Mesa Verde National Park

[Pat Cassity]

We have reservations for 5 nights at the Morefield CG in Mesa Verde National Park in a few weeks. Has anyone had a recent experience with this CG? We are staying at one of 15 full hookup sites.


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[Jack46]

We stayed there last August while on a WBCCI Caravan. We were in one of the "no hook up" campsites. However, we found the Morefield facilities to be very good. It is a beautiful spot. Keep an eye open for the critters that wander around.

[pmclemore]

It has been some years since we were there, but feel the place is magical. And we enjoyed immensely a dinner at the Far View Lodge.

Pat

[Denis4x4]

Make a point to stop at the new visitor center that opened this year. It's right off the highway and will make your visit more meaningful.

[Pat Cassity]

Thanks! Never been to that part of Colorado so I am trying to decide if I should keep that reservation or cancel it and stay in Durango. The original intent of the trip was to ride the Durango to Silverton train. I am concerned that driving back and forth to Durango or just around the park might eat up too much of our time. Thoughts?


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[TheOhioSean]

I camped there in a van 4 years ago, spending two nights there in one of the no hookup sites. The pinyon-juniper forest offers some shade. The archaeological sites were fascinating and the views of and from the mesas were impressive. Showers outside the camp store were free and open 24/7 (but NOT 365, I don't believe). We were visiting at the end of the peak season (Labor Day weekend) and caught the last of the pancake breakfasts at the camp store. The evening ranger program was on wolves and coyotes, and was very interesting (it may also have been the last of the season).

It is very capacious and seldom if ever fills up, for which I was grateful. I hadn't reserved campsites or lodging ahead of time, and had been planning to get a motel room whenever I got tired (which turned out to be at 9 PM near Alamosa) but discovered that all the hotel/motels in south-central Colorado were completely booked. Morefield, circa 4.5 hours west when stopping to check for room availability, was no more than half full.

[afneill]

If it were me I would stay at the CG in the park. Having stayed in that area several times, we prefer staying in the park. Don't feed the mule deer grapes, the rangers don't like it even though the deer do. The area, with all its ruins, has a rather magical aura to it. Though we are from Texas, we have been there many times and never seem to tire of the area. If you get the chance visit other sites such as Hovenweep.

[eubank]

Oh, and before you go, read this:

Amazon.com: House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest eBook: Craig Childs: Kindle Store


Lynn

[gatorboy]

Congrats on getting a reservation! I'm an interperative Ranger at MEVE and can tell you that full hook-ups are hard to come by. We just had a major monsoon last night, so the campfire ban should be lifted soon. Why would you want to stay in Durango when you could stay in a National Park? You can drive to Durango for the day. You will probably want to stay in the Park for two days. Start the first day off at the museum by watching the video in the auditorium, walking the museum and visiting Spruce Tree House (self guided) when you first arrive. Do the guided tours on Chapin mesa: Cliff Palace in the AM and Balcony House in the PM.
Plan on spending the second day on Wetherill Mesa: guided tour of Long House and self guided tour of Step House. Other relevent day trips from the Park are: Anasazi Cultural Center (BLM), Hovenweep NP and Aztec Ruins NP. Maybe I'll see you on one of my tours!
Ranger Pete!

[Pat Cassity]

Thanks! How is the drive to the campground from Durango? Steep grades? Paved roads, etc...


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[mojo]

It's good highway between MV and Durango. They have been repaving so there may be some short delays. There's a grade leaving Durango but nothing steep. The distance between the entrance to MV and Durango is only 35 miles, but the time to drive from the MV entrance to the CG can be a half hour and another 1/2 hour from the CG to the cliff sites. If you plan to ride the train, you need to be there before 8 or 9am depending on which train you take and it doesn't return til 6pm. That may be pushing it if you're camped at MV. You may want to split your stay. United CG is close to Durango.

[TG Twinkie]

I would recommend the Alpen Rose RV park. It is 2 miles north of Durango on HWY 550.
Nice place; Nice People!

[Photobum]

ditto on House of Rain, an excellent book. Also on Hovenweep, a wonderful ruin.

[RVDreamer]

Really depends on personal preference.

Northern Durango area campgrounds are Alpine with cooler climate, rivers, aspen, ponderosa, blue spruce, and mountains. Many attractions, river rafting, train, horseback riding, golf, kayaking, hiking, fishing, etc.

Mesa Verde is desert, small juniper pine, sage, warmer, with cliff dwellings as principle attraction.

[Bk Yd Safari]

We stayed at Alpen Rose CG in Durango and drove over to Mesa Verda for a visit. The drive from the park entrance to the campgrounds is steep and winding with some switchbacks. The park is well worth a visit.

[Woosch]

A couple of years ago we stayed at the Mesa Verde RV resort and liked it ok. Its just outside the park entrance. Durango didn't seem too far away. We liked the location.

[Jack46]

We have stayed at Alpen Rose CG and it too is great. Ouray, CO is a great stop and the mountain drive over to Durango is something to behold, particularly hauling an AS. Durango is a great stop, but Mesa Verde is in a class by itself.

[Jack46]

I think the road from Ouray to Durango is called the Million Dollar Highway? Very steep, narrow and switchy. We ended up enjoying it, but there were some moments with our longer rig.

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by Jack46

I think the road from Ouray to Durango is called the Million Dollar Highway? Very steep, narrow and switchy. We ended up enjoying it, but there were some moments with our longer rig.

It is indeed the Million Dollar Highway (cost per foot? View value?; perhaps both) and its one of the most spectacular roads in America but the timid with trailers need not apply. Buddy and I rode it two years ago on motorcycles and a bighorn sheep knocked a boulder down the sheer cliff side, across the road in front of us and then bounded down the cliff right behind it and down the other side. Amazing incline and he was flying...pretty spectacular. Equally amazing was a guy in a Cummings truck who kept up with us....pulling a 25+ foot SOB. Sure see amazing things out on the road.....and yes Mesa Verde is fantastic, we tent camped there and several trailers were around.

[RVDreamer]

I don't know if it makes a difference to you but Mesa Verde does not allow pets in the park.