Far View Tower: Ancient Watchtower of Mesa Verde

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Discover the ancient Far View Tower in Mesa Verde, a window into early Puebloan life on the mesa tops.

Explore the remnants of Far View Tower, a fascinating archaeological site in Mesa Verde National Park. Part of the Far View Sites complex, this ancestral Puebloan tower offers insights into the lives of early inhabitants who farmed the mesa tops centuries before the famous cliff dwellings were built.

A brief summary to Far View Tower

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, 81330, US

Local tips

Wear comfortable shoes for the 0.75-mile walking trail around the Far View Sites.
Bring water, especially during the warmer months, as the trail is exposed.
Purchase your park entrance pass online in advance to save time.
Check the weather forecast before your visit, as conditions can change rapidly.

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Getting There

Driving

From the Mesa Verde National Park entrance, drive approximately 15 miles north along the main park road to the Far View area. Follow signs for the Far View Sites complex. Parking is available at the Far View Sites parking area. Note that parking is limited to vehicles under 25 feet.
Walking

From the Far View Sites parking area, the trail to Far View Tower is a short, easy walk. The trail is a 0.75-mile loop that connects several archaeological sites within the complex. Follow the marked trail and signs to reach the tower.

Discover more about Far View Tower

Far View Tower, located within the Far View Sites complex in Mesa Verde National Park, is a captivating window into the past. This mesa-top community was once a thriving farming area, densely populated between 900 and 1300 CE. The tower, believed to have been two stories tall, was part of a small farming pueblo. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Far View area was inhabited long before the construction of the more famous cliff dwellings. In the mid-1100s, as many as 35 villages and their surrounding farm plots existed within a half-square-mile area. The tower likely provided an elevated vantage point, possibly for observing agricultural activities or for defense. Today, visitors can explore the remains of Far View Tower and imagine the bustling community that once thrived here. The easy, 0.75-mile trail through the Far View Sites offers a glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who called this mesa home.