Mesa Verde National Park guide · 1 min read
Morefield Campground and Prater Ridge Hikes
Morefield Campground lies inside the park, about four miles along the Main Park Road from the highway entrance.
It has campsites and 15 recreational vehicle hookups, and several trails start right from its edges, which makes it a practical base for hiking. Camping here follows a seasonal schedule rather than running all year.
Prater Ridge Trail begins at the west end of the campground and climbs to the top of the ridge, where it loops around the rim. The round trip is 7.8 miles and the route is rated strenuous, with steep sections. Carry plenty of water, especially in warm weather.
Knife Edge Trail starts at the northwest corner of the campground and covers 2 miles round trip with only about 60 feet of elevation change. It follows part of the old park road built in 1914 as the main route into the park, running along the north escarpment. Views to the northwest make it a good spot for sunset. A serious rockfall has affected the last quarter of the trail, so stay out of that section.
Point Lookout Trail leaves from the northeast corner of the campground. Its 2.2 miles round trip climb about 400 feet by steep switchbacks to the top of Point Lookout, a formation that towers above the park entrance. From the summit, hikers can see the San Juan and La Plata Mountains and the Mancos and Montezuma Valleys.
In winter, Prater Ridge becomes a snowshoe route. Snowshoes are required when the Morefield loops are groomed, and visitors sign in at the trail register. The trail can be snowy, muddy, or icy, so snowshoes or traction devices are recommended. From winter parking, the round trip covers 8.3 miles.
