the Point [email protected] pass. Trailers and towed vehicles are not allowed Stewardship place to purchase tour tickets for Cliff Palace, • Far View Sites Balcony House, or Long House tours. See Trail, or discover the lushness of Spruce beyond Morefield Campground, but trailer parking Leave the rocks as you see them and don’t add more. Four miles (6.4 km) north of the Museum, . Ask for a trail guide and take a hike Lost and Found page 1 for facility hours. See page 8 for tours. enjoy this self-guided walk through ancient May be reported to any ranger is available near the park entrance. Graffiti—carving, scratching, chalking, or any type of to see some of the park’s hidden gems. marking—is illegal and unsightly. mesa top communities. See page 4. email: [email protected] • Mesa Top Loop Road (6 miles/10 km) Website Archeological sites are fragile. See page 7 for ways to Twenty miles (32.2 km) beyond the Visitor www.nps.gov/meve protect them as you visit. Center is the Mesa Top Loop. This scenic, If You Have Two Full Days... 45-minute to one-hour drive includes six Social Media stops covering 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo Firearms Enjoy full-day activities and Wetherill Mesa: Facebook/mesaverdenps history. See page 6 for details. Possession of firearms must comply with federal and Instagram.com/mesaverdenps on roadway • Hike or Bicycle Trails state laws. Hunting and recreational use of firearms Hike or bicycle the Badger House Commu- Watch for wildlife, obey all traffic signs, and do not is prohibited. nity Trail, or the five-mile Long House Loop stop on the roadway. Spruce Canyon Trail to overlooks of cliff dwellings. Pick up a Marijuana on Federal Lands Bicyclists, use caution! The road is steep with few Wetherill Mesa Visitor Guide for details. • Attend an evening program In an As federal land, federal laws apply in Mesa Verde. shoulders. Ride single file and stay to the right. The free Morefield Campground Evening emergency, Possession or use of any amount of marijuana is • Ranger-Guided Tour of Long House Bicyclists must comply with all traffic regulations. Program offers a variety of topics on both prohibited anywhere in the park. Enjoy a two-hour, 2.25 mile (3.6 km) ranger- contact a Bicycle group size is limited to six on roads. natural and cultural history. See page 4 for guided hiking tour of Long House. Tickets are park ranger details and times. required. See page 8. or call 911 Camping Unmanned Aircraft Systems Sun Point View, Mesa Top Loop The use of drones within the park is illegal. Camping is available at Morefield Campground, four • Step House miles from the park entrance. See page 6. Other • Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum Wander through Step House to see different Accessibility campgrounds are located in Cortez and Mancos. For more information, visit go.nps.gov/mvpolicies. Twenty-one miles (33.8 km) beyond the periods of architecture: early Basketmaker Due to elevation and the nature of Visitor Center is the Museum. Here, exhibits pithouses and a later masonry pueblo in the cliff dwellings, many of Mesa Verde’s and dioramas trace the lives of the Ancestral same alcove. Allow 45 to 60 minutes. Pick up premier sites are difficult to access. Cliff Pueblo people. See page 4 for details. See a Wetherill Mesa Visitor Guide for details. Your safety depends on your good page 1 for facility hours. Palace, Balcony House, and Long House Be Prepared and Have a Safe Visit judgment, adequate preparation, are strenuous and include ladders, uneven and constant attention. Don’t ruin • Spruce Tree House steps, and elevation changes. However, Plan ahead Water is vital your vacation by having an accident. Spruce Tree House is closed due to the danger many cliff dwellings and mesa top sites Before taking any tour or trail, plan ahead and Dehydration is a common problem in Mesa Your safety is your responsibility. of rockfall, but you can view the park’s third are visible from overlooks, short paved consider your limits. At 7,000 feet (2135 m) Verde. Carry water with you everywhere, and largest and best-preserved cliff dwelling from trails, and from your vehicle. elevation, you may feel short of breath, drink it. You can fill reusable water bottles at Pets need protection too overlooks located adjacent to the Museum. Ask for an Accessibility handout. nauseated, or tire easily. all park facilities, including Cliff Palace and Information booklets are available. For your pet’s sake, do not leave them in your Step House, Wetherill Mesa Wetherill Mesa Kiosk. Wear sturdy or boots. Bring and drink vehicle without proper ventilation and water, plenty of water. Shade is limited throughout Wildlife and only when temperatures are not hazard- ous to their health. A kennel at Morefield much of the park, so bring a hat and sunscreen. Chasing, capturing, feeding, or teasing wild- Campground is available through October 16. life is illegal and dangerous. Keep your food, Visit a cliff dwelling safely Before starting any tour, trail, or activity, please remember to... coolers, equipment, and garbage Trails into cliff dwellings are uneven and Leaving pets alone tied to any object is illegal. secured in your vehicle or hard-sided trailer. steep, with steps, ladders, cliff edges, tight Pets are not allowed in buildings or on most trails. • Plan ahead and know your limits. The park is at 7,000 ft • Hike only on designated trails and stay away from cliff Leashed pets may join you on paved roads, (2135 m) in elevation, so you may feel short of breath, edges as undercut overhangs are dangerous. passages, and strenuous elevation changes. parking lots, and in the campground. There are nauseated, or tire easily. Visiting cliff dwellings is not recommended Help us prevent -caused fires by being some pet-friendly trails on Wetherill Mesa and • Wear sturdy shoes or boots. Bring a hat and sunscreen; for anyone with heart or respiratory problems very careful with matches, cigarettes, and the Mesa Top Loop, but please clean up after • Bring and drink plenty of water, but please do not bring shade is limited throughout much of the park. or other physical limitations. You can view campfires. Fireworks are prohibited. food or drinks other than water into a cliff dwelling. many cliff dwellings from roadway overlooks. your pet. Service animals are always welcome; therapy animals are subject to pet restrictions.

