Logistics
Park Entrance Fees
Visiting groups who are sponsored by accredited educational institutions may apply for a fee waiver to enter the park for free. Fee waivers should be requested three weeks in advance. For forms and guidelines, visit the page.
Be Prepared
Any visit to Mesa Verde will include some outdoor walking and exploring. Students should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Hats and sunscreen are recommended on sunny days and rain gear on cloudy days. Each child should carry a water bottle.
Picnicking & Lunch
A large and scenic picnic area is located on the museum loop on Chapin Mesa, 20 miles into the park. There are over 30 picnic tables in this area. Caution: Please keep a close watch on students at picnic sites near the canyon’s edge. There are some steep drop offs here. You may also purchase lunch at Far View Terrace (15-miles into the park) or Spruce Tree Terrace (near the museum). Far View Terrace is better for large groups but is open on a seasonal basis.
What Students Should Bring
A small backpack, bag lunch with drink (no glass), plastic water bottle, comfortable clothes and closed toe shoes, socks and long pants to protect against scrapes, sunscreen and hat, notebook or sketchbook, pen or pencil, rain gear or jacket depending on the weather, good attitude and interest in the Ancestral Puebloan culture!
