Mesa Verde National Park guide · 1 min read
Winter at Mesa Verde: Snowshoes and Closures
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are both popular in winter. With most of the trees bare, wildlife is easier to spot, and you may find animal tracks pressed into the snow.
Groomed trails for both sports appear only after enough snow has fallen and park crews have prepared them, so check trail conditions before you set out.
Visitors without their own gear can borrow snowshoes free of charge at the visitor center, which has adult and child sizes. Snowshoers should keep to designated trails or untouched fresh snow. On a mixed-use trail shared with skiers, walk along the edge away from the classic ski tracks, and never step onto ski trails. Pets are not permitted on the trails, so leave them at home, and bring your own food, water and gear.
Winter closures shape where you can go, and they can change as snow and ice build up. Wetherill Mesa is not open in winter, and cliff dwelling access is not offered either. Pedestrians cannot enter closed areas, including for winter sports. Far View Lodge, the park's only lodging, does not operate in winter, so plan to stay in Mancos or Cortez, gateway communities in Colorado just outside the park. Check alerts for current status.
Winter visitors can still drive the Mesa Top Loop Road, which passes ancestral Pueblo sites and has viewpoints looking toward cliff dwellings. Spruce Tree House cannot be entered, but overlooks near the Mesa Verde Museum in the park headquarters area give a good view of it. For a closer look, a paved path drops toward the alcove; it takes only a few minutes, yet the grade is steep and the surface is frequently icy. Spruce Tree Terrace is the only food service in the park during winter, serving cafeteria meals near headquarters and the museum.
