Conditions and Alerts

Alerts

Unless an alert is posted identifing a delayed opening or closure due to snow and ice, the main park road is always open.

 

Winter Weather and Driving

• When weather conditions warrant, the Passenger Vehicle Traction and Chain Laws are active. Know the requirements before driving in Colorado and especially in the park. Find the laws at Passenger Vehicle Traction & Chain Laws — Colorado Department of Transportation. 
• Just because a road is plowed does not mean that all vehicles and drivers are equipped for it. Make your visit a safe one—research conditions, assess your vehicle, and plan ahead.
• Drive with caution and give the park's roads crew plenty of time and space to do their jobs.

 

Temporary Closure of Cliff Palace Loop Road

Due to construction on the Cliff Palace viewing platform, the Cliff Palace Loop Road (including access to Soda Canyon Overlook Trail) is closed to vehicle and all pedestrian traffic. Great views of Cliff Palace are seen from Sun Temple on the Mesa Top Loop.

Winter Closures

The following areas are closed throughout winter. Pedestrian traffic is not permitted—including all forms of winter sport, hiking, and bicyling. Areas will reopen in the spring as weather, safety, and ground conditions permit.

• Wetherill Mesa
• Far View Sites and Trail (NEW in 2025 sites are not open to winter sport)
• Park Point
• Cedar Tree Tower

Lodging, Camping, Eating

• Far View Lodge, the only lodging within Mesa Verde National Park, is closed for the winter season. Please look for accomodations in the gateway communities of Mancos, CO, and Cortez, CO.
• Morefield Campground is closed for camping during winter. It will reopen in April 2025. There is no overnight camping anywhere in the park. Winter camping is very limted in the area.
• During winter, the only food service in the park is at Spruce Tree Terrace. It is open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. daily. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. Convenient cafeteria service near Mesa Verde park headquarters and the Museum.

 

Spruce Tree House

Spruce Tree House has been closed to visitors since 2015, due to a danger of rock fall. Visitors can view Spruce Tree House from overlooks behind the Mesa Verde Museum in the Park Headquarters area. The National Park Service is working on a project to stabilize the arch so that the site may be reopened. More information about the closure is found on the Spruce Tree House Closure page.