Activity Detail: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Half-Day Ranger-Guided Tours
Authorized by the National Park Service

Follow these historical experts and gain insights into the heritage of Mesa Verde National Park as you explore its spectacular sites. Learn how the Ancestral Puebloan people thrived here for seven centuries, evolving from hunter-gatherers into a culture known for agriculture, intricate artistry, architecture and their sudden departure. Our comfortable coaches transport you to Chapin Mesa, and short walks on simple trails take you to both the earliest Mesa Top sites and to magnificent Cliff Palace the largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park.

Your tour guide, a National Park Service ranger, will explain architectural details, as well as the significance of local flora and fauna, artifacts, and natural resources. Tours are scheduled daily mid-April to mid-October. We can even pack a ready-to-go lunch for you. A guided tour is the ultimate Mesa Verde interpretive experience-you don't want to miss it. Bring a camera, and take home more than just memories.
Book your reservation now

Walking Tours
(guided and self-guided)

One-hour, NPS ranger-guided walking tours are available through Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House. Get details and tickets for these tours at the Visitors Center. Self-guided tours are also available.

Hiking
Hiking in Mesa Verde National Park is plentiful, with numerous trails offering a perfect hike for the novice, and a day’s hike for the experienced. Hiking here is restricted, and allowed only on designated trails. Visitors may not enter cliff dwellings unless accompanied by a uniformed park ranger. The National Park Service can help you
plan your Mesa Verde hike.

Ranger Programs
Nightly NPS ranger programs at Far View Lodge 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and Morefield Campground Amphitheater 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Seasonal Schedule.)

Dining
A variety of local and favorite cuisines

Tastey and Unique Dishes and Delicious Deserts

From a Build-Your-Own-Picnic lunch from Far View Café to the award-winning Metate Room Restaurant, Mesa Verde offers something for every member of every family.

Plan your days to explore the park, and your evenings around our delicious Southwestern cuisine, celebrating cultures past and present. Make sure to learn more about all the dining options available when planning your trip.