The need for preservation work will mean fewer ranger-led tours of Cliff Palace in the spring/Kurt Repanshek
Fewer ranger-guided tours of Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park will be offered next spring due to the need for preservation work on the massive dwelling.
'We hope to complete the first phase of the on-site preservation work before the Memorial Day weekend,' said Superintendent Cliff Spencer in a release.
Beginning May 22, summer schedules are expected to be very similar to past years' schedules. Additional work may be required after Labor Day, and could cause reductions or changes to the fall tour schedules, the park added.
Cliff Palace will open for the spring season on April 10, 2015. Four to five ranger-guided tours will be scheduled each day in spring, with a limit of 30 people per tour. Because the preservation work will close the trail on the south end of the site, participants will enter and exit Cliff Palace on the same trail, located on the north end of the site, rather than following a loop.
'There are going to be unknowns with a project like this,' cautioned Superintendent Spencer. 'We have to ask everyone to stay flexible as we work to protect this incredible place.'
For the most up-to-date information, check the park's website or call 970-529-4465.
In May, 2011, archeologists discovered extensive cracks, wall deformation, and structural movement in the southern half of Cliff Palace. Park staff and experts from around the country have been working to document the character and extent of deterioration, and to develop a plan to carry out the required emergency stabilization. Special thanks to the Mesa Verde Foundation and the National Park Foundation for providing partial funding for the work.
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