Parking
Use the Geologic Overlook pull-over on the right side of the main park road. There is no designated parking lot; a vault toilet is at the trailhead.
Overview
About Geologic Overlook Trail
Why go
- Two geology viewpoints in a very short roadside walk.
- Paved approach with exhibits at the lower stop.
Heads up
- The upper viewpoint is reached by a steep incline.
Geologic Overlook Trail is a 0.21-mile out-and-back from a roadside pull-over to two geology viewpoints and back. It’s a quick stop if you’re curious about Mesa Verde’s rock layers, rather than a hike to build a day around. Allow about 10 to 15 minutes for the walk, a look at the exhibits and the return.
Parkwolf’s verdictWorth the quick detourMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Mesa Verde map
Full mapElevation8,136–8,157 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Mesa Verde alerts
- ClosureRoad improvements close Far View and Cedar Tree Tower access roadsAccess roads to Far View Sites and Cedar Tree Tower are temporarily closed to all traffic for road improvements.Official details
- CautionKnife Edge Trail rockfall area: do not enterDo not enter the rockfall area along the last quarter of Knife Edge Trail because a serious rockfall occurred there. - The trailhead is at Morefield Campground. - Knife Edge Trail is 2 miles (3.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Mesa Verde Tour Guide
Your drive to Geologic Overlook Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Mesa Verde National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Geologic Overlook0:00 / 0:27
“You're nearing Geologic Overlook, a short stop for making sense of the layered cliffs. Allow ten to fifteen minutes for the two viewpoints and exhibits.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Mesa Verde Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Paint from Plants
- The Falcon’s Hunting Dive
- Fresh Air Below Ground
- Park Point
- 43 audio storiesacross Mesa Verde’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Mule Deer, Golden Eagle, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 22 trails, 48 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Geologic Overlook Trail
Two viewpoints, one steep finishThe lower area has a paved, curbless walkway and exhibits.
The lower area has a paved, curbless walkway and exhibits. Keep climbing for a second viewpoint on a steep paved incline. The first stop is level access; don’t assume the whole walk is. The upper viewpoint is a short but real uphill push.
Read the rock layersThe viewpoints show the Menefee Formation above Point Lookout Sandstone.
The viewpoints show the Menefee Formation above Point Lookout Sandstone. These rocks preserve a changing coastal landscape: swamps and slow streams left layers of sandstone, shale and coal more than 80 million years ago. It’s a compact geology lesson, with the landscape right in front of you.
Find the pull-overUse the Geologic Overlook pull-over on the right side of the main park road.
Use the Geologic Overlook pull-over on the right side of the main park road. There’s no designated parking lot, and a vault toilet is at the trailhead. Pets aren’t allowed on this trail.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Mesa Verde
36 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
159 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
14 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around noonSighting map
53 sightingsWild HorseMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
24 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
37 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Mesa Verde. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
