Mesa Verde National Park is a National Park in Colorado. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 19 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Mesa Verde
We matched 19 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Mesa Verde. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (12)
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointWaterfalls (1)
Fire Lookouts (3)
Dark Sky Places (1)
State Parks (1)
Wilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Mesa Verde the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:20 PM | 244° | 9h 53m |
| February | 7:04 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:54 PM | 255° | 10h 50m |
| March | 7:26 AM | 8:00 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:21 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:40 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:49 PM | 283° | 13h 09m |
| May | 6:06 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:16 PM | 295° | 14h 10m |
| June | 5:54 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:37 PM | 301° | 14h 43m |
| July | 6:06 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:35 PM | 298° | 14h 29m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:07 PM | 288° | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:57 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:23 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:22 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:38 PM | 260° | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:54 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:05 PM | 247° | 10h 11m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:58 PM | 241° | 9h 37m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.2391, -108.4624); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Mesa Verde, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:12 AM – 5:32 AM | 0.3 | 14° |
| March | 4:18 AM – 5:48 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:21 AM – 5:01 AM | 2.7 | 24° |
| May | 12:20 AM – 4:20 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:30 PM – 4:00 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 10:24 PM – 2:34 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:44 PM – 12:34 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:52 PM – 10:32 PM | 1.7 | 20° |
| October | 8:05 PM – 8:25 PM | 0.3 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
SPRING: This season offers a range of weather including clear skies, wind, rain, cloudy days and temperatures from 40–70°F (4–21° C). Snow may fall into May. SUMMER: Most days are sunny and temperatures can reach above 90°F (32°C) . Thunderstorms are common in July and August. FALL: Temperatures range from 50–75°F (10–24°C). Snow may fall as early as October. WINTER: Temps range from the teens to low 30s F (below -1°C) . Icy roads are common. Snow tires, all-wheel drive, or chains may be required.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 30% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (57%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $20.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Mesa Verde National Park is in Southwest Colorado. The park entrance and the Visitor and Research Center are located ten miles east of Cortez, nine miles west of Mancos, and about 35 miles west of Durango, Colorado along Hwy 160. Mesa top ancestral sites, Cliff dwellings, tours, and the Mesa Verde Museum are 20 to 21 miles (approximately 45 minutes) south along the park road which which is steep, narrow, and winding.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Camping
- Food
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snowshoeing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
CO
CO/UT
NM
NM
UT
AZ