2 Summer Visitor Guide Summer Visitor Guide 3 Exploring on Your Own - No Fee Exploring on Your Own - No Fee

Mesa Top Loop Road Chapin Mesa Archeological Spruce Tree House The Mesa Top Loop Road is a 6-mile (10 km) Museum Mesa Verde’s best-preserved and third largest cliff Park Fun for Kids drive that is a tour through time. Along the road, Dioramas, artifacts, and exhibits provide dwelling was constructed between 1211 and 1278. you’ll find short, easily-accessible paved trails insight into Ancestral Pueblo people’s lifeways. Built into a natural alcove, it has 130 rooms, eight Junior Ranger Program Junior Ranger Station Exploring Morefield Campground to view twelve archeological sites, including , and may have housed 60 to 80 people. A 25-minute orientation film is shown on the Hey, kids! Become a Junior Visit the Junior Ranger Station, located Camping offers many opportunities to surface sites and overlooks of cliff dwellings — hour and half-hour. A museum store, water, Although Spruce Tree House is closed due to recent Ranger and have a great in the courtyard of the Chapin Mesa discover the natural side of Mesa Verde. the ancient homes and villages of the Ancestral restrooms, cafe, gift shop, and post office are rockfalls (see page 7), you can observe the cliff time learning about Mesa Archeological Museum. Enjoy the kid’s For a fun, family-oriented way to explore Pueblo people who lived here for more than located nearby. See page 1 for hours. dwelling from viewpoints near the Museum. Verde National Park. activities, pick up a Junior Ranger booklet, the trails, check out a Discovery Pack 700 years. or if you’ve finished, get sworn in and from the Morefield Ranger Station receive your Junior Ranger badge. (or Junior Ranger station). Use the field Highlights include Square Tower House Over- Children ages 4 and up can pick up a Junior guides and other items to learn about Junior Ranger Station look, and views of Cliff Palace from Sun Point Ranger booklet at the Visitor Center, More- plants, rocks, and wildlife. Complete Open June 15 to August 17 View and Sun Temple. The Mesa Top Loop field Ranger Station, or Museum. Explore the Junior Naturalist Road is open daily, 8:00 am to sunset. 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm* Spruce Tree House from overlook the park, complete the activities, then take *Open longer as staffing allows Activity booklet to the booklet to a ranger for review. You’ll learn even more! earn a Junior Ranger badge for a job Kids who present their completed booklet and Morefield Campground Ranger Station done. Exploring parks and learning how to badge at any Mesa Verde Museum Association care for them is what Junior Rangers do! store will receive a 15% discount on their Open May 26 to September 2 entire purchase! (See below for locations.) 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm Please Practice Stewardship Other Opportunities •Archeological sites are fragile. Do not sit, stand, lean on, climb into or on, these ancient fragile structures. This includes mesa top sites, like those at Far View. Morefield Campground Evening Program •Graffiti is destructive and illegal in a national park. Take a selfie instead! Enjoy a tradition! Join a ranger in the amphitheater to learn about Mesa Verde’s fascinating natural and cultural history. Mesa Verde Museum Association There is no fee. Bring a flashlight. Far View Sites Visiting Wetherill Mesa • May 25 to July 20 9:00 pm Providing Memories, Inspiring Stewardship This mesa top community includes Far View Less crowded than Chapin Mesa with only • July 21 to August 17 8:30 pm Visit our new • August 18 to September 1 8:15 pm House, four other villages, and a dry . biking and hiking trails, Wetherill Mesa offers The Mesa Verde Museum Association (MVMA) is the innovative, educational Mesa Verde Museum Association In ancient times, the community was a place a quieter setting to appreciate the archeological Lecture Series nonprofit partner that inspires life-long stewardship of Mesa Verde’s cultural and store located in the of modest homes interspersed with small farm sites and scenery. The 27-mile (43.5 km), This annual series takes place at various Four natural heritage. Since 1930, MVMA has supported education and research in the fields. It was a place filled with people, vibrant 1¼-hour drive from the Visitor Center offers Durango Welcome Center Corners locations throughout the