Explore
Wetherill Mesa is a seasonally open section of the park featuring hiking trails, bike paths, and the Long House cliff dwelling.
Open from mid-May through October, this area offers a rugged alternative to the busy main park roads. It provides close access to ancient architecture through foot trails and biking routes.
You can walk right into a cliff dwelling at Step House without booking a tour. Bicycles are allowed on the tram road connecting the surface sites.
2 hours2.25 miles round-tripTour reservation required
Long House is the second-largest cliff dwelling in the park. It features a large central plaza that suggests it served as a community gathering place. You must book a ranger-led tour to enter. The tour requires a 2.25-mile round-trip hike and climbing wooden ladders.
45-60 minSelf-guided trail
This unique site contains both an early pithouse and a later cliff dwelling inside the same alcove. It is the only cliff dwelling in the park you can enter without a guided tour reservation. You can hike the trail at your own pace when Wetherill Mesa is open.
1 hourFlat trail
This trail connects four mesa-top surface sites. Walking the path reveals the architectural evolution of the Ancestral Puebloans. The route is flat and stays away from the main crowds. You can also ride bicycles on the connecting tram road.
