The ruins of Mesa Verde were established as a national park on June 29, 1906. As with all historical areas administered by the National Park Service, the park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a World Heritage Site. The name of the park originates from the Spanish for green table because of its forests of juniper and pinion trees.

In the summer of 2002, the park suffered from a large number of forest fires, and as a result, several parts of it were closed. Since then, all areas of the park have re-opened, however some areas show significant damage from the fire. Today, the park offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years. The park protects over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. On June 29, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt established Mesa Verde National Park to "preserve the works of man," the first national park of its kind.

Mesa Verde's park entrance is about 9 miles east of Cortez. The visitor center is 15 miles from the entrance, and Chapin Mesa is another 6 miles beyond the visitor center. The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum provides information about the Ancient Puebloan civilization and displays findings and artwork. Three of the cliff dwellings on Chapin Mesa are open to the public. Spruce Tree House is open all year, weather permitting. Balcony House and Cliff Palace are open except in the winter; visitors may tour them only on ranger-guided tours. The cliff dwellings on Wetherill Mesa, including Long House and Step House, can be reached via a 12 mile (19.2 kilometer) long mountain road leading southwest from the park visitor center. Many other dwellings are visible from the road but not open to tourists. There are also hiking trails, a campground, and facilities for food, fuel, and lodging; these are unavailable in the winter.