Mesa Verde was the home of the Puebloan people as far back as 550 AD. In the late 1100s they moved from the Mesas to the cliffs where the overhanging structures offered protection from the elements. They built houses and lived among the cliffs for many years. After about 600 years the people started moving away and nobody is really sure why.

The only places to stay in the park are the Far View Lodge and Morefield Campground. Both are closed during the winter months. Operating dates generally start the third week of April, and they usually close around the third week of October. If you’re going to stay in the lodge, it’s $135 per night, if you’re camping or hanging out in the RV it’s a $38 dollars per night. Although lodging in the park is only available from April to October, Mesa Verde is open year-round. If you’re there during the winter months, or can’t find room in the park, the town of Cortez is about fifteen minutes away and they have a selection of hotels and restaurants.

The entrance to Mesa Verde is a scenic thirty-minute drive to the visitor center and main cliff dwellings. Along the way you’ll pass the campground and lodge, along with several fantastic overlooks.

There are nearly 600 cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park, but these are the five main cliff dwelling archeological sites.

• Balcony House
• Cliff Palace
• Long House
• Square Tower House
• Step House

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Balcony House

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To get to this you need to climb up a ladder on the side of a cliff! No problem, it’s only a 32-foot ladder. There are 40 rooms in the dwelling, and you can only get there on a ranger guided tour. Once you’ve scaled the entrance ladder there are more ladders and even a tunnel that you go through. The tour lasts about an hour and is an adventurous tour, if you’re not afraid of heights, put this one on your list.

Cliff Palace

At 150 rooms Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park, not to mention the most famous. Made out of the surrounding sandstone, the rooms were constructed with sandstone, wooden beams, and mortar. Ranger led tours are available for Cliff Palace. You traverse about 1/4 mile during the hour-long tour, and you’ll climb four ladders.

Long House in Mesa Verde National Park

The Long house is on the Mesa Top Loop Road, which forks off the main road in the Far View Area, this is a long way from the Cliff Palace and Balcony House, so keep that in mind when you’re making plans. There are 150 rooms and is the second largest dwelling in the park. It’s a two-mile trip that features ladders and an elevation gain of 130 feet. The ranger led tour lasts about 90 minutes.

Step House

You don’t need reservations for the Step House. It’s a self-guided tour of an area that was inhabited from 600 CE to 1200 CE. It has both pit houses from the early Puebloans to the cliff dwellings of the most recent inhabitants. The one-mile hike takes you on a dirt paved trail with stairs. Be sure to plan your hike so that you’re at the entrance before the 2:45 pm cut-off.

Square Tower House

If you want to go to the Square Tower House, you’re going to have to pay for it, physically. This strenuous hike features drop-offs, switchbacks, two ladders, and a walk along a narrow cliff ledge. Plus, scrambling over boulders and hiking steep gravel trails that descend 120 feet, all at an altitude of 7,000 feet. Reservations are required for the once daily ranger led tour. Once you get there, you’ll find the tallest structure in the park with an intact Kiva Roof and surrounding rock art. We shouldn’t need to say this but be sure to bring plenty of water.

Hiking Trails in Mesa Verde National Park

Other than the trails to the dwellings, there are more trails in the park.

Petroglyph Point Trail

The appropriately name Petroglyph Point Trail is a 2.5-mile loop strenuous trail that gives you great views of Navajo and Spruce Canyons. The turnaround is at Petroglyph Point which gives you even more views of the Spruce Tree House, and you’ll see petroglyphs along the way.

Spruce Canyon Trail

The Spruce Canyon Trial is another strenuous trail with a 558 feet elevation change. Descending down to Spruce Canyon on a trail with numerous switchbacks, the diverse ecosystem of Mesa Verde is visible.

Soda Canyon Overlook

The Soda Canyon Overlook Trail is an easy hike through a pinyon-juniper forest that takes you to an overlook of the Balcony House and other cliff dwellings.

Knife Edge Trail at Mesa Verde National Park

If you’re looking for great sunset views, hop on this easy two-mile roundtrip trail along the old park road.

Point Lookout Trail

A moderate 2-mile trail with a 400-foot elevation change will give you spectacular views of the San Juan and La Plata mountains.

Prater Ridge Trail

You’re going to have to bulk up for this almost 8-mile trail with a 675-foot elevation change. Climb 1.1 miles to the top of Prater Ridge and you have your choice of the north loop, the south loop, or both. The north loop follows the edge of the mesa and overlooks Montezuma Valley, if you choose the south loop, you’ll be rewarded with views of the Prater and Morefield Valleys.

The Far View Sites in Mesa Verde National Park

Explore what used to be the Puebloan farming community between 900 and 1300 AD. Archeological sites on top of the mesa demonstrate how people lived and farmed. You can see the remains of an old reservoir, along with the Far View House, and four other dwellings.

Sun Temple

This ceremonial structure on Wetherhill Mesa had walls as high as 14 feet when it was built. From the overlook you get a great view of Cliff Palace.

If you’re going to Mesa Verde National Park for just a day or two, then Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Petroglyph Trail should be on your to do list. For more than that, explore until you’re exhausted, you won’t regret it.

Between April and October is the best time to visit since the tours are active at that time and the Far View Lodge and Morefield campground are open.

Once you’re done with Mesa Verde, your next adventure should be Toroweap Overlook on the Grand Canyon North Rim

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Take a week to explore southwest and take an epic Colorado to Arizona road trip. Canyons, mountains, and ancient ruins highlight an adventure you’ll always remember.

This isn’t a circular trip, it has a start point and an end point that are hundreds of miles from each other. It’s up to you to get to the starting point. If you’re coming from the west, then by all means start at Toroweap Overlook and work your way west. The great thing about this trip is that it’s scalable, you can spend 1 night at all places, or you can mix up your stay length to suit your interests.

Starting Point: Durango Colorado

The start to this Colorado to Arizona Road trip begins in Durango, Colorado. Durango is the gateway to the San Juan National Forest. It’s also the gateway to days of adventure. Ziplines, river rafting, and hiking/biking trails are all within reach. If you want to slow it down a bit, there are museums, hot springs, fishing, and golfing.

Jump on board the 140-year-old Durango and Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad. Take in the views as you ride along rivers, into canyons, and over bridges. Cascade Canyon and the mining town of Silverton are popular day trips. Also offered are adventure packages that include ziplining on 56-1,400-foot ziplines, 27 different lines total. It’s the United States largest zipline course and the only way to get there is by rail. They also have rail-to-river raft tours, and rail-to-jeep tours. The train ride itself is pretty reasonable (starting at $98), but the Adventure Packages can get a bit pricey, $600 per person for the zipline, $227 for the raft, and $335 for the jeep package.

There are over 2,000 miles of hiking/biking trails around Durango, 300 miles are within 30 minutes of downtown. There is everything from a grueling 6 mile long, 2,000-foot elevation change trail, to a paved 7-mile trail that runs along the Animas River.

You could spend a week in Durango and not run out of things to do, but, once you do your next destination on this epic Colorado to Arizona road trip is waiting for you.

Mesa Verde National Park is the Second Stop on This Colorado to Arizona Road Trip

Mesa Verde is about 75 minutes west of Durango in southwestern Colorado. The park was established in 1906 and preserves more that 600 cliff dwellings that were built starting about 1,400 years ago. For 700 years the ancestral Pueblo people inhabited this area until cold and drought drove them to other places in New Mexico and Arizona.

The only places to stay in the park are the Far View Lodge and Morefield Campground. Both are closed during the winter months. Current operating dates are the third week of April to the third week of October. Rates are $135 per night for the lodge, and $38 for RV or tent camping. The city of Cortez is about a 15-minute drive from the park entrance and has lodging and restaurants.

The entrance to Mesa Verde is a thirty-minute scenic drive to the visitor center and cliff dwellings.

There are five guided tours of the cliff dwellings, pretty much the only way to make reservations is online at recreation.gov or calling 877-444-6777. Make sure that you reserve your spot before you get there otherwise you’ll risk being left stranded on the curb while the tour leaves.

Cliff Palace and Balcony House are near the visitor center, have multiple tours per day, and can both be done in one day. Square Tower House, Long House, and Step House are considered “backcountry” and are only toured once a day.

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Cliff Palace

The largest cliff dwelling in the United States. You’ll go up and down ladders and stone steps, total distance is about 1/4 mile. The tour takes about an hour.

Balcony House

If you don’t mind climbing ladders up to 32′ while on the side of a cliff, this one’s for you. Bonus, at the top you get to climb through a tunnel. This one is not for the faint of heart, but it’s definitely an hour that’s worth it.

Square Tower House

The tallest structure in the park is the Square Tower House, it features a roof, intact plaster and paint. The two-hour tour includes steep drop-offs, switchbacks, two ladders, and a narrow cliff ledge. All being done at 7,000 – 7,500 feet in altitude.

Long House

The trip to the Long House is over two miles and lasts about 90 minutes. When you get there you’ll find the second largest dwelling in the park with over 150 rooms.

Step House

No reservations are needed for the Step House. It has both pit houses (about 600 CE) and cliff dwellings (1200 CE) to cover the span of the Puebloan inhabitation. It’s self-guided but there are rangers that are there from time to time to answer questions.

There are several hiking trails in Mesa Verde National Park. All but one are considered strenuous and are at 7,000-foot elevation. The Petroglyph trail is a 2.5-mile trail with elevation changes and great views. It starts out at the Visitor Center and there really are petroglyphs along the way.

On your way to the next location, make sure to stop at Four Corners Monument. There you’ll be able to stand in four states at the same time and buy some souvenirs from Native Americans.

Page, Arizona/Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

About four hours west of Mesa Verde is Page Arizona, a small town on Lake Powell. One of the most popular things to do is to rent a houseboat and cruise around Lake Powell for awhile. While the lake is low compared to its historic levels, there are still a lot of canyons to explore.

Two other main attractions in the area are Horseshoe Bend, you’ll know it when you see the pic, and Antelope Canyon. Both are in the Glen Canyon National Recreation area and require an entry fee ($15-$30). Despite how remote it looks; Horseshoe Bend is right off the highway. Park in the parking lot which is owned by the City of Page, and they want their $10. After you pay, it’s just a short 1 1/2 mile hike up to the rim that overlooks the Colorado River. Make sure to bring your camera, because you’ll definitely want to post it to the gram.

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Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon, and you must have a tour guide to enter. There are multiple tour operators that’ll take you through the canyons, prices range from $65 – $100. Tours are about 1 1/2 hours long, but if you’re a photographer they have special tours that go to less crowded areas so you can get spectacular shots.

Before you leave town, sign up for a tour of the Glenn Canyon Dam.

The Grand Canyon North Rim

On your two-hour trip from Page to the North Rim, you’ll pass over Marble Canyon on the Navajo Bridge. You’ll want to take some time here, when the new bridge was built in 1993, they converted the old bridge to a pedestrian bridge. Now you’ve got great views, you can look for and photograph the California Condor who frequent the bridge, and you don’t have to worry about being hit by a car. There is also an interpretive center on the west side of the canyon.

Unfortunately for the remainder of 2025 the Grand Canyon North Rim is closed due to fires. Jacob Lake and Toroweap Overlook are still open.

There is one campground in the Grand Canyon on the North Rim, and one lodge in the park. If you make reservations early it’s usually easy enough to find accommodations. If you don’t have any luck with those, there’s a great campground about 15 minutes north of the park, Demotte campground in the Kaibab National Forest campsite rates are $38 a night. There is also the Kaibab Lodge, which offers small rooms for $142 per night. A little further away, about an hour and a half from the entrance is Jacob Lake. There you can hike, horseback ride, and camp at the Jacob Lake Campground.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon offers views that are unmatched and fantastic hiking. For a relatively easy hike with wonderful views take the 1/2-mile Angel Point Trail to Angel Point. A little more strenuous hike is the 2.1-mile Uncle Jim Trail. Offering great views of the canyon but keep your eye out because this loop trail is used by mules also.

The North Kaibab Trail is the most popular trail on the North Rim. It stretches all the way down to the Colorado River in the bottom of the canyon. There are multiple popular turnaround spots for day hikers with up to 2,200′ of elevation change. Make no mistake, this is a strenuous hike so be prepared by taking plenty of water and fuel for your body. The North Kaibab Trail is also the starting point for the “rim-to-rim” challenge, if you’re into that sort of thing.

The Grand Canyon North Rim should be on everybody’s bucket list. It’s less crowded than the South Rim, and it’s also 1,000′ higher. It has wonderful views, and you can hike for days on a different trail each day.

Toroweap Overlook is The Last Stop on this Colorado to Arizona Road Trip

A three hour sometimes very rough drive from the Grand Canyon is the Tuweep area of Arizona. Named by the Native Americans who lived there, the Tuweep area is a high elevation plateau. High clearance vehicles are recommended for this trip due to the terrain you’ll be crossing. Getting there is half the fun, the other half is spent walking right up to the edge of a 3,000 foot drop off and exploring the cliffs around the overlook.

There is a remote campground with no facilities, but what it lacks in creature comforts it makes up for in nighttime views! No light pollution in this part of the country means that you can gaze up and see more stars than you ever have in your life. This is a great overnight trip from the Grand Canyon, or you can do it in a day. Just check the weather because the road does get impassable when it rains.

That’s the trip, now it’s time to turn back around and go home unfortunately. This is a great trip for a week, or even two weeks or however long that you want to get lost for. If you love it so much that you want to stay at the Grand Canyon indefinitely, you’re going to have to go to the South Rim, because the North Rim will close in the middle of October.