year. It features park through publications, a membership program, and retail stores. Proceeds from life, and constant change. As you follow the spectacular views of the surrounding valleys. programs on archeology, history, Native American all programs generate support for the park each year. woodland trail among the six sites, read the Vehicles must be less than 25 feet long to drive culture, and natural resources of the Four Corners trailside signs to learn about Ancestral Pueblo this road. Vehicles over 8,000 lbs GVW are region. Visit go.nps.gov/4cls for dates and times. Enhance Your Visit at MVMA Stores life in the surrounding landscape between 900 prohibited. Pick up a Wetherill Mesa Visitor to 1300 CE. Guide for more information. Hopi Dancers You’ll find an outstanding selection of Mesa The Lomayestewa family invite you to view Verde publications and products at MVMA The level, unpaved ¾-mile trail (1.2 km) is For a ranger-guided hike to Long House, see traditional Hopi dances this summer at the Mesa stores, that will help you further explore and open 8:00 am to sunset. Parking is limited to page 8 for tour details and how to purchase Verde Visitor and Research Center. appreciate this park’s incomparable cultural and vehicles under 25 feet. tickets. • June 29 and July 30 natural resources. MVMA stores are located • 11:00 am, noon, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm. in the Visitor Center, Museum, Wetherill Mesa Durango Welcome Center, located at 802 Main Avenue. Information Kiosk, Durango Welcome Center (At the corner of Main and 8th Street) (802 Main Avenue, Durango) and online at www.mesaverde.org. See page 1 for hours. Purchase tour tickets for Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Museum store, one of three MVMA locations and Long House at the Durango Welcome Center. While in the park. there, learn about the Durango area’s many attractions including its shops, galleries, restaurants, and outdoor recreation opportunities. See page 1 for hours. You Can Make a Difference! Far View Sites Long House Loop, Wetherill Mesa Parking available at the Durango Transit Center, 205 W. 8th Street. You can help preserve and protect the park for future generations by becoming a MVMA member or supporting the Mesa Verde Foundation (MVF)! Your tax-deductible member- ship dues and/or donations will support the work of these partners. Mesa Verde Museum Association Backcountry Hikes & Special Tours Digital Experiences Other Destinations MVMA members receive periodic e-newsletters, a discount in MVMA stores and Each year, Mesa Verde offers unique • Mesa Verde National Park Mobile App The Ancestral Pueblo culture covered the entire Four Corners online, and discounts at most cooperating association bookstores in public lands Present this coupon at any visitor opportunities to explore the park’s Here is an opportunity to help you plan Region, not just Mesa Verde. Want to learn more? Here are other across the country. To learn more, visit www.mesaverde.org/membership or call MVMA store for backcountry. Due to the popularity of your visit or explore the park in a new way. Pueblo-related destinations to visit. 970-529-4445. these tours, they sell out quickly, often Free from the App Store and Google Play. • of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum - 20 miles months in advance. Before your next 10% off your purchase • Mesa Verde Voices • Aztec Ruins NM - 75 miles MVF is a non-profit, philanthropic park partner that works to secure funding for visit, go to www.recreation.gov to find A podcast series exploring the lives of • Canyon de Chelly NM - 152 miles capital improvements, special projects, and educational endeavors that promote an Coupon is good on all regularly priced items. out what’s available and reserve online. Ancestral Pueblo people, connecting the • Chimney Rock NM - 81 miles understanding of the park’s cultural and natural resources. For information about the Not valid with other discounts. experiences of people from the past with • Chaco Culture NHP - 141 miles Foundation or to make a gift to support the park, visit www.mesaverdefoundation.org. Expiration date: 12/31/2019 people of today. Visit mesaverdevoices.org. • Hovenweep NM - 46 miles You can also contact them at [email protected] or 303-321-3120. 4 Summer Visitor Guide Summer Visitor Guide 5 Food, Shopping, and Lodging Why We Are Here: Preserving Your National Park

