Mesa Verde Wilderness
About 1,400 years ago, the Ancestral Pueblo people began their occupation of Mesa Verde. Sandstone dwellings deep within the shady overhangs of Mesa Verde's cliffs were not constructed and occupied until the final 100 years of the 700 years in which these people flourished here. Then, for reasons not fully understood, they emigrated to points south, leaving many fabulous structures well preserved by the dry air and shadowy recesses of the alcoves. Within the Mesa Verde National Park, three small and separate sections on the steep north and east boundaries are designated as the Mesa Verde Wilderness, serving as buffers to further protect the significant Native American sites and natural setting.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 8,500 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.27° N, 108.53° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 23) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedSalter Rx
24 mi from the center point
- PrescribedDawson Rx
43 mi from the center point
- PrescribedGroundhog Piles Rx
44 mi from the center point · 30 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.8 miMesa Verde Administrative District ↗National Historic Landmark
- under 0.1 miPark Point Fire Lookout ↗Mesa Verde National Park, CO
- 2.7 miEntrance Residence, Check Station Residence ↗Mesa Verde National Park, CO
- 4.1 mi
- 4.8 mi
- 4.9 miErtel Funeral Home ↗Cortez, CO
- 5.8 miMancos Opera House ↗Mancos, CO
- 6.1 miMancos High School ↗Mancos, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mesa Verde Wilderness?
8,500 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mesa Verde Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mesa Verde Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mesa Verde Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mesa Verde Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Mesa Verde Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.273° N, 108.530° W. Mesa Verde National Park is 3 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mesa Verde Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Salter Rx at 24 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Mesa Verde Wilderness?
Mesa Verde National Park (3 mi), Yucca House National Monument (7 mi) and Hovenweep National Monument (26 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Mesa Verde Wilderness?
The National Register has 14 listings within 15 miles, including Mesa Verde Administrative District and Park Point Fire Lookout.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.