Name: American Express® Gold Card
Brand: American Express

Quick summary

Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado offers visitors a unique glimpse into ancient cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloans between 600 and 1300 A.D.
Guided tours are required for major sites such as Cliff Palace and Balcony House, with tickets available in person at the visitor center for a small fee.
The park features scenic drives, overlooks, hiking trails and limited lodging options, providing opportunities for both brief visits and extended stays.
Travelers aged 62 and up can benefit from a special lifetime pass that waives park admission fees for the passholder and accompanying guests.

What to consider

Tour tickets for cliff dwellings are limited and must be purchased in person up to two days in advance, with high demand during peak periods.
Some sites, like Spruce Tree House, may be temporarily closed due to safety concerns such as rock slides.
Physical requirements vary by tour, with some involving ladders, narrow passages and elevation changes that may not be suitable for all visitors.

What you'll miss from the article

Personal insights on navigating Mesa Verde, tips for maximizing your visit and reflections on the park's historical significance.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

This is a guest post from my dad, Grandpa Points. He and my mom are in their mid-60’s, are (mostly) retired, and are ticking off “bucket list” destinations quicker than they ever thought possible thanks to miles, points, and travel deals. They have an intense love of this country, of its National Parks and treasures, and have no problem with a clean budget hotel room and an economy airline seat on a budget airline as long as it gets them where they want to be. A photographer by trade, his adventures are usually captured not just in his mind, but in his camera. He shares his thoughts and travels here from time to time, and I’m excited to share another one of their budget travel stories!

You are in extreme southwestern Colorado. On Highway 160. You have come from Durango to the east or from Cortez to the west. But you are on Highway 160. You have spent the night in a clean, comfortable and acceptable 2.5 star motel with a complimentary breakfast, and you checked Facebook while eating your bacon/sausage and downing your juice.

You have filled the car up with gas and grabbed a 32 ounce soft drink that is now sitting in the cup holder next to you. You are on Highway 160. You are passing all the usual roadside signs espousing the next meal, the next night stay, the next car to buy and the next plumber to use. Your phone is in your hand to hear the next message, take the next selfie or post the next thought. You are on Highway 160. It is the only road to there.

Roads and highways can be lifelines and economic and social connections, but this time it is simply the means to an end. A gateway to a destination. We have all traveled this road, or one just like it, many times. It is interesting but nondescript, and your thoughts are general and not specific. You are just ticking off the miles, vaguely listening to Sirius XM radio tuned to 60's on the 6 or 80's on the 8. And then, in the near distance, a significant and expansive bluff rises from the valley floor with a road diagonally traversing it like a ribbon on a package.

A blinking light on Highway 160 slows you down as you turn south onto this beckoning asphalt. Highway 160 is left behind as are many of the tangibles of your daily existence and of your usual road trip experiences. You are going from the typical to the magical. You are leaving the present for the past. You are now in Mesa Verde National Park, a World Heritage Site.

Money Saving Tip: Those 62 and up should absolutely get the $10 US National Parks Lifetime "America the Beautiful" Pass as that will save you money when visiting the national parks over, and over again as the park admission fee is then forever waived for the passholder + vehicle occupants or the passholder + 3 accompanying adults!

The first stop after being photographed with the Park sign, is the new info center and research complex.

Here, you can acquire pertinent park info, secure tickets for tours, admire and study the artifacts and get a 101 entry class overview of the magic just up the hill. And what a hill it is! You are no longer indifferent or hypnotized into a lethargic state by the white stripes zipping past your car. You are on full alert, and your senses are stimulated. The narrow road climbs steadily and quickly with some exciting and dynamic Formula One Gran Prix style turns waiting to be ( slowly and safely ) navigated. Your car will reach for a lower gear as you put your second hand on the steering wheel, and you sit with a more erect posture as the drop-offs steepen, and the beauty of the surround increases. Multiple scenic turnouts and overlooks exist for your viewing pleasure .

This road is not dangerous or frightening, but it is worthy of your attention for where it takes you and for the manner with which it takes you there. It is somewhat metaphorical as if you need to be elevated, to have to climb, to achieve such a destination of significance and importance. In 25 miles, you go from the valley to the mesa top, from today to yesterday, and from the mundane to the unique. It would not be a reach to say that the Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde are our Machu Picchu.

The Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park

These special structures were built by the Ancestral Puebloans that lived in the area from 600 to 1300 A.D. They were a hearty and pragmatic people who were also known and respected artisans for their pottery and weaving skills. Despite 700 years of occupying the area, the cliff dwellings were constructed and utilized for only the last 100 years of their presence here. There are over 600 such sites in Mesa Verde with the most famous ones being the Cliff Palace, the Long House, the Spruce Tree House, the Step House and the Balcony House. Park Ranger guided tours are necessary for the Cliff, Long and Balcony. Tickets are $4.00 for each and can be obtained at the Park Visitor Center. Demand may be high, so make securing your tickets a priority. Some high traffic days may result in individuals being able to obtain tickets to tour either the Cliff Palace or Balcony House, but not both in the same day. Tickets must be bought in person and can be purchased up to two days in advance.

Our visit to Mesa Verde was for a day and a half. We were able to take both the tour of the Cliff Palace and the Balcony House. The Cliff Palace is quite large and very visually stunning.

It is believed that it must have served as an administrative and ceremonial site as well as being residential. The tour takes about 45 minutes and includes some ladder climbing and some elevation change, but the overall walking distance is minimal. The Cliff Palace is sort of the quintessential cliff dwelling and is not to be missed. That being said, the Cliff Palace is undergoing restoration work and will only be available for tours from May 28 thru Sept 12 in 2016.

Our favorite was the Balcony House due to the physical aspect of the tour that demonstrated some of the daily challenges that faced the inhabitants.

Narrow doorways, skinny halls (tunnels), tight turns and several 35 ft wooden ladders at about 60 degree pitch are negotiated on this one hour interactive tour.

Our tour group had folks of every body type, athletic ability with ages ranging from 4 to 75. All handled the mission well.

Warning signs do exist advising those with physical limitations to carefully weigh their options.

The Balcony House provides you with the feel of what it was like living halfway up on the side of a cliff where wandering too far from your front door had a serious downside.

The Spruce Tree House is generally a self guided site that is on ground level and is easy to access and explore as it is quite downhill from the parking area to the dwelling. Conversely, leaving the site after your visit does require a moderate climb on a paved serpentine path. There are benches provided to rest your legs and your heart as the elevation here is above 7000 feet. The Spruce Tree House is the 3rd largest dwelling and is home to about 130 rooms and kivas.

We had the site virtually to ourselves the day we went so we were able to take our time and get a hands on appreciation of the remains and the ruins.

A cafe, museum and restrooms are nearby. Due to a recent rock slide, The Spruce Tree House is temporarily closed pending damage assessment. An additional bonus of this area is the 2.5 mile Petroglyph Hike loop that begins and ends there. The trail is challenging in a few spots, but it introduced us to the magical world of petroglyphs, and gave us the opportunity to ascend to the top of the mesa for the expansive beauty and enriching solitude we found there.

Sister Points, Grandpa Points, and Grandma Points!

We will always remember the mesa echoing the sounds of silence that day. The acoustic calm reverberated off the canyon walls and embedded into our souls. We were one, or three, with Nature. Thoughts to ourselves, seeing the same thing but differently, and with a smile in our hearts and on our faces.

Mesa Verde can be enjoyed, and is so worth the visit even if time is not on your side and your experience is almost exclusively from your car. The main park road will lead you to the Mesa Top Loop and the Cliff Palace Loop that will allow good visibility of the main cliff dwellings and give you easy access to the pit houses and the Sun Temple.

The road is essentially on the top of the mesa and your view is unencumbered and your scope of vision is great and grand.

Lodging in Mesa Verde National Park

Lodging in the Park is limited to the Far View Lodge and Morefield Campground. We stayed in the Lodge, and our standard room was very satisfactory. It was neither spectacular or disappointing with rates being in the $150 to $200 range per night. A somewhat pricey restaurant, The Metate Room, is at the lodge and offers unique offerings in a spectacular setting. More moderate selections are available at the Far View and Spruce Tree Cafes located on the main park road. There is no TV in the Lodge, but there is Wi-Fi connectivity. Cell phone reception is spotty and limited throughout the Park. There is, therefore, ample time and opportunity to flex your distance vision skills during the day focusing on the many sites and vistas and at night as you gaze at the canopy of stars sparkling in the black velvet sky.

We marvel at the engineering and craftsmanship demonstrated at Mesa Verde 750 years ago. In it's full glory and intact state, it must have been spectacular. We are so fortunate that it was recognized early on that these dwellings were architectural and historical treasures and deserved special respect and protection. They now stand as monuments to their creators, a special people whose roots to these lands are deep and sacred.

The Ancients, that lived and prospered here for centuries, left somewhat suddenly and migrated further south around 1300 A.D. Severe and extended drought and a reduction in available natural resources are often surmised as reasons for their departure.

When they left, they never returned. When we left, we vowed we would return. It is too special not to.

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American Express® Gold Card

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Rewards rate

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Annual fee

$325

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended credit

Excellent to Good

Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.