Prater Ridge Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views

Enjoy fantastic views of Mesa Verde National Park's desert landscape as you travel along the Prater Ridge Trail.

Starting at the southern end of the Morefield Campground, the trail climbs moderately for two miles before reaching the ridgeline. Atop the ridgeline, enjoy more relaxed trail gradients as you hike through verdant desert ground cover and standing dead trees, once-scorched by forest fire.

Be sure to slow down and enjoy the panoramic views available in many places along the ridgetop, as they are some of the best in the park!

For a shorter hike, the Prater Ridge Trail's outer loop can be cut short via the Prater Ridge Cutoff Trail located near the center of the loop.

Abundant desert vegetation provides a stark contrast to standing dead trees along the trail.