From Denver via US 285 to US 50 to US 550 to SH 62 to SH 145(Colo. Ave)/Aspen St in Telluride.
The highway winds its way along the San Miguel River to SH62 just west of Placerville.
From SH 145 (Colorado Ave) and Aspen St in Telluride, drive east 3.8 miles to the parking area at the base of the Falls.
Primarily pavement, the last mile is a portion of the Black Bear Pass Rd, a difficult and dangerous 4wd road, and includes a couple of steep and sharp switchbacks. Most passenger vehicles can reach the Falls, high clearance would be desirable.
From SH145 (Colo. Ave) and Aspen St in Telluride, drive west about 3 miles and turn north towards the airport.
From Aspen St in Telluride, drive west 3.4 miles to the junction of SH145 S.
The All American Road is the highest designation, given by the US DOT and was awarded to the San Juan Skyway because of the rich experience in culture, archaeology, history, scenery, and recreation the road offers to visitors. This skyway was one of the first six roads in the United States to receive this designation.
From SH 145/SH 145 S, drive 5.3 mi south to the Alta Lakes Rd and turn east.
This slightly rough, but easy 4wd road leads to the 1870s mining town of Alta (on the National Register of Historic Places) in 3.8 miles. Another 0.4 miles takes you to a spur road into the Gold King Basin and the Alta Lakes are just 0.3 miles beyond the spur.
The park is located in the southwest corner of the state and, from Denver, is reached via US-285 and US-160.
Mesa Verde offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. Today, the park protects over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.