The Step House Trail is a 1.0 mile mostly paved loop near the tram parking area on Wetherill Mesa on the western side of Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado. Step House is one of the five large alcove ruins sites that can be viewed closely.
The Step House Trail is self guided with a ranger on duty at the site. The Wetherill Mesa area is only open during the summer months.
The tram provides transportation to the other trails and sites on Wetherill Mesa, but most can be easily reached by hikers on smooth easy trails. Step House can usually be visited in combination with the ranger tour of Long House. Step House sits in a short side canyon of Long Canyon.
On the canyon rim areas of the trail it is possible to scan with binoculars down Long Canyon and spot Spring House about 0.5 miles away. In 2010 and 2011 there were special hikes from the Spruce Canyon Chapin Mesa area to Spring House. The Spring House hike helps the visitor to understand how these sites are connected geographically.
There are 6 stops on the self guiding tour and a printed trail guide. The Step House site is unique at Mesa Verde because ruins from different periods are side by side under the overhang of the sandstone alcove. On the left as you arrive at the site are four Pithouses from the era of 450 to 750 AD. The pithouse was a step toward permanent habitation from the nomadic hunting and gathering. The pithouse later developed into the Kiva that was central to ceremonial activity and winter survival and is included in most of the pueblo villages.
This reconstruction is helpful for understanding how these structures were built. Mostly we see these kivas or Pithouses without roofs or with the roof complete. There are more pithouses to see on the nearby Badger House Trail.
Looking back from the pithouses are the primitive steps that the site is named for.
Climbing the short ladder allows a close view into the pueblo structure that dates from the 1200s.
Just above the ladder there are some faded petroglyphs. Like many of the alcove sites, there are natural boulders that are built right into the structures.
In the same area is a "No. 21" the number given to the site by Swedish investigator Gustaf Nordenskiold in 1891, shortly after the discovery of the cliff dweller sites by the local ranchers the Wetherill family. Looking closely at the No. 21, it looks like there is a faint WETH also scratched into the rock.
At stop 5 some of the original lintels are still visible above a small doorway. Looking through the opening, there are scratch marks on the wall behind that could be places where stone tools were sharpened.
Overhead at stop 5 there are several black Xs on the stone surface that are called Navajo Stars. I had to look for a long time before I could spot them. They have been found at other sites, mostly in Navajo territory, but there is no explanation for them.
On the exit trail there is another view of the primitive steps. For many of the cliff dweller sites in Mesa Verde it is often difficult to see how they got in and out of the precarious locations.
There are good views of the steps from the rim directly above the alcove and the lower part is visible near the pit house displays. The Step House Trail is also a botany trail with small signs identifying some of the most common plants. The effects of the 2000 Pony forest fire can also be seen.
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