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The Tourist’s Guide to Mesa Verde National Park

If you’re planning a trip to Durango this summer, make sure you take a day or two to explore the Mesa Verde National Park. Located in southwest Colorado, this must-see park is known for its well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and scenic byways. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some activities worth etching into your itinerary when you visit the Mesa Verde National Park.

Guided Tour of Cliff Palace

You can’t visit Mesa Verde National Park without taking a guided tour of Cliff Palace. This is the best way to get up-close and personal with some of the most outstanding cliff dwellings in the United States. Cliff Palace was the first major Mesa Verde dwelling seen by cowboys Charlie Mason and Richard Wetherill in 1888. It is also the largest dwelling in Durango, with 150 unique rooms and 23 kivas on three different levels. When you sign up for a tour, you can take a closer look at the lives of the Ancestral Puebloan people who made Mesa Verde their home for more than 700 years.

At Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours, we offer some of the best adventures in Durango, including guided tours of Cliff Palace. Instead of trying to plan everything yourself, our experienced guides will make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking views that this park has to offer. From large group tours to private tours, we’ll do everything we can to make your adventure a memorable one. To learn more about our Mesa Verde tours, contact us today!

Drive Through Mesa’s Top Loop Road

Another great adventure worth looking into for your trip to Mesa Verde National Park is driving on Top Loop Road. This six mile drive features paved trails with several different excavated mesa-top sites worth visiting. You’ll have wonderful views of Sun Temple and Square Tower, along with Cliff Palace, Sunset House, and other renowned cliff dwellings in the area.

If you’re interested in renting a vehicle to cruise down Mesa’s Top Loop Road in style, consider renting a jeep from Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours. Our affordable jeep rentals will give you the freedom to bring out your inner explorer so you can hit the trails during the day and bring your family into town for dinner at night.

Looking to add even more adventure to your trip? Sign up for one of our zip line or whitewater rafting excursions as well!

From $139

Join us on a raft trip down the San Miguel River in Telluride, CO. In the spring and early summer this snowmelt-fed river plunges from the high peaks of the San Juan Mountains. NOTE: This river flows typically during the end of May and stops at the end of June. The dates we have loaded are the dates we are running this river. If you are looking for rafting in July and August check out our Durango River Rafting page.