Aramark is the authorized concessioner for Mesa Verde Chapin Mesa Wetherill Mesa While visiting the park, you may see people working in archeological sites or National Park. Call 800-449-2288, 970-529-4422 locally, Authorized out on the park’s landscape. They are members of Mesa Verde’s resource staff, or visit and book online at visitmesaverde.com. Concessioner Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe and Wetherill Mesa Snack Bar or one of our many cooperating scientists, researchers, or volunteers. The Gift Shop (Open Year-Round ) Located at the Wetherill Mesa significance of Mesa Verde National Park lies in the number and remarkable Information Kiosk, the snack bar Far View Area Convenient cafeteria service with state of preservation of its archeological resources, as well as its diverse array indoor and outdoor patio dining offers items such as water, soda, of natural resources including its plants and animals. Ensuring these resources Far View Lodge (Open through October 23, 2019) offering American classics and chips, and crackers. Southwest specialties and a season- •May 23 to September 2 are protected for you and future generations to enjoy is why we are here. Far View Lodge is located at milepoint 15 and includes the ally updated menu filled with fresh, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Room Restaurant and Far View Lounge. The Lodge has 150 rooms in delicious appetizers, salads, entrees, two room types; and Kiva Deluxe View. Enjoy a peaceful retreat and desserts. Cultural Resources Natural Resources that provides breathtaking views, wildlife watching, and stargazing •May 25 to August 14 Lodging RV Camping opportunities. 9:00 am to 6:30 pm Mesa Verde is best known for its cliff dwellings, but it also offers Although the park’s archeology is world renowned, less well known evidence of rich cultural traditions extending back many centuries are the park’s natural resources. Mesa Verde is a hot spot for rare •August 15 to October 23 Food Service Camper Store Metate Room Restaurant Far View Lounge 10:00 am to 5:00 pm before the Ancestral Pueblo built these magnificent structures. The endemic plant species that grow nowhere else in the world. Many of The Metate Room is an award winner The Far View Lounge serves pub Gift Shop Fuel cultural resource program at Mesa Verde focuses on the preservation these rare plants, such as the Chapin Mesa milkvetch, are associated for sustainable cuisine. Walk-ins are fare, appetizers and snacks, plus of these archeological resources. They identify and document the with old-growth pinyon- woodlands that dominate much of welcome, but reservations are strongly a wide variety of specialty cock- Wi-Fi Laundry attributes of each , , and site. They then determine and the park’s natural communities. Multiple springs and seeps dot the recommended. Call 970-529-4422 tails, beer, and wine. Offers both implement the best preservation treatment needed. landscape and provide water to support a diversity of plants and Water Shower within 24 hours of your stay. indoor or outdoor seating. Filling Station wildlife in an arid environment. •Open 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm •May 25 to September 4 Escorted Kennel These important natural resources are inventoried, documented, 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm Tours •September 5 to October 23 Native handcrafts from eight tribes Cultural resource staff perform the preservation assessed and monitored by natural resources staff. When the condi- treatments needed to preserve the park’s heritage tion of these resources deteriorates or natural processes are altered 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm resources in perpetuity. Here, a resource specialist rappels down a cliff face to lay silicon driplines. such as from introduction of invasive species or more frequent Morefield Campground The driplines will direct runoff away from fragile associated with climate change, then the park’s natural architecture. resource staff work to restore natural conditions and processes. Nestled in a grove of oak trees four miles inside the park entrance, Morefield Campground has tent, RV, and group sites, each with picnic Metate Room Far View Lounge Patio Current Preservation Projects tables and fire pit/barbeque grills. The camp store offers registration, Spruce Tree House was closed in 2015 due to the danger of rocks food, and camp supplies. Firewood, gasoline, showers, a coin operated Mesa Verde’s natural resource staff control invasive weeds, falling from the cliff face above it, to the public trail below. The park Far View Terrace Cafe and Gift Shop laundromat, and a kennel are all located nearby. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat restore degraded and disturbed areas, recover rare plant has been working with a geotechnical engineering firm to find ways populations and work to create resilient natural communities. Located near the Lodge, the Far View Terrace Cafe is a casual food- pancake breakfast at the Edge Café through September 19. Here, invasive musk thistle seedlings are choking out a rare, court setting featuring breakfast burritos, an omelet station, and sig- to stabilize the rock in that area. The firm made a final site visit last Chapin Mesa milkvetch. •Open through October 16 nature Navajo tacos, sandwiches, and salad station. The Mesa Mocha October to complete their assessment. Since additional rock falls •Off Season Limited Camping occurred in early 2018, they also checked those areas for any possible The park is a slice of the when it comes to wildlife Espresso Bar also offers snacks, and Grab & Go breakfasts and lunches. October 17 to October 23 new issues. Data from their visit will be used to refine the firm’s species. The park sits on the edge of the Rockies and the high desert Breakfast Lunch Dinner Espresso Bar analysis and recommended stabilization alternatives for the park. Colorado . Its diverse vegetation communities provide habitat for healthy populations of elk, black bear, mule deer, mountain lions, May 25 to May 30 7am - 10am 11am - 3pm 5pm - 7pm 7am - 7pm Cliff Palace has been the focus of ongoing golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and over 100 other bird species. May 31 to September 2 7am - 10am 11am - 3pm 5pm - 8pm 7am - 8pm structural stabilization work since 2011 due to September 3 to October 9 7am - 10am 11am - 3pm 5pm - 7pm 7am - 7pm extensive cracking and wall deformation in the Because of the park’s popularity and it’s relatively southern half of the site. Most of the work to small size, natural resource staff continually examine October 10 to October 23 7am - 10am Closed Closed 7am - 10am ways to maintain park wildlife, reduce human-wild- restore the trails, retaining walls, and 10 kivas life conflicts, and examine opportunities to restore October 24 Closed Closed Closed Closed Morefield Campground has been completed. The engineering analysis native wildlife to the park. Here, one of the park’s motion-detecting wildlife cameras caught two bull of the slope movement is still ongoing. elk in action.