For more detailed information about Toroweap Overlook just click on over here.

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The first thing that everybody thinks about when they hear Breckenridge is their world class skiing of course! But what if you don’t ski? Well, we’ve got you covered with the ultimate list of things to do in Breckenridge when you’re not skiing. So, if you’re not a skier, or you want a wind-down day, then read on.

You say Breck sounds great, but you’re more interested in a beach vacation? No problem, check out what to do in Key West here. Or is a south of the border vacation more your style, we’ve got Cozumel right here.

Breckenridge

Maybe you want a little down time from the slopes. Or, maybe your friends have been inviting you on their ski trips for years, and you’ve been turning them down because you don’t ski. Well, let me tell you, you could fill several vacations with things to do in Breckenridge besides skiing and still not do them all.

Breckenridge started out as a mining town with mainly log cabins. It grew as the mining around the area took off. In the 1880s the town transformed into a Victorian mountain town. Then when it turned into a ski area in 1961, it started a new “gold rush”, only this time it was white powder and green backs.

Sleigh Ride

“Let’s hear those sleigh bells jingling…”. That’s right, you can do a scenic sleigh ride, a dinner sleigh ride, and even a mining camp dinner sleigh ride! The main operators are:

The Golden Horseshoe Tour Company – They offer a mining camp dinner theater sleigh ride, a hot cocoa sleigh ride, and for lovers of any age, a romantic ride. Rates are $150/120, $65/55, and $365 for the romantic ride, 4 people max. They also offer a private sleigh ride, 5 person minimum $70 per.

2 Below Zero – Serves up a dinner ride, and a hot cocoa ride. Enjoy your dinner with the sweet, sweet sounds of Roger Miller, Johnny Cash, Tom Jones, and Willie Nelson, among others, in the background all thanks to their talented entertainer. Cost is $109/79 for the dinner ride, and $59/49 for the hot cocoa ride.

Peak 9 Sleigh Rides – These guys actually take you up on Peak 9 on the ski resort! They offer a dinner sleigh ride, which takes you up and they drop you off at a yurt, have dinner, then they pick you up and take you back down. All while you take in spectacular views of Breckenridge! Dinner sleigh rides are $125/90 and the ever-popular cocoa ride is $75/60.

Be sure to dress properly. Even though they tuck you under blankets and force feed you hot cocoa, you’re still in a mountain environment and it gets cold!

Things to do in Breckenridge…Sledding of Course

Grab your saucer, slick it up with your best Teflon spray (not recommended for beginners), and hit the multiple hills around town!

Runway Sledding Hill on Fraction Drive- Unfortunately, you’re not sledding on the runway, as the name implies. But you are near the airport on a manmade ski hill and it’s free. The ski hill is groomed, so no building that monster sled jump, and it is BYOS, bring your own sled, or BYOT if you’re a tuber.

Carter Park – Another free sledding hill, but you still have to BYOS/BYOT. Conveniently located near Main St, it will get crowded when the weather is nice. It’s a fun park, it even has a dog park so you can bring Rusty and let him run in the snow.

I know what you’re saying right now, sounds fun, but my sled wouldn’t fit in the overhead bin. Not to worry, there is a take a sled/leave a sled option called the Sled Shed. It’s located near the Runway Sledding Hill, and it contains sleds that you can use and return later. Just don’t be “that guy”, return the sled the day that you use it, don’t take it back to the condo!

If there are no sleds available at the Sled Shed, then you can always go to City Market and buy one. Then, you can leave it at the shed for when you come back next year. A word of caution, I don’t think that it’s a tax-deductible donation.

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Ice Skating – Stephen C West Ice Arena

You get the best of both worlds at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena. Indoor ice skating and outdoor ice skating! So, when it’s snowing so hard that they can’t keep the ice clear, and you want to get your inner Brian Boitano/Michelle Kwan on, head to the indoor rink. They also have various hockey stick and pucks, and drop-in hockey, if you’re into that sort of thing. Located on the south end of town at Main Street and Boreas Pass Road. Cost is $13 for adults and $10 for youth and senior. If you didn’t bring your skates, it’ll set you back $7 for skate rental.

Things to do in Breckenridge…Après Ski

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Did you know that Breckenridge has on average 300 days of sunshine a year with 366 inches of snow a year? Do you know what that means? That’s right, time to head to one of the many patios and decks around Breckenridge and mingle with the other sun enthusiasts or just people watch. And always remember, you don’t have to ski in order to enjoy a good Après Ski.

