Headquarters Loop to Mesa Top Road Trail

Mesa Verde National Park

easy

Length: 0.25 mi

Est. time: 6m

Gain: 19 ft

Loss: 0 ft

Max elev: 7,008 ft

Point-to-pointTrail class 5Asphalthike

Elevation profile

+19 ft gain · −0 ft loss — an estimate from a DEM.

Trailhead & logistics

Trailhead parking (Place)

Mesa Verde Museum (VisitorCenter)

What to know

Explore the Mesa Top Loop Road

⏱ You are welcome to spend as much or as little time as you would like on the Mesa Top Loop Road. We suggest having at least 45-minutes to an hour to complete the loop and stop to explore many of the stops and overlooks. If you are short on time, or wish to only have views of cliff dwellings, we recommend Square Tower House, Sun Point View, and Sun Temple.

🗓 winter, spring, summer, fall

Build a loop

Connects to:

Headquarters Loop Road Corridor Walkway

Connect the dots

Learn:

Art and Archeology: “Crashing the Gates” with Ann Axtell Morris Can You Solve It? A Scavenger Hunt Middens and Math: “Crashing the Gates” with Florence Hawley Ellis Pottery of the Ancestral Pueblo The Dirt on Ancestral Puebloan Plaster and Paint Understanding World Heritage

Journeys:

Ann Axtell Morris Earl Morris Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Yelm Kingman Florence Hawley Ellis Jean McWhirt Pinkley Jesse Nusbaum

Plan smart, verify on site

Length, elevation, and difficulty are estimates derived from open data (NPS Public Trails GIS, high confidence) — not a safety guarantee. Conditions change; check current closures, weather, and water, and carry the essentials. Always defer to NPS.gov and park rangers.

View Mesa Verde National Park →Find more trails →