These and other cultural resource projects ensure that park resources Current and possible future projects to restore native species to Mesa are maintained for the enjoyment and education of the public and for Verde include species such as sharp-tail grouse, beavers, round-tail Help Us Protect Black Bears contemporary Native American peoples who hold these places as sacred. chub, and bighorn sheep. Here’s What You Should Do Black bears have a natural curiosity, but are usually wary enough of •Store all food, trash, toiletries, or other scented to keep their distance. But over time, a bear’s natural behavior can be altered items out-of-sight in a hard-sided, locked vehicle, and increase the chance of a human-bear encounter. Why? Because inten- camper, or food locker. Do not store these items in Tread Lightly! tionally or unintentionally, people feeding bears can lead bears to become a tent or soft-sided pop-up trailer. You can play an important role in the continued preservation of Mesa Verde’s remarkable resources. habituated to people and their food. They may become aggressive as they •Help bears maintain a healthy fear of humans. Stay at least return looking for more food, threatening humans and property. •Do not sit, stand, lean, or climb on the walls of the fragile, ancient •Observe wildlife from a distance. For your own safety and theirs, 100 yards (91 m) away to watch or photograph them. If you structures, or enter any of the rooms. do not follow or approach them. What attracts them? Food or drinks; toiletries or other scented items; trash see a bear close, yell at it, and make as much noise as possible and recycling; and even empty coolers or water containers. to scare it away (but do not chase it). •Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling plants or unseen archeological •Do no mark on architectural or natural stone surfaces. Graffiti is •Secure all trash in a park trash can and ensure the lid is locked. features beneath your feet. destructive, inappropriate, and illegal in a national park. Keep wildlife wild. Please don’t be one of the reasons a wildlife biologist must •Report all bear sightings to the camp store, lodge staff, or •Leave all natural objects and artifacts as you find them. Please do not •Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. do the last thing in the world they want to do—put down a habituated bear. park ranger. create or add to artifact collection piles.

