Mesa Verde National Park is a national park and world heritage site. It is close to San Juan County but located in Montezuma County, Colorado. It is about 70 miles East of Monticello, and about 80 miles Northeast of Blanding.
This National Park arguably has the best preserved Ancestral Puebloan sites in the US. This national park was created by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. The park occupies 52,485 acres and sits near the Four Corners region. It has more than 4,300 sites which include around 600 cliff dwellings. These sites take you back in time and provide many photographic opportunities as you learn about the past. This National park is the largest archaeological preserve in the U.S. and is best known for structures like Cliff Palace which may be the largest cliff dwelling in North America. We also recommend visit Spruce Tree House and Balcony house. There are plenty of hiking trails within Mesa Verde. Make sure to stop and see the petroglyphs along the way. When you tire from hiking, finish the trip off with a scenic drive or visit more ruin sites within the park. You'll be amazed at all Mesa Verde has to offer.