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Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Mesa Verde Wilderness (map) in 1976 and it now has a total of 8,500 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Colorado and is managed by the National Park Service.

Description

About 1,400 years ago, the Ancestral Puebloan people (Anasazi) began their occupation of Mesa Verde. Sandstone dwellings deep within the shady overhangs of Mesa Verde's cliffs were not constructed and occupied until the final 100 years of the 700 years in which these people flourished here. Then, for reasons not fully understood, they emigrated to points south, leaving many fabulous structures well preserved by the dry air and shadowy recesses of the alcoves. More than 52,000 acres of the mesa are protected by Mesa Verde National Park. Within the park, three small and separate sections on the steep north and east boundaries are designated as one Wilderness, serving as buffers to further protect the significant Native American sites. The extent of the park's wilderness areas totals 8,500 acreas, a significant amount of which is undergoing post-fire early succesional recovery. These small areas contain exemplary stands of piñon-juniper woodlands and other ecological communities. Unlike most Wildernesses, here vistor access is not allowed but permitted researchers are.

You can explore the ruins open to the public when they are open and travel other designated trails running over about 15 miles of the park. Federal law prohibits harming or removing artifacts. Because hunting is also prohibited, the park has become a haven for deer, elk, black bears, bobcats, mountain lions, golden eagles, and more.

Planning to Visit the Mesa Verde Wilderness?

• Print a fact sheet
• General things to consider when visiting any wilderness
• Regulations
• Contact the National Park Service
• Other recommended websites

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Mesa Verde Wilderness.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.