You are here

Home » Mesa Verde National Park Extending Hours For Visitors

Mesa Verde National Park Extending Hours For Visitors

Share

Published Date

July 1, 2021
Mesa Verde National Park is extending hours for visitors, and reopening access to Long House (above)/NPS file

Mesa Verde National Park is extending hours for visitors, and increasing access to Long House (above)/NPS file

Hotter summer temperatures and increased visitation have prompted Mesa Verde National Park officials to open access to the Wetherill Mesa earlier in the day as well as to the Petroglyph Point and Spruce Canyon trails.

The number of tour tickets available at Long House will also increase. 

Beginning July 4, Wetherill Mesa Road will open at 7 a.m. MDT. The gate at the Petroglyph Point and Spruce Canyon Trailhead will also open at 7 a.m. MDT.

“Providing opportunities to explore the park during the cooler morning hours will allow more visitors to access the trails and sites and make for a safer and more enjoyable visit,” Superintendent Cliff Spencer said. 

After 1.5 years, the park is excited to safely offer cliff dwelling tours to various sites again in 2021. Ranger-assisted tours of Long House this year have been structured to promote safety while providing an enhanced experience for visitors.

These innovative tours of the park's second largest cliff dwelling offer visitors an opportunity to explore the site at their own socially distanced pace while still receiving in-depth information about Ancestral Pueblo and modern Pueblo heritage. The park has received positive feedback about the safety of these tours and how informative they are. The park will increase the number of tickets available for this tour beginning July 4.  

Mesa Verde National Park offers many self-guided opportunities to view archeological sites, learn about indigenous history, and explore the outstanding natural resources of southwest Colorado.  The Mesa Top Loop remains open and stops along the route provide excellent views of mesa top and cliff dwelling sites, including Cliff Palace and Square Tower House.

An exceptional audio tour and guide booklet are available. The audio tour can be downloaded from the park website at www.nps.gov/meve or as a podcast. The Mesa Top Loop guide is available at the first stop along the 6-mile loop.  The Far View Sites is an easy three-quarter-mile walk through pinyon-juniper forest that connects a community of mesa-top farming villages and an ancient reservoir. 

Wetherill Mesa offers additional opportunities for self-guided experiences within the park. Step House is a self-guided cliff dwelling that can be visited between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Rangers are available within the site to answer questions and a guide booklet is available. Please be prepared for a one-mile, round-trip hike with minimal shade. The 5-mile paved Long House Loop begins at the kiosk and leads to several paved and unpaved trails you can hike or bicycle. Though dogs are not allowed in Step House, they are allowed on the Long House Loop. 

Visitors can purchase tickets for cliff dwelling tours at www.recreation.gov up to 14 days in advance of the tour date starting at 8 a.m. MDT. 

Related Stories:

A Day In The Park: Mesa Verde National Park
National Park Service Settles On Plan To Stabilize Spruce Tree House At Mesa Verde

Stories about:

Story Categories:

Support National Parks Traveler

Your support for the National Parks Traveler comes at a time when news organizations are finding it hard, if not impossible, to stay in business. Traveler's work is vital. For nearly two decades we've provided essential coverage of national parks and protected areas. With the Trump administration’s determination to downsize the federal government, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s approach to public lands focused on energy exploration, it’s clear the Traveler will have much to cover in the months and years ahead. We know of no other news organization that provides such broad coverage of national parks and protected areas on a daily basis. Your support is greatly appreciated.

 

EIN: 26-2378789

Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places

A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.

Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:

  • Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
  • Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
  • Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
  • North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
  • Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
  • Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
  • Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

Your urgent support helps the National Parks Traveler increase awareness of the wonders and issues confronting national parks and protected areas.

Support Our Mission

INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

FREE for iPhones and Android phones.