The Pithouses and Pueblos Loop at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado is an easy 0.2-mile universally-accessible loop trail that leads to several ancient Puebloan pithouses that date to around 700 - 950 A.D.
Walk
This is not a hike but rather a very short, mostly-flat walk along a paved trail that leads to ancient Puebloan pithouses and kivas. This loop includes several pithouses that were part of the 2nd age of housing construction by the ancient Puebloans. As described by the info kiosks along the trail, these single-story pithouses were constructed around 750 CE (A.D.). Prior, in ~550 CE, ancient Puebloan people were constructing simpler pithouses and before that they were nomadic. Throughout the walk, you can see how they built and repurposed their single-story pithouses. They also started developing kivas around this time, which you can find along the trail and learn more about from the interpretive signage.
Universal Access
This is a paved and universally-accessible pathway as of June 2024.
Parking
Visitors will find a parking lot at the coordinates provided along Mesa Top Loop Road in the park. As of June 2024, the lot is large enough to fit approximately a dozen vehicles.
Pets
Dogs are allowed on this trail and must be cleaned and cleaned up after. Dogs are allowed on paved trails including the Park Point Trail and the Mesa Top Loop Sites including: The Navajo Canyon Overlook, Square Tower House Overlook Trail, Pithouses & Pueblos Loop, Mesa Top Sites Trail, Sun Point Pueblo, Sun Point View, Oak Tree House View, Fire Temple & New Fire House View, and the Sun Temple & Cliff Palace View.
Warning
Steep cliffs: This trail leads out to tall and steep cliffs.
Walk
This is not a hike but rather a very short, mostly-flat walk along a paved trail that leads to ancient Puebloan pithouses and kivas. This loop includes several pithouses that were part of the 2nd age of housing construction by the ancient Puebloans. As described by the info kiosks along the trail, these single-story pithouses were constructed around 750 CE (A.D.). Prior, in ~550 CE, ancient Puebloan people were constructing simpler pithouses and before that they were nomadic. Throughout the walk, you can see how they built and repurposed their single-story pithouses. They also started developing kivas around this time, which you can find along the trail and learn more about from the interpretive signage.
Universal Access
This is a paved and universally-accessible pathway as of June 2024.
Parking
Visitors will find a parking lot at the coordinates provided along Mesa Top Loop Road in the park. As of June 2024, the lot is large enough to fit approximately a dozen vehicles.
Pets
Dogs are allowed on this trail and must be cleaned and cleaned up after. Dogs are allowed on paved trails including the Park Point Trail and the Mesa Top Loop Sites including: The Navajo Canyon Overlook, Square Tower House Overlook Trail, Pithouses & Pueblos Loop, Mesa Top Sites Trail, Sun Point Pueblo, Sun Point View, Oak Tree House View, Fire Temple & New Fire House View, and the Sun Temple & Cliff Palace View.
Warning
Steep cliffs: This trail leads out to tall and steep cliffs.