6 Summer Visitor Guide Summer Visitor Guide 7 Touring a Cliff Dwelling - Fee

Cliff Palace and Balcony House are popular ranger-guided cliff dwelling tours. A tour of Long House, on Wetherill Mesa, can be taken on the same day as a Cliff Palace or Balcony House tour. There are no height or age restrictions for tours, but children must be capable of climbing ladders by themselves. If not, they must be carried in a backpack while on a tour. Tour tickets are $5.00 per tour, per person, regardless of age. (Pass discounts do not apply.) Purchase tour tickets at: •Visitor Center •Morefield Ranger Station •Durango Welcome Center, 802 Main Avenue, Durango •Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum (limited hours, see hint below)** For hours of operation, see Visitor Services section on page 1.

**Hint: You’ll get the best selection of times for ranger-guided tours at the Visitor Center, Morefield Ranger Station, or the Durango Welcome Center. Options may be more limited at the Museum. Tickets will be sold at the Museum from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm through September 3. (After September 3, ticket sales hours may be reduced. Ask a ranger for times.) Balcony House ranger-guided tour

Cliff Palace Balcony House Long House Mesa Verde’s Largest Cliff Dwelling Most Adventurous Cliff Dwelling Tour Most In-Depth Tour On this one-hour tour you will descend On this one-hour, ¼-mile (0.4 km) tour you This two-hour tour involves hiking 2.25 miles uneven stone steps and climb four ladders, will climb a 32-foot (9.8 m) ladder, crawl (3.6 km) round-trip, and climbing two 15-foot with an elevation change of 100 feet (30 m). through an 18-inch wide (45 cm) and 12-foot (4.5 m) ladders within the site. Elevation gain Total walking distance is ¼ mile (0.4 km). (3.7 m) long tunnel, and climb up a 60-foot is about 130 feet (40 m). The tour begins at the Tour begins near the Cliff Palace overlook, (20 m) open cliff face with stone steps and Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk, a 27-mile a 23-mile (37 km), one-hour drive from the two 10-foot (3 m) ladders to exit. The tour (43.5 km), 1¼ hour drive from the Visitor Visitor Center. begins at the north end of the Balcony House Center. Vehicles over 25 feet (8 m) long are not parking lot, a 25-mile (40.2 km), 1¼ hours allowed on the Wetherill Mesa Road. The tour May 25 to September 7 drive from the Visitor Center. will end at the Long House trailhead, giving Every half-hour: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm you the option of exploring more of Wetherill September 8 to October 19 May 25 to August 17 Mesa on your own. Every hour: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Every half-hour: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm August 18 to September 21 May 25 to September 14 October 20: Closed for season Every hour: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:00 pm September 22: Closed for season September 15 to October 19 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm

October 20: Closed for season

Balcony House entrance ladder A 15-foot (4.6 m) ladder in Long House

Contact the Aramark desk at the Visitor Center or Far View Lodge to learn about escorted bus Cliff Palace Cliff Palace tours. Call 800-449-2288, 970-529-4422 locally, or visit and book online at visitmesaverde.com. entrance trail exit trail

8 Summer Visitor Guide Printed on recycled paper. Please recycle again.