Southwestern Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park is famous for its well-preserved cliff dwellings. These archeological treasures give visitors a glimpse into the fascinating lives of the ancestral Pueblo people, who lived in an advanced society centuries ago. Mesa Verde is an excellent camping destination for active visitors, who can also hike and wildlife watch in the park. There is one campground inside the park, but you can also stay just outside its borders.
Things to Do
If you want to stay active during your trip to Mesa Verde, sign up for a ranger-led walk. Although some of the cliff dwellings are accessible through self-guided trails, many are restricted to guided hikes. You can hike at your own pace throughout one of the park's many trails, or cross-country ski if you visit during the winter. (first reference)
Weather
Active campers will find plenty to do no matter what time of year they visit, though facilities and some roads may be closed during the winter season, and you will have to camp outside the park. If you can visit in spring or autumn, you will avoid the bigger crowds but still have mild weather for hiking and wildlife watching. Summers on average only get into the mid--80s, even at their hottest so if you don't mind the crowds, you should still be able to do outdoor activities fairly comfortably.
Camping Inside the Park
There is one campground inside Mesa Verde National Park. Morefield campground is open from early May through early October, and has sites for tents, trailers and RVs. The grassy canyon just outside the campground is a good place for walks and bird- and wildlife watching. Early morning hikes are most peaceful, and will give you a greater chance of spotting animals like mule deer.
Camping Outside the Park
If you don't want to stay in Morefield, camp just outside the park, which will give you easy access to the park's activities. One option for tents and RVs is the Cortez / Mesa Verde KOA, which has a swimming pool and is also close to Lake Totten, which offers a number of water sports, like fishing and boating. You can also tee off at the nearby Conquistador Golf Course.
RV Camping
If you want to stay at Morefield inside the park and have a hookup for your RV, you'll have to make advance reservations. If you can't do this, but still want power for your vehicle, stay at one of the RV parks just outside the park's entrance along U.S. 160. Two options less than a mile from the park's borders are the A & A Mesa Verde RV Park, which offers mini golf, a heated pool, and rec room, and the the Mesa Verde RV Resort, with a playground, library and pool.
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