Easy hikes and walks in Mesa Verde Wilderness

The Point Lookout Trail in Mesa Verde National Park is a popular hike that leads to a prominent overlook above the park entrance. The trail begins relatively flat and then climbs the backside of Point Lookout via a series of steep switchbacks. Once at the top, the trail levels off until it reaches the overlook itself. From the summit, hikers are rewarded with sweeping panoramic views, including: - The surrounding Mancos and Montezuma Valleys - The San Juan and La Plata Mountains in the distance - A view of the park's historic access road

The Point Lookout Trail in Mesa Verde National Park is a popular hike that leads to a prominent overlook above the park entrance. From the summit, hikers are rewarded with sweeping panoramic views, including: - The surrounding Mancos and Montezuma Valleys - The San Juan and La Plata Mountains in the distance - A view of the park's historic access road

The Far View Sites Complex in Mesa Verde National Park was among the most densely populated areas on the mesa between A.D. 900 and 1300. Nearly 50 villages have been identified within a half-square-mile area, housing hundreds of people. Today, visitors can walk an easy, flat, self-guided trail to explore several excavated and stabilized sites linked by a short walking trail, including Far View House, Pipe Shrine House, Coyote Village, Far View Reservoir, Megalithic House, and Far View Tower. Notably, the Ancestral Pueblo people inhabited Far View at least 200 years before constructing the more famous cliff dwellings. Excavations also reveal that many residents chose to remain in their mesa-top community even after neighbors moved into cliff alcoves.

Park Point Overlook, at 8,572 feet above sea level, is the highest point in Mesa Verde National Park and offers breathtaking panoramic views. This historic site features a fire lookout station, which remains operational during fire season to monitor weather conditions and potential wildfires. From this vantage point, visitors can see the peaks of the San Juan Mountains, the high deserts of New Mexico, Sleeping Ute Mountain, and the La Plata Mountains. The overlook includes picnic tables, seasonal restrooms, and parking for vehicles, but visitors are encouraged to stay on marked paths due to potential rockfalls. Access may be restricted during winter when the road is not plowed.

This northern viewpoint is just a couple hundred yards from Park Point Overlook, the highest point in Mesa Verde National Park, at 8,572 feet above sea level. This vantage point offers great, panoramic views: to the north, the 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks of the San Juan Mountains; to the south, the expansive high deserts of New Mexico; to the west, Sleeping Ute Mountain; and to the east, the La Plata Mountains.

The Long House Tour in Mesa Verde National Park offers a two-hour, ranger-guided exploration of the park's second-largest cliff dwelling. The tour begins at the Wetherill Mesa information kiosk and involves a 2.25-mile round-trip hike with an elevation gain of approximately 130 feet. Participants will also climb two 15-foot ladders during the tour. Reservations are required and tickets are required. They can be purchased online through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Reservations are available 14 days in advance.

Nice, steady climb, quiet and then a wonderful view over the wide countryside. A lovely hike in the evening at 6pm.

The Point Lookout Trail is one of your first hiking options once you pull into Mesa Verde National Park. The trail heads up a pretty steep hillside, but it's not a super long trek to the top. You get unobstructed views pretty much the whole time since the vegetation is so sparse here in the high desert.