Cortez to Mesa Verde National Park

Motorcycle Roads & Rides > Routes > United States > Colorado

Average Rating - This road has been rated by 2 visitors

State: Colorado

Date Submitted: April 1, 2008
Submitted by: The Geezy Rider
Motorcycle Road Length: 30 Miles

Written Directions

From the town of Cortez, CO, head east on US 160 for 7 miles and then you'll want to turn south into the Mesa Verde National Park (on US 10). You take this all the way into the park where you can explore many different roads ... approximate length of the trip is 30 miles or so.

Scenery

Highway 160 from Cortez to the park entrance is good scenery. Upon entering the park the scenery greatly improves. With several great vistas down into the valley and towards the Colorado Rockies. Scenery within the park is spectacular including the Cliff dwellings. Be sure to bring camera and lots of water as you will want to climb around the Cliff Dwellings. If there are "oldsters" within the group be sure to check with Rangers first before entering the Cliff Dwelling paths as some of them are very strenuous to climb in and around. Spruce Tree Cliff Dwellings

Road Quality

The road surface from Cortez to the park (8 miles)is smooth all the way with nice scenery. Then upon entering the park there is a 20 mile climb on smooth surface all the way with lots of great curves to maneuver..

Roadside Amenities

Cortez has many good restaurants and there is food up within the park. Since it is only about a sixty mile round trip gas should not be an issue.

Additional Info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .

Nickname (optional) The Geezy Rider

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Reviewed by Guest on October 7, 2010 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: DRAGONFLY
motorcycle_year: 2010
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: THE RIDE THRU MESA VERDE IS NICE, CURVY, GOOD ROAD. TAKE TIME TO VISIT THE CLIFF DWELLINGS, EVERY YEAR THE PARK SERVICE RESTRICTS MORE AND MORE OF THE ACCESS THRU OR TO THE RUINS. THEY ARE TALKING OF CLOSING OFF MANY IN ORDER TO PRESERVE AND PROTAECT THE RUINS.
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Reviewed by Guest on August 27, 2008 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Ron/Keiko
motorcycle_year: 2005
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: We made the trip in late July (East-West). The lower elevations were very warm but the roads were great on a motorcycle. Mesa Verde was interesting and tourist friendly. If heading West out of Cortez, recommend leaving early as rooms are not plentiful in Kayenta, AR.
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