Things to Do Near Mesa Verde National Park
A Local’s Guide to Hidden Gems in Southwest Colorado
Mesa Verde National Park is one of the most extraordinary places in North America. People travel from all over the world to stand in front of the ancient cliff dwellings and imagine what life must have been like for the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here centuries ago.
But something I’ve noticed after living here is that many visitors come focused only on the park itself. They spend a day exploring the cliff dwellings and then move on without realizing how many beautiful experiences are waiting just beyond the park boundaries.
Living in Mancos, just a few minutes from the park entrance, we’ve watched countless visitors discover that the surrounding landscape is just as special as the park itself.
If you’re planning a trip to Mesa Verde National Park, here are a few wonderful experiences — and a few local tips — to help you experience the area more deeply.
Explore Mesa Verde National Park
+ A Local Tip
Of course, the first stop should be Mesa Verde National Park.
Mesa Verde protects more than 5,000 archaeological sites, including over 600 cliff dwellings carved into the canyon walls by the Ancestral Pueblo people.
Some of the most famous sites include:
• Cliff Palace
• Balcony House
• Spruce Tree House
• Long House
Insider Tip: Book a Guided Tour
If you can, book one of the ranger-led tours that allows you to get closer to the sites.
These tours not only take you inside the cliff dwellings but also give you the chance to hear the stories behind the places from the guides themselves.
And interestingly, depending on which guide you get, the experience can be completely different. Many of the guides have personal connections to the region and share stories about how they grew up visiting or learning about the sites.
One time when we visited, our guide pulled out a Native American flute and played for us during the tour. Hearing that music echo against the canyon walls was one of the most unforgettable moments we’ve had in the park.
Another Important Tip: Plan Your Driving Time
Many visitors are surprised by how large Mesa Verde National Park is.
Our farm is only about 15 minutes from the park entrance, which is very close by local standards. But once you enter the park, it can still take close to an hour of driving to reach many of the major cliff dwelling tour areas.
So if you’re planning a tour or a full day in the park, be sure to factor that drive time into your plans.
Spend Time in the Town of Mancos
Just outside Mesa Verde sits the small town of Mancos, often called “the gateway to Mesa Verde.”
Mancos is a historic and creative town filled with art, good food, and small independent shops.
When we have friends visiting, we almost always bring them into town for a slow morning.
A Few of Our Favorite Stops
M Bar at Mesa Verde Motel
My personal favorite coffee and pastry spot is M Bar, located inside the beautifully restored Mesa Verde Motel. It’s the kind of place where you can ease into the morning with a great cup of coffee and a fresh pastry before heading out to explore the park.
The motel itself has been thoughtfully renovated and is worth a stop even just to admire the design and relaxed atmosphere.
Moondog Café
For breakfast, we almost always head to Moondog Café. They make some of the most delicious eggs benedict in the area, and their desserts are as colorful and creative as they are tasty.
It’s one of those places where locals and travelers naturally gather, and it’s a wonderful way to start the day before heading into Mesa Verde.
Hand in Hand Bookshop
Just down the street is one of the most charming little bookstores you’ll ever walk into. The two women who run the shop have incredible taste in books and beautiful mercantile items. We often stop in to find our next good read.
The shop feels thoughtful and cozy — the kind of place you wander through slowly and always discover something unexpected.
Visit a Lavender Farm Near Mesa Verde
One of the more unexpected experiences near Mesa Verde is visiting a lavender farm in bloom.
Just outside Mancos, our farm — Mesa Verde Lavender — grows thousands of lavender plants overlooking the valley. During bloom season the fields fill with fragrance, bees, and deep purple rows of flowers.
Visitors can walk through the lavender fields, join farm tours, and learn about how lavender is grown and harvested in our high desert climate.
We also host seasonal workshops and demonstrations where guests can experience traditional plant-based skills. These often include:
• Lavender planting workshops that teach how to successfully grow lavender in our region
• Herbal salve-making classes using botanicals from the farm
• Lavender distillation demonstrations, where visitors can watch the process of transforming lavender flowers into essential oil and hydrosol
These experiences allow visitors to connect with the plants in a hands-on way and see how lavender moves from field to finished product.
For travelers looking for something unique, we also host guests in a covered wagon stay on the farm, where you can wake up to wide-open views of the valley and some of the most beautiful sunsets in Southwest Colorado.
Discover Hovenweep National Monument
If you’re interested in archaeology beyond Mesa Verde, we highly recommend visiting Hovenweep National Monument.
In the summer, when Mesa Verde can be quite busy, we sometimes bring guests to Hovenweep instead.
The ancient towers and structures there are just as impressive, and often you may only see a handful of people on the trails.
Hovenweep protects a group of remarkable stone towers built by the Ancestral Pueblo people along canyon rims, creating an experience that feels quieter and more contemplative than Mesa Verde.
It’s about an hour from Mancos and makes a wonderful half-day trip.
Great Farm-to-Table Dining in the Area
This region has a strong agricultural community, and several restaurants highlight local ingredients beautifully.
The Boathouse (Mancos)
The Boathouse is one of our favorite places for a special dinner. They source ingredients from local farms, and we’re honored that they even use our lavender in one of their desserts — lavender flan.
Their menu celebrates local meat, produce, and seasonal flavors in really thoughtful ways.
The Farm Bistro (Cortez)
A wonderful farm-to-table restaurant with creative dishes and a relaxed atmosphere.
Sutcliffe Vineyards (McElmo Canyon)
For a scenic meal and beautiful setting, Sutcliffe Vineyards is worth the short drive into McElmo Canyon.
Outdoor Adventure: Mountain Biking at Phil’s World
For visitors who love outdoor adventure, Phil’s World is one of the most famous mountain biking trail systems in the region.
The trails offer flowing desert terrain and incredible views, making it a favorite destination for riders.
If you don’t have your own bike, rentals are available at Kokopelli Bike Shop nearby.
From our farm, experienced riders can even bike toward the Cache Canyon entrance of Mesa Verde, turning the ride into a truly unique way to approach the park.
Unique Places to Stay Near Mesa Verde
One of the things we love about this area is that there are several small, creative lodging options run by people who truly care about their guests.
Some of our favorite places include:
Mesa Verde Motel (Mancos)
A beautifully restored vintage roadside motel with thoughtful design.
Dolores Bike Hostel (Dolores)
A welcoming and community-centered place to stay, especially popular with cyclists and outdoor travelers.
Mesa Verde Lavender Wagon Stay (Mancos)
Our farm stay offers guests the chance to sleep under big skies in a covered wagon overlooking the valley.
We’re good friends with the owners of many of these places, and all of us take pride in creating memorable experiences for guests visiting our little slice of heaven here in the Southwest.
A Slower Way to Experience Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde may be what first draws people to this corner of Colorado, but the surrounding landscape, small towns, farms, and quiet places often end up being what visitors remember most.
Whether it’s wandering through a lavender field, discovering a hidden archaeological site, or enjoying a pastry on a slow morning in Mancos, the region has a way of encouraging people to slow down.
If you’re planning a trip to Mesa Verde National Park, consider leaving a little extra time to explore what lies just beyond the park boundaries.
You may discover that those quieter moments become some of the most meaningful parts of your journey.
Looking forward to seeing you on your visit!
-Katie
