Hikes In Mesa Verde National Park

This is a complete list of hikes in Mesa Verde National Park for your reference. Depending on your tour itinerary and timing, you may only have time for certain hikes. If there is a hike that interests you, please contact our office team to discuss whether or not you will have time to participate on the particular hike of interest on your tour.

Trails	Mi/KM Roundtrip	Description
Farming Terraces	0.5/0.8	Beginning and ending on the road to Cedar Tree Tower, this ½-mile loop trail leads to a series of prehistoric check dams built by Ancestral Pueblo people to create farming terraces. The check dams improved crop yields by collecting water and soil from natural run-off.
Spruce Canyon Trail	2.4/3.9	This hike begins from the Spruce Tree House trail, follows the bottom of Spruce Canyon, and switchbacks up to the mesa top just northeast of the picnic area on the museum loop road. Access is available only when Spruce Tree House is open.
Petroglyph Point Trail	2.4/3.9	This hike begins from the Spruce Tree House trail. It follows an ancient path along the canyon wall to the largest petroglyph panel in the park. Access to trail is only available when Spruce Tree House is open.
Soda Canyon Overlook Trail	1.2/1.9	This easy walk begins ½ mile north of the Balcony House parking area along Cliff Palace Loop Road. The trail leads to canyon edge views of Balcony House and other archeological sites along Soda Canyon.
Badger House Community Trail	2.25/3.6	This mixed graveled path and paved trail begins at the information kiosk and winds through four mesa top sites and 600 years of history.
Nordernskiold Site No. 16 Trail	2/3.2	Named for Gustaf Nordenskiöld, who explored the area in 1891, this trail offers a leisurely walk through recovering fire-scarred vegetation and leads to an overlook of Nordenskiöld Site No. 16. Please note: there is no shade; bring sun protection and water.
Point Lookout Trail	2.2/3.5	Follow the switchbacks up Point Lookout and traverse the mesa top. From the top, you will see sweeping views of Montezuma and Mancos Valleys and distant mountains.
Knife Edge Trail	2/3.2	The trail follows the park’s historic entrance road from the northwest corner of Morefield Campground towards the Montezuma Valley overlook. This unpaved level trail provides good views of the Montezuma Valley and is an excellent place to watch the sunset.
Prater Ridge Trail	7.8/12.6	Beginning on the west end of Morefield Campground, the north loop trail ascends Prater Ridge and follows the top of the ridge above the Montezuma Valley. The shorter south loop offers views of Prater Canyon.