A Guide to Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Naked eyes marvel at the archeological wonders of the Mesa Verde National Park located in Southwest Colorado. The area exhibits and preserves the history of the ancestral Puebloans who inhabited Mesa Verde for more than 700 years (550 A.D. to 1300 A.D.) No wonder President Theodore Roosevelt established Mesa Verde National Park, the first national park of its kind in June 1906, according to its website. Today, it boasts more than 4,700 archeological samplings scattered all over the park.

Mesa Verde National Park: Meaning & Significance

Mesa Verde, Spanish for "green table" records the life of the Native Americans in all its beauty and splendor. To recognize its significance to the modern-day world, the Mesa Verde National Park was named a World Heritage Site in 1978 by the United Nations.

Mesa Verde National Park: Getting There

Found in southwest Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park is accessible by road and is close to several major airports. Nearby cities include Durango and Cortez.

Mesa Verde National Park: Points of Interest

While civilization was still evolving, the prehistoric Ancestral Puebloans constructed and lived in pueblos (apartment-like structures) under the overhanging cliffs. Today, Mesa Verde features 600 cliff dwellings. Spectacular and amazing, these cliff dwellings range from a single room to a village consisting of 150 rooms. Among several such dwellings, the notable ones are the Balcony House, Cliff Palace, Long House, Spruce Tree House and the Step House. These dwellings are open and accessible to the public; guests can explore them on their own or look for ranger-led guided tours.

Among other structural wonders found and preserved on the mesa tops, tourists can explore the Sun Temple, Cedar Tree House and the Badger House.

Mesa Verde National Park: Visiting

While self-guided tours are available, tourists can visit the cliff dwellings by taking a ranger-guided tour. Check out the timings and the availability here. Buy tickets in person at the Far View Visitor Center. According to travel experts at Fodor's, the best times to visit the park are late May, early June, and most of September, when the weather is fine but the summer crowds have thinned. Mid-June through August are Mesa Verde's most crowded months.

Mesa Verde National Park: Lodging

The most frequented and convenient lodging option is the Far View Lodge, located 15 miles inside the Mesa Verde Park. The lodge offers two comfortable lodging options - the Standard and the Kiva room. All rooms have access to private balconies, single or double beds, private bath, refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron, ironing board and telephone. However, the standard rooms have no air conditioning or television. In addition, guests have the option to spend their nights at the Morefield Campground. Guests can bring their own equipment or, the campground supplies them with one.

Mesa Verde National Park: Dining

In the park, elegant and contemporary dining options are limited to the Metate Room Restaurant, The Far View Terrace Café and the Spruce Tree Terrace Café. You can enjoy an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Knife's Edge Café or munch on some snacks at the Wetherhill Messa Snack Bar. However, guests have the option to experience southwestern food in the neighboring cities.

For more information, visit the official website.

Sources:
Fodor's
Tripadvisor
VisitMesaverde.com