Here’s Why the Ancient Puebloans Left What’s Now Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

This World Heritage Site is a history buff’s playground. Spread across 81 square miles, Mesa Verde boasts hundreds of pueblo ruins up to 1,300 years old.

It’s not just any old park – it’s home to over a thousand species, some of which you won’t find anywhere else on Earth. Plus, it’s an International Dark Sky Park, so stargazers can get their fix too.

How the Mesa Was Created

Mesa Verde sits on a massive sandstone plateau that’s been around for millions of years. Streams carved deep canyons into the rock, leaving narrow strips of high tableland between them. Water erosion created nooks and crannies in the canyon walls – perfect spots for cliff dwellings. The mesa tops are covered in windblown reddish soil, ideal for ancient farming.

The Basketmaker People

Around 550 CE, the Basketmaker people rolled into Mesa Verde. They were pottery pros and built pit houses on the mesa tops at 7,000 feet elevation. These folks were the ancestors of the Ancestral Pueblo people. They grew corn, beans, and squash, using rainwater for crops and springs for drinking.

By 750 CE, they started building surface dwellings with flat roofs.

Shift to Alcoves

Between 1150 and 1200, the Ancestral Pueblo people got creative. They moved from the mesa tops into the canyon wall alcoves and started building cliff houses. These cozy homes had rooms about 6 by 8 feet in size, built with sandstone using techniques they’d perfected over time.

The Great Drought

By 1300, most people had packed up and left Mesa Verde. The Great Drought of 1276-99 was no joke. Archaeological evidence shows they headed south to what’s now New Mexico and Arizona. These folks are the ancestors of today’s Pueblo Indians.

The Cliff Palace Ruins

Cliff Palace is the park’s superstar dwelling.

It once housed 250 people in 217 rooms and 23 kivas. Recent studies show it actually had 150 rooms and was home to about 100 people. It might have been a special administrative and ceremonial site.

You can check it out from the Cliff Palace Overlook on the 6-mile Cliff Palace Loop Road.

The Balcony House Ruins

Balcony House is the park’s thrill ride. This ‘medium-sized’ dwelling has 40 rooms and shows how construction evolved over time.

To explore it, you’ll need to join a ranger-guided tour. Get ready for a 32-foot entrance ladder, tunnels, and narrow passageways. It’s the most adventurous tour in the park.

The Spruce Tree House Ruins

Spruce Tree House is the third-largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde. Built between 1211 and 1278 CE, it has about 130 rooms and 8 kivas. It was home to 60-80 people.

Two ranchers stumbled upon it in 1888 while looking for lost cattle. They used a large Douglas Fir tree to climb down into the dwelling.

The Long House Ruins

Long House is Cliff Palace’s twin in size, with about 150 rooms and 21 kivas. It probably housed 150-175 people.

The site has a formal plaza that’s larger than most villages, suggesting it was a public gathering place. It might have been used for trading and community events. The plaza’s unique features hint at its importance to the Ancestral Pueblo people.

The Step House Ruins

Step House is a two-for-one deal. The alcove contains 3 kivas, 27 rooms with evidence of Pueblo III masonry, and six pit structures from the Basketmaker III period. Gustaf Nordenskiõld first excavated it in 1891, guided by local ranchers.

The trail to Step House is steep, dropping 100 feet, but you can explore at your own pace.

Visiting Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde is open year-round, but hours vary by season. No reservations are needed to enter the park, and passes cost $15-$30.

To explore cliff dwellings, you’ll need to book a ranger-led tour. Reservations open 14 days in advance and fill up fast. Keep an eye on recreation.gov for last-minute cancellations.

The 2025 tour schedule will be announced in late March.