Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado preserves the history of the ancestral Pueblo people. The park features over 600 cliff dwellings built around AD 1200. The nearby Hovenweep National Monument consists of standing towers and villages built by the Puebloans. The Views RV Park & Campground in Dolores is a wonderful RV stay with beautiful views.
Key Takeaways:
- Mesa Verde National Park is a fascinating park featuring over 600 cliff dwellings
- The Hovenweep National Monument spans southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah and has several dog-friendly hiking trails
- The Views RV Park & Campground in Dolores, Colorado, is an awesome, family-owned and run RV Park, close to area attractions
Campground Review:
The Views RV Park & Campground in Dolores, is convenient to Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument and the McPhee Reservoir. The campground is meticulously maintained and has incredible vista views. Our shaded site included full hookups and plenty of space. Our dogs enjoyed the trails around the 42-acre campground. We also enjoyed the community firepit and pavilion. The owners were very friendly and welcoming.
What to do:
- Explore Mesa Verde National Park
- Start at the Visitor’s Center for maps and info on open roads and trails (several roads and trails were closed during our mid-April stay due to snow or construction)
- Drive through the park and stop at the overlooks
- View the Cliff Palace – the largest cliff dwelling in North America – from overlooks on Mesa Top Loop. Purchase tickets for a ranger-led tour during summer months
- View the Balcony House from the easy 1.2 mile Soda Canyon Overlook Trail or purchase a ranger-led tour in summer months
- Take a self-guided tour of the Spruce Tree House via the strenuous .5-mile trail or view the Spruce Tree House from the overlook behind the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
- Hike the Petroglyph Point and Spruce Canyon trails for petroglyph sightings
- Visit the Hovenweep National Monument; take the dogs on the rim trail to view standing towers and Puebloan villages
- Sample wine at the Sutcliff Vineyards near Cortez – beautiful views and great wine! The patio is dog-friendly – woof!
- Skip the Yucca House National Monument – a long dirt road to an underwhelming archaeological site
Tips for visiting Mesa Verde National Park
- Leashed dogs are allowed on paved trails only
- Upper elevations in the park are over 8,000 feet with cooler temperatures and lingering snow
- Spring visits will be hit or miss with road closures
- Ranger-led tours of cliff dwellings run from mid-May to October
Cliff Palace
Balcony House
Mesa Verde National Park
Hovenweep National Monument
Chili & Cedar’s Review:
Yay for The Views RV Park & Campground. We loved our walks around this dog-friendly campground. Lots of grass and shade for lounging. We enjoyed our evening at the community fire pit too – woof!
Campground Rating: 5 PAWS out of 5 PAWS
So Mesa Verde National Park is not very dog friendly. We drove through the park and walked a few paved trails. Cedar liked the cool breeze as she hung her head out the window. Our hike at the Hovenweep was fun, even if we had to keep a lookout for rattlesnakes.