Park Essentials

Park Fees and Permits

Admission is $25 per vehicle for a seven-day permit. An annual pass is $40. Ranger-led tours of Cliff Palace, Long House, and Balcony House are $5 per person. You can also take ranger-guided bus tours from the Far View Lodge, which last between 3½ and 4 hours and cost $55 ($33 for kids; under five free). Backcountry hiking and fishing are not permitted at Mesa Verde.

Park Hours

Mesa Verde’s facilities each operate on their own schedule, but most are open daily, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, between about 8 am and sunset. The rest of the year, they open at 9. In winter, the Spruce Tree House is open only to offer a few scheduled tours each day. Wetherill Mesa (and all the sites it services) is open from May through October, weather depending. Far View Center, Far View Terrace, and Far View Lodge are open between April and October. Morefield Campground and the sites nearby are open from mid-April through mid-October (and until early November for limited camping with no services). Specific hours are subject to change, so check with the visitor center upon arrival.

Automobile Service Station

Contacts

Morefield Service Station. The only place to find gas in the park is at the Morefield Service Station, in the Morefield Campground Village. This self-service station offers the basics—gas and oil changes—and is open year-round. Morefield Campground, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, 81330. 800/449--2288.

Cell-Phone Reception and Internet

You can get patchy cell service in the park. Best service is typically at the Morefield Campground area, which is the closest to the neighboring towns of Cortez and Mancos. Public telephones can be found at all the major visitor areas (Morefield, Far View, and Spruce Tree). You can get free Wi-Fi throughout the Far View Lodge and at the Morefield Campground store.

Shops and Grocers

Morefield Campground has a nicely stocked store that carries groceries as well as camping basics and last-minute supplies. It’s open 7 am to 9 pm, mid-May to early October. The gift shops at Far View Terrace, Far View Lodge, and Spruce Tree Terrace have a small collection of essentials for sale as well.

Emergencies

To report a fire or call for aid, dial 911 or 970/529–4461. First aid is available at the Chief Ranger’s office, near the Chapin Mesa Museum.