.jpg%3F1462999723&w=3840&q=75)
Spruce Canyon Trail
A 2.5 mile loop that starts from the trailhead to Spruce Tree House. Enjoy the bottom of Spruce Canyon, then switchback back up to the mesa top.
Plan Around Spruce Canyon Trail
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Spruce Canyon Trail Details
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the park on the quiet Spruce Canyon Trail. A strenuous two and a half mile loop that starts from the trailhead to Spruce Tree House. Hike down a series of switchbacks to the bottom of Spruce Canyon, follow the seasonal streambed, and then switchback back up to the mesa top. The gate to the trailhead is open in the summer only from 8:30am-6pm, so plan accordingly!
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
2.4 miles
Estimated time
1.25 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Spruce Canyon Trail
Compare nearby parks around Spruce Canyon Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Spruce Canyon Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Spruce Canyon Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.2 mi away
Mesa Verde Park Headquarters
The Mesa Verde Headquarters and Chapin Mesa area (which includes the cliff dwellings and the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum) is a one-hour drive from Cortez, Colorado, heading east on Highway 160 to the park turnoff. It is a 1.5 hour drive from Durango, Colorado, heading west on Highway 160 to the park turnoff.
0.3 mi away
Spruce Tree House
Enjoy the polygonal pattern of grooves in the exterior at Spruce Tree House, a very popular tour.
0.3 mi away
Petroglyph Point Trail
The only trail in the park to view petroglyphs.
0.3 mi away
Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
Explore a chronology of Ancestral Puebloan life and exhibits of prehistoric artifacts.
0.4 mi away
Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe
Enjoy a casual lunch or dinner next door to the Museum.
