Mesa Verde National Park Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
U.S. national park in Colorado
About Mesa Verde National Park
For decades, the people that once lived in these dwellings have generally been referred to as the "Anasazi." However, there has been an effort to stop this, as it is believed the term translates to "ancient enemy" or "enemy ancestor." Instead, the term "Ancestral Puebloans" is favored, and is the term you will see on most park displays and information signs. There is still a fair amount of confusion regarding the two terms. The name of the park is Spanish for "green table", referring to the vegetation found at the tops of the plateaus in this area. The Ancestral Puebloans chose Mesa Verde as their settlement 1,400 years ago, establishing small pithouses (large holes in the ground with a wooden roof overhead) on the mesa tops. Back then they were more nomadic, and hunted game with spears an
Top Attractions in Mesa Verde National Park
Explore the best things to see and do in Mesa Verde National Park:
- ★Badger House Trail
- ★Balcony House
- ★Cedar Tree Tower
- ★Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
- ★Cliff Palace
- ★Far View Sites
- ★Historic District
- ★Knife Edge Trail
Where to Eat in Mesa Verde National Park
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Far View Terrace Café
- 🍴Knife Edge Cafe
- 🍴Spruce Tree Terrace Café
- 🍴The Metate Room
Where to Stay in Mesa Verde National Park
- 🏨Far View Lodge
- 🏨Morefield Campground
Mesa Verde National Park Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: