What's on in Mesa Verde National Park, United States through the year

Busy — Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Wetherill Mesa road closed (20 Oct – 10 May (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Wetherill Mesa road closed (20 Oct – 10 May (usually))

Busy — Spring break in United States

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Wetherill Mesa road closed (20 Oct – 10 May (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Wetherill Mesa road closed (20 Oct – 10 May (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

• Opening

  Cliff dwelling tour season

  1 May – 20 Oct · usuallySummer season opensBook early

  Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House can only be entered on a ranger tour, and those run roughly May to October. Tickets release fourteen days ahead at 8am mountain time and the popular slots go in minutes. Source ↗

Still on: Wetherill Mesa road closed (20 Oct – 10 May (usually))

Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Wildfire season

  1 Jun – 15 Jul · usuallySmoke seasonClosures

  The dry weeks before the monsoon are when the mesa burns; fires have closed the whole park more than once. Fire restrictions and short-notice closures are normal in June. Source ↗

Still on: Cliff dwelling tour season (1 May – 20 Oct (usually))

Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Summer monsoon

  5 Jul – 10 Sep · usuallyRisk

  Afternoon thunderstorms build over the mesa most days from early July. Tours on ladders and open cliff faces get pulled when lightning is close, so the morning slots are the safe booking.

Still on: Cliff dwelling tour season (1 May – 20 Oct (usually)), Wildfire season (1 Jun – 15 Jul (usually))

Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Cliff dwelling tour season (1 May – 20 Oct (usually)), Summer monsoon (5 Jul – 10 Sep (usually))

Busy — Summer break in United States

• Nature

  Autumn on the mesa

  25 Sep – 20 Oct · usuallyAutumn colour

  Gambel oak turns rust across the mesa top and the aspen in the La Platas above go gold. The tours are still running, the crowds have gone, and the low sun does the alcoves a favour.

Still on: Cliff dwelling tour season (1 May – 20 Oct (usually)), Summer monsoon (5 Jul – 10 Sep (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

• Closure

  Wetherill Mesa road closed

  20 Oct – 10 May · usually

  The twelve-mile road out to Wetherill Mesa and Step House shuts for the winter and reopens late, and even in season it keeps shorter hours than the rest of the park. Chapin Mesa stays open all year. Source ↗

Still on: Cliff dwelling tour season (1 May – 20 Oct (usually)), Autumn on the mesa (25 Sep – 20 Oct (usually))

Busy — Thanksgiving break in United States

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Wetherill Mesa road closed (20 Oct – 10 May (usually))

Busy — Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Wetherill Mesa road closed