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Winter in Mesa Verde National Park

Things definitely slow down in Mesa Verde National Park during the winter months, but they don't stop entirely. 

Spruce Tree House in winter, Mesa Verde National Park / NPS file

The park works to groom several trails for snowshoeing and skiing, and parts of the Wetherill Road also are available for ungroomed skiing when there's enough snow. The total distance covered by Cliff Palace Loop, Wetherill Road Trail, Prater Canyon and Morefield Campground Trails is about 28 miles (45 km), and 20.4 of those miles (32.8 km) aren't groomed. The ungroomed skiing is located on Wetherill Road, which is closed to vehicular traffic, and currently closed for the 2024 season due to ongoing construction projects.

To find out if winter trails are open, call the chief ranger's office (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at 970-529-4622, or the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum (7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at 970-529-4631

The six-mile (9.65-km) long Mesa Top Loop Road usually remains open throughout the winter from 8 a.m. to sunset. Heavy snowfall or icy road conditions might close the road temporarily. The main park road remains open throughout the winter, subject to road closures when hazardous conditions exist.

You can check here for more detailed information about winter activities at Mesa Verde.

Mesa Verde National Park

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