From the mid-slope decks to various hangouts around town, grab your favorite beverage, put on your sunglasses, and let the sun wash over you.

After the ski runs are closed, head on over to some of the hot spots around town. Hang out on the expansive patio of Quandary Tequila Bistro or get some quality time in the cozy surroundings of the Blue Stag Saloon patio. Don’t worry, if the weather’s bad, you can always move inside and share harrowing sledding stories. This is just a couple of popular places but don’t worry, if you can’t get to these, Breckenridge has more right around the corner.

Maybe you’re after something more intimate? Hopefully you didn’t forget to pack your swimsuit because most condos, hotels, and private rentals have some sort of hot tub. So, pick up some libations at Breckenridge Market, go back to the condo, and have a nice quiet soak.

Hiking/Snowshoeing

That’s right, even though there are unbelievable inches of snow on the ground, doesn’t mean that you can’t go hiking! Hiking Boreas Pass Road (don’t worry, they close this part in the winter) will give you awesome views of the town of Breckenridge, and the 10 Mile Range behind it. It’s easy to get to and it’s an easy hike.

Saphire Point Overlook is another nice day hike. Classified as an easy hike it will give you views of Lake Dillon and the Gore Range. This trail is not maintained in the winter so be careful when you’re hiking it.

If you’re trying to scratch that snowshoe itch, then head on over to the Breckenridge Nordic Center and rent a set of snowshoes. They range from $20 to $30 depending on whether you’re a senior (65+), adult (18-64), teen (13-17) and whatever that awkward age is called (12 & under). They have trails that you can get to right outside their door, but there is a Trail Pass that needs to be purchased (it’s a ski mountain, you really didn’t think that you were going to get away without some kind of use ticket, did you?). The cost is $25 -$30 for the same age groups as above. Awkward age gets a break though, because their pass is free.

If you don’t want to pay for a trail pass, here’s a list of trails in and around Breckenridge that you can take.

Things to do in Breckenridge: Ride the Gondolas

You don’t have to actually ski to ride a gondola to the top, but you do have to buy a lift ticket. You can take the gondola up and check out the views, visit one of the restaurants on the mountain, of just hang out on one of their decks (see the après ski section above).

If you’re looking for a free gondola ride, you are in luck! The BreckConnect is a free gondola that will take you on a 13-minute ride that goes in-between Park Avenue and the base of Peak 8. A 440-foot vertical lift gives you a great view of the town and surrounding area, so have your camera ready. Bonus! The BreckConnect gondola is dog friendly, as long as their on a leash, so you can bring Rusty along for the ride!

Explore The Restaurant Scene

Wow, Breckenridge has a world class restaurant scene! If you’re looking for something upscale, try the Blue River Bistro. Have you ever wanted to try fresh caught Rocky Mountain trout? Or if you want to get your steak on, try Briar Rose Chop House and Saloon. Branded the best steak house in Breck, plus, you can act like a local and hang out at their back bar for happy hour. In the mood for some pizza? Not to worry, Fattys Pizza will quench that craving.

There are other casual places to stop and hang out for awhile. You can hit the motherload at The Motherloaded. Head downstairs for some great pizza and drinks at Downstairs at Eric’s. Or do burgers and tacos at Breckenridge Tap House.

If you really want to rub elbows with the locals, head on up to Frisco and visit The Moosejaw Food and Spirits. They’ve been flipping burgers (and they are some good burgers!) and slinging drinks for over 50 years now so they must be doing something right.

Museums and Tours

A fantastic thing to do in Breckenridge is visit their museums and take a tour or two! Breckenridge was originally a mining town it turns out there was gold in them thar hills! Walking through the some of the museums you’ll feel like you’re back in the 1800s.

If you’re a railroad buff, try the High Line Railroad Park. There is original railroad equipment along with displays about the history of the railroad in Breckenridge. This display is conveniently near the ice rink, and it’s outside, so dress accordingly.

Learn about the history of Breckenridge from the creation of the Rockies to the opening of Peak 6, at the Breckenridge Welcome Center Museum. Interactive exhibits, videos, and the friendly staff are all fantastic reasons to visit. Find it in town on Main Street.

If you’re on your way to hike Boreas Pass Road stop by Breckenridge Sawmill Museum to see how they used to prepare the lumber for the buildings around Breck.

If you want to see how actual residents lived in late 1800s and early 1900s, then check out these in-town preserved homes. Alice G. Milne Memorial is a park with three historic buildings. Edwin Carter was an early preservationist, and learn about a former slave at the Barney Ford Museum.

All of the above museums are free, but they suggest a $5 donation, which is probably the cheapest thing that you’ll do in Breckenridge!

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