Hiking The Knife Edge Trail In Mesa Verde National Park
The Knife Edge Trail is a 2-mile round-trip interpretive hike located in Mesa Verde National Park.
This relatively flat trail, with an elevation gain of just 150 feet, is great for families.
Hikers follow a section of the park’s historic entrance road which leads them to breathtaking views of the Montezuma Valley.
The parking lot for the trailhead can be found near the Walpi Loop of Morefiled Campground located within the park (37.30434, -108.42541).
The trail gets its name from the historic Knife Edge Road, which served as the park’s main entrance in the early 1900s.
In 1957, safety concerns led to the road’s closure, and it was converted into the trail we enjoy today.
During our hike, the trail was blooming with wildflowers enhancing the beauty of the amazing views surrounding us.
Keep an eye out for wildlife we had plenty of little lizards scurrying across the path during our hike.
For more insight into the trail’s flora, geology, and history, a trail guide from the Mesa Verde Museum Association is available at the visitor center.
The guide includes details for each of the roughly 30 numbered signposts along the route.
The trail ends at a sign reading Stop! Trail end slide area.
From here, hikers can take in the views before heading back.
We enjoyed our stay at the campground for four nights and loved the trail so much that we hiked it twice.
Although we missed the chance for a sunset hike, we’ve heard it’s a spectacular time to explore this trail.
