Long House, Mesa Verde National Park Travel Guide

4.9 (73)

Explore Long House, Mesa Verde's second-largest cliff dwelling, and step back in time to discover the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans.

Long House, the second-largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park, offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans who built and inhabited it in the 1200s. Located on Wetherill Mesa, this remarkable site features approximately 150 rooms and 21 kivas, showcasing the architectural and cultural sophistication of its builders.

A brief summary to Long House

Long House, Tram Rte, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, 81330, US
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From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Long House.

Purchase tour tickets at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center before driving to Wetherill Mesa.
Arrive at the Long House trailhead 15 minutes early for a safety and logistics briefing.
Wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and bring at least 2 quarts (2 liters) of water per person.
Be prepared for a 0.75-mile (1.2 km) walk from the Wetherill Mesa parking lot to the Long House trailhead.

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Getting There

Driving & Shuttle

To reach Long House, start at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center, located near the park entrance. Purchase your ranger-guided tour tickets here. Then, drive 15 miles into the park, past Far View Lodge, and turn right onto Wetherill Mesa Road. This winding, 12-mile road takes about 45 minutes to drive due to its curves and hills; vehicles are restricted to under 25 feet in length and 8,000 lbs. At the Wetherill Mesa parking area, a free shuttle (first-come, first-served) provides access to the Long House trailhead. From the trailhead, it's a 0.75-mile walk to the Long House site. Mesa Verde National Park entrance fee is $30 per private vehicle. Long House tour tickets are $8 per person. There are no additional costs for the final approach.

Discover more about Long House

Nestled within a large, south-facing alcove on Wetherill Mesa, Long House stands as a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Ancestral Puebloans. Constructed during the Pueblo III period (1150–1300 CE), this impressive cliff dwelling was built on top of an earlier Basketmaker III pithouse dating back to 648 CE. Rediscovered in the early 1890s, Long House was carefully excavated and stabilized in the late 1950s and early 1960s as part of the Wetherill Mesa Archaeological Project.Long House is thought to have housed approximately 150 to 175 people and served as an administrative center for smaller nearby cliff dwellings. The village comprises around 150 rooms, 21 kivas (circular areas used for residence and ritual), and a row of upper storage rooms. Architectural features suggest that Long House was also a public gathering place, with a formal plaza larger than those found in most villages. Benches, vaults, and a raised firebox may indicate that this open space functioned as a dance plaza or great kiva, similar to the Fire Temple on Chapin Mesa. The latest tree-ring date from Long House is A.D. 1279, suggesting that the site was abandoned shortly thereafter, along with the entire Mesa Verde region.Today, visitors can explore Long House through ranger-guided tours, gaining insights into the daily lives, cultural practices, and eventual migration of the Ancestral Puebloans. The site offers picturesque views of distant canyons and mesas, and an active seep spring can be seen within the dwelling.