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Colorado
1.1 mi
Distance
19 ft
Gain
No conditions check on file for this trail yet — always verify current conditions before you go.
Why you'll love it
Prater Ridge Trail
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
The trail traverses Prater Ridge which divides Prater and Morefield Canyons. The South Loop offers views into Prater Canyon, named for an early pioneer family. The North Loop ascends for views into Montezuma Valley and the beautiful San Juan Mountains. Trail Description The trailhead is located on the west side of Morefield Campground. The Prater Ridge Trail contains two hiking loops. You have the option of staying right toward the North Loop or taking the South Loop for a shorter hike. The North Loop is 3.6 miles (5.7 km) and the South Loop is 2.4 miles (3.9 km). If you choose to hike both loops, the entire Prater Ridge Trail is 7.8 miles (12.6 km) Please respect these places by leaving archeological sites, artifacts, plants, and animals undisturbed for all those who follow you. Be Prepared Strenuous Pets and bicycles are not allowed on the trail Trails are day-use only For Your Safety Dehydration and altitude sickness are common problems at Mesa Verde. Drink water and rest often. Avoid hiking during the hottest part of the day. While hiking, remain on the trail to avoid walking along unfenced, unstable cliff edges and fragile soil. Off-trail walking easily destroys the delicate cryptobiotic soil crusts that take decades to form and are essential to soil stability and plant growth in the deserts of the Southwest. Even the smallest impacts have big effects! Please respect wildlife by observing them from a distance. Trail Data 7.8 miles (12.6 km) to complete North and South Loops 675 ft (206 m) elevation change Allow about four hours to complete both loops
Knife Edge Trail
~1 min drive
<p>Named after the historic Knife Edge Road which was known for it's scenic value, this trail follows the old roadway and leads to a viewpoint that affords excellent views across Montezuma Valley.</p> <p>A traveler in 1892 once described a trail on this ridge as the Crinkly Ed…
Point Lookout Trail
~1 min drive
<p>The Point Lookout Trail climbs up the iconic Point Lookout, the geological formation that towers above the park entrance. The trail offers views of the San Juan and La Plata Mountains, as well as Mancos and Montezuma Valleys.</p> <h4>Trail Description</h4> <p>The 2.2-mile (…
Millset (Snow)
~19 min drive
6.7 mi · Hard
Dolph Kuss
~19 min drive
3.1 mi · Moderate
Far View Lodge
~8 min drive
<em>Open May to late-September.</em> <br /> Far View Lodge, the only lodging within Mesa Verde National Park, sits on a high shoulder offering panoramic vistas and wildlife watching. The lodge was designed to reflect the true essence of Mesa Verde, with solitude all around you…
Park Point
~5 min drive
The highest elevation in the park at 8,572 feet (2,612 m) above sea level, Park Point is a breezy and cool place to picnic or take in the view. To the north, the 13,000 and 14,000-foot (4,000+ meters) peaks of the San Juan Mountains are visible. To the south, the high deserts…
Lost Chicken
~20 min drive
17 mi · Hard
Dolph Kuss Loop (Snow)
~21 min drive
3.1 mi · Moderate
Far View Community Sites
~11 min drive
<p>The Far View area was once an extensive farming community and one of the most densely populated regions of the Mesa Verde. This mesa top community includes Far View House, Pipe Shrine House, Coyote Village, Far View Reservoir (currently dry), Megalithic House, and Far View…
Farming Terrace Trail
~13 min drive
<p>This short, moderate trail winds along a series of farming terraces built by the Ancestral Pueblo people. Constructing check dams in a natural drainage to create farming terraces was a useful dryland farming technique. Soil and moisture collected behind the check dams durin…
