Best time to visit Mesa Verde National Park
The short answer
Best months to visit Mesa Verde National Park: May–September. Daily highs run about 65–80°F, with about 80% of June's visitors.
Hardest months: December–March, mostly because of cold weather.
How we picked these months: each month is scored on daily highs (65–82°F is ideal), rain, snow and seasonal closures, then reduced by up to 30% for crowds, measured against the park's busiest month. We list the months within 15% of the top score (at most 5).
Weather and crowds by month
Mesa Verde National Park month by month
Park-wide averages across 5 locations. Crowds compare each month with the park's busiest month: Quiet is under 35% of it, Moderate under 60%, Busy under 85%, Peak above that.
| Month | Rating | High / low | Rain | Snow | Crowds | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 32° / 12°F | 0.1 in | 12.3 in | Quiet | – |
| February | Poor | 35° / 15°F | 0.1 in | 10.5 in | Quiet | – |
| March | Poor | 44° / 22°F | 0.6 in | 9.7 in | Quiet | – |
| April | Fair | 55° / 30°F | 0.6 in | 3.2 in | Quiet | – |
| May | Best | 65° / 39°F | 1.3 in | 1.4 in | Moderate | – |
| June | Best | 78° / 51°F | 0.8 in | – | Peak | – |
| July | Best | 82° / 57°F | 1.6 in | – | Peak | – |
| August | Best | 79° / 54°F | 1.3 in | – | Busy | – |
| September | Best | 72° / 48°F | 1.6 in | – | Busy | – |
| October | Good | 59° / 35°F | 1.0 in | 0.9 in | Moderate | – |
| November | Poor | 46° / 24°F | 0.5 in | 5.2 in | Quiet | – |
| December | Poor | 34° / 14°F | 0.3 in | 12.0 in | Quiet | – |
Weather by location
Parks with a big range of elevation can differ a lot from one area to another. Open a location to see its own numbers.
Park-wide (center of the park)
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F | 14°F | 0.1 in | 11.9 in |
| February | 37°F | 16°F | 0.1 in | 10.0 in |
| March | 46°F | 24°F | 0.6 in | 8.6 in |
| April | 57°F | 32°F | 0.7 in | 2.4 in |
| May | 66°F | 41°F | 1.4 in | 1.2 in |
| June | 80°F | 53°F | 0.8 in | – |
| July | 84°F | 59°F | 1.6 in | – |
| August | 80°F | 57°F | 1.4 in | – |
| September | 73°F | 50°F | 1.6 in | – |
| October | 60°F | 37°F | 1.0 in | 0.7 in |
| November | 47°F | 26°F | 0.6 in | 4.8 in |
| December | 35°F | 16°F | 0.3 in | 11.5 in |
Chapin Mesa
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F | 9°F | 0.1 in | 11.7 in |
| February | 34°F | 11°F | 0.1 in | 10.2 in |
| March | 42°F | 18°F | 0.6 in | 9.8 in |
| April | 53°F | 26°F | 0.7 in | 3.6 in |
| May | 63°F | 35°F | 1.2 in | 1.4 in |
| June | 77°F | 47°F | 0.8 in | – |
| July | 81°F | 54°F | 1.6 in | – |
| August | 77°F | 51°F | 1.2 in | – |
| September | 71°F | 44°F | 1.5 in | – |
| October | 58°F | 31°F | 1.0 in | 0.8 in |
| November | 45°F | 20°F | 0.5 in | 5.2 in |
| December | 33°F | 10°F | 0.3 in | 11.7 in |
Wetherill Mesa
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F | 14°F | 0.1 in | 11.9 in |
| February | 37°F | 16°F | 0.1 in | 10.0 in |
| March | 46°F | 24°F | 0.6 in | 8.6 in |
| April | 57°F | 32°F | 0.7 in | 2.4 in |
| May | 67°F | 42°F | 1.4 in | 1.2 in |
| June | 80°F | 54°F | 0.8 in | – |
| July | 84°F | 60°F | 1.6 in | – |
| August | 80°F | 57°F | 1.4 in | – |
| September | 74°F | 50°F | 1.6 in | – |
| October | 60°F | 38°F | 1.0 in | 0.7 in |
| November | 48°F | 27°F | 0.6 in | 4.8 in |
| December | 35°F | 16°F | 0.3 in | 11.5 in |
Far View Area
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°F | 12°F | 0.1 in | 11.8 in |
| February | 35°F | 14°F | 0.1 in | 10.4 in |
| March | 44°F | 22°F | 0.6 in | 9.5 in |
| April | 56°F | 30°F | 0.6 in | 3.4 in |
| May | 65°F | 39°F | 1.3 in | 1.4 in |
| June | 79°F | 51°F | 0.8 in | – |
| July | 82°F | 57°F | 1.7 in | – |
| August | 79°F | 55°F | 1.2 in | – |
| September | 72°F | 48°F | 1.6 in | – |
| October | 59°F | 36°F | 0.9 in | 0.9 in |
| November | 46°F | 25°F | 0.5 in | 5.2 in |
| December | 34°F | 14°F | 0.3 in | 11.6 in |
Morefield
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°F | 13°F | 0.1 in | 14.0 in |
| February | 35°F | 15°F | 0.1 in | 11.8 in |
| March | 42°F | 21°F | 0.5 in | 11.9 in |
| April | 53°F | 29°F | 0.6 in | 4.2 in |
| May | 64°F | 37°F | 1.2 in | 1.9 in |
| June | 77°F | 49°F | 0.8 in | – |
| July | 81°F | 56°F | 1.4 in | – |
| August | 78°F | 53°F | 1.2 in | – |
| September | 72°F | 47°F | 1.6 in | – |
| October | 59°F | 34°F | 1.0 in | 1.3 in |
| November | 46°F | 23°F | 0.5 in | 6.2 in |
| December | 34°F | 14°F | 0.2 in | 13.8 in |
Mesa Verde National Park by season
Spring (March–May)
Spring (March–May) is a mixed time to visit Mesa Verde National Park. Daily highs average 44–65°F and lows 22–39°F. Expect about 0.8 in of rain a month and 4.8 in of snow, with up to 6 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 16–59% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
Summer (June–August)
Summer (June–August) is a good time to visit Mesa Verde National Park. Daily highs average 78–82°F and lows 51–57°F. Expect about 1.2 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 74–100% of the busiest month, which is peak by this park's standards.
Fall (September–November)
Fall (September–November) is a mixed time to visit Mesa Verde National Park. Daily highs average 46–72°F and lows 24–48°F. Expect about 1.0 in of rain a month and 2.0 in of snow, with up to 1 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 15–66% of the busiest month, which is moderate by this park's standards.
Winter (December–February)
Winter (December–February) is a difficult time to visit Mesa Verde National Park. Daily highs average 32–35°F and lows 12–15°F. Expect about 0.2 in of rain a month and 11.6 in of snow, with up to 10 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 6–9% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
For what to do in each season, see our guides to trip planning, fees and hours, trails, camping and things to do, where the planning page also has our written advice on when to go. In-depth topic guides cover individual places and hikes.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
SPRING: This season offers a range of weather including clear skies, wind, rain, cloudy days and temperatures from 40–70°F (4–21° C). Snow may fall into May. SUMMER: Most days are sunny and temperatures can reach above 90°F (32°C) . Thunderstorms are common in July and August. FALL: Temperatures range from 50–75°F (10–24°C). Snow may fall as early as October. WINTER: Temps range from the teens to low 30s F (below -1°C) . Icy roads are common. Snow tires, all-wheel drive, or chains may be required.
Weather: modeled monthly averages for 2014-2023 (Open-Meteo Archive API), averaged over 5 locations. Modeled grid cells can read cooler than weather stations in deep canyons and deserts, and warmer or colder at high elevation. Visits: monthly recreation visits for 2021-2024, National Park Service.
