by Alex Gugel , all rights reserved
![]() | Mesa Verde GuideWetherill Mesa Guide 2019 |
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Wetherill Mesa Visitor Guide, 2019
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
April 28 to October 31, 2019
Mesa Verde National Park
Exploring Wetherill Mesa
Stabilization crew prepping Long House which is opened May 19 to October 19.
Wetherill Mesa: An Unhurried Experience
Welcome to the “quieter side” of Mesa Verde. Wetherill Mesa offers a number of opportunities, depending on the
season. Use this visitor guide to discover what is available at the time of your visit. Wetherill Mesa has easy bicycle
rides and a variety of hiking trails to archeological sites, as well as expansive views and scenic overlooks. Some
trails are open for bicycles, while others are for pedestrians only. Please check signs at trailheads before taking your
bike or pet on any trail. Step House and Long House are open for visitors between May 19 and October 19.
See inside for details. This is an ideal area for families who want to get out of the car to explore Mesa Verde!
Getting There - The Wetherill Mesa Road
The Wetherill Mesa Road begins at milepost 15 along the main park road in
the Far View Area. The 12-mile (19 km) road is narrow, steep, and winding,
offering spectacular views of the surrounding valleys. It is not suitable for
large RVs or bicycles. Vehicles must be less than 25 feet long to drive this
road. Vehicles over 8,000 lbs GVW are prohibited. Allow about 45 minutes
to drive the Wetherill Mesa Road. There are several overlooks and pullouts
available for slower traffic to use so others may pass.
Overlook along the Wetherill Mesa Road
Open April 28 (or when road conditions permit) to October 31 (or when
closed by weather/road conditions).
April 28 to May 24 and September 15 to October 31 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
May 25 to September 14
8:00 am to 7:00 pm
Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk (Open May 19 to October 19)
The Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk is located near the parking area at
the end of the Wetherill Mesa Road. Rangers are available to help you plan
your visit. The paved Long House Loop begins at the kiosk and leads to
several paved and unpaved trails you can hike or bicycle. See inside for details.
May 19 to May 24 and September 15 to October 19
The kiosk is open daily, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Picnic tables, restrooms, and
sales area are all located nearby.
Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk
May 25 to September 14
The kiosk is open daily, 9:00 am to 6:30 pm. Picnic tables, restrooms, and
sales area are located nearby. A snack service is available 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
through September 2.
Wetherill Mesa Visitor Guide, 2019
Parking Lot
Step House
(end of Wetherill Mesa Road)
(self-guided)
Wetherill Mesa
Information Kiosk
7240ft
2208m
May 19 to October 19 only
- no entry when gate is closed -
No motorized
vehicles past this point.
0.4mi
0.8km
Food Service
Summer only
0.5mi
0.8km
0.6mi
1.0km
0.7mi
1.1km
Nordenskiöld
Site #16
overlook trail
0.35mi
0.56km
0.15mi
0.24km
0.25mi
0.4km
0.25mi
0.4km
Lo
(tour ticket required)
- no entry before or after tours -
p
oo
eL
us
Ho
Long House
May 19 to October 19 only
0.2mi
0.32km
ng
0.2mi
0.32km
Badger House
Community trail
Long
House
overlook
trail
1.0mi
1.6km
0.9mi
1.4km
Long House
Loop paved
trail (5mi/10km)
Kodak House
overlook trail
Long House Loop
paved trail
Cliff dwelling open to public
when ranger is present
Trail
Mesa top dwelling open to public
Cliff dwelling
overlook
Information kiosk
Restrooms
MV
Shaded picnic area
Food service
Wi-Fi
Mileages
Long House Loop paved trail
Badger House Community trail
From trailhead at restrooms
From kiosk, via trail
Nordenskiöld Site #16 trail from trailhead
Long House and Kodak House Overlook trails
5 mile loop
1 mile round-trip
2.25 miles round-trip
1 mile round-trip
0.15 mile round-trip
From Kiosk to:
Badger House Community (trailhead at restrooms)
via trail
0.6 mile one-way
via road
1.25 miles one-way
Step House
1 mile round-trip loop
Nordenskiöld Site #16 Overlook
2.0 miles round-trip
From Kiosk to:
Long House Overlook trailhead, via road 1.5 miles one-way
Kodak House Overlook trailhead, via road 2.25 miles one-way
From Kodak House Overlook trailhead to:
Badger House Community restrooms
via road, east side
1.55 miles, one-way
Please follow Leave No Trace principles. Stay on
trails and pack out your trash.
Bicyclists, you are sharing the trails with pedestrians.
Please yield to pedestrians.
Wetherill Mesa Visitor Guide, 2019
Things to Do
• The 5-mile (8 km) Long House Loop (paved) is great for hiking or bicycle riding, as well
as leashed pets, and is wheelchair accessible. Bike racks are provided at trailheads; we
recommend you wear helmets and lock your bikes.
• Hike or ride your bicycle to the trailhead for the Kodak House overlook (about 2.25 miles
[3.6 km] from kiosk on the Long House Loop) or Long House overlook (about 1.5 miles
[2.4 km] from kiosk on the Long House Loop). Park your bikes at the trailheads, then take
short 0.15 mile (0.24 km) walks to the overlooks.
• Have a picnic at one of the shaded tables located near the kiosk, or along the Long House
Loop whenever you’re ready. Remember: food and drinks (other than water) are not
permitted in any of the archeological sites. Crumbs attract burrowing animals which destroy
archeological information. Please pack out all trash.
• The Badger House Community Trail begins at the kiosk and heads south, gently dropping
in elevation. After passing the junction to Nordenskiöld Site #16 trail and crossing the Long
House Loop, the trail winds through four mesa top archeological sites. Your walk through
this area is a journey through 600 years of prehistory, with signs explaining each site.
Round-trip from kiosk via trail is about 2.25 miles (3.6 km).
• The Nordenskiöld Site #16 Trail leads to an overlook of the Nordenskiöld Site #16 cliff
dwelling. Guided by members of the Wetherill family, Gustav Nordenskiöld photographed
and documented many archeological sites and eventually concluded that the modern Hopi
and the ancient Mesa Verde inhabitants were closely related. Round-trip from kiosk is two
miles (3.2 km); elevation change is about 87 feet (27 m).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step House - Self Guided
Long House - Ranger Guided
Hike to Step House and explore two separate construction
periods in the same alcove: early Basketmaker pithouses
built about 620 CE, and a masonry pueblo dating to
1226 CE.
You must join a ranger-guided hike to visit Long House.
Tickets cost $5.00 per person at the Visitor Center. Long
House is a large cliff dwelling that includes 150 rooms and
21 kivas. The two-hour tour involves hiking 2.25 miles
(3.6 km) round-trip with steep switchbacks, stairs, and
two 15-foot (4.6 m) ladders. The tour ends at the Long
House trailhead, giving you the option of exploring more
of Wetherill Mesa on your own. Tour begins at the kiosk.
Allow 45 minutes to one hour for the 100-foot (30 m)
descent and ascent on a winding path. Total walking
distance is about one mile (1.6 km). The loop trail begins
near the kiosk. A ranger is available for questions.
•April 28 to May 18: Closed
•May 19 to May 24
Open 9:15 am to 3:45 pm
•May 25 to September 14
Open 9:00 am to 3:45 pm
•September 15 to October 19
Open 9:15 am to 3:45 pm
•October 20: Closed for the season
•April 28 to May 18: Closed
•May 19 to May 24
9:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm
•May 25 to September 14
9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm
•September 15 to October 19
9:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm
•October 20: Closed for the season
Wetherill Mesa Visitor Guide, 2019
Protect Yourself, Protect the Park
Wetherill Mesa is remote, so be prepared and plan ahead for your safety and comfort. Services are limited at
Wetherill Mesa and cell service is patchy. You are more likely to get a connection in locations near overlooks.
Call 911 or find a ranger in an emergency.
Wetherill Mesa is a day-use only area. The gate across the Wetherill Mesa Road at Far View is open:
•8:00 am to 6:00 pm
•8:00 am to 7:00 pm
April 28 to May 24 and September 15 to October 31
May 25 to September 14
*Be sure to allow at least 30 minutes of driving time to exit the gate.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To Have a Safe and Enjoyable Visit, You are Responsible for Knowing and Following Park Rules.
• Services are limited at Wetherill Mesa and vary based on the time of year. Take water, snacks,
clothing, bike locks, and bike repair supplies needed for the day. Restrooms and picnic tables are
available. Water is available in the late spring, summer, and early fall. A snack shop is open 10:00 am
to 4:00 pm, May 23 to September 2.
• Spring weather can change dramatically during the day. Carry extra supplies and pack layers of
warm clothing. Strong cold wind is common in spring. Fall weather is often more stable, but cold
storms can approach quickly. Summer weather can be hot and the climate is dry. Carry and drink
plenty of water, and ensure you have extra supplies such as a hat, sunscreen, and raingear. Afternoon
thunderstorms are common in the mid to late summer months and can approach quickly.
• If thunderheads are building, watch the sky. Move away from overlooks and rim rock when
lightning threatens. Your car is the safest place on Wetherill Mesa to be in a thunderstorm.
• Bicycles are welcome on the Long House Loop and other marked trails, including the Badger
House Community trail. Please walk your bikes when you enter an archeological site shelter; bike
racks are also available. Some trails are open for bicycles, while others are for pedestrians only. Check
signs at trailheads before taking your bicycle on any other trail. Bike racks are provided throughout
Wetherill Mesa, and at all trailheads; we recommend you lock your bikes and wear helmets.
• Off-trail hiking, riding your bicycle off a permitted trail, and entering closed sites or areas is prohibited.
• Pets must be on a leash at all times. Pet friendly trails will be marked, and include the Long House
Loop and Nordenskiöld Site #16 trails. Pets are not allowed in the restrooms or in the sales and food
service areas of the Wetherill Mesa Information Kiosk. Please clean up after your pet. A number of
pet waste stations are available along the trails.
• All archeological sites and artifacts are protected at Mesa Verde. Do not touch, sit, stand, or lean on
walls, or disturb or move stones or artifacts. Entering closed sites, collecting artifacts or disturbing
archeological sites is illegal. Collecting plants, stones, or any natural item is also illegal. Mesa Verde
National Park is protected as a legacy for future generations; please do your part.
• Do not eat or smoke in any of the archeological sites.
• Pack out all your trash, including pet waste.
Please report emergencies or illegal activity by contacting a staff member on site,
or calling (970) 529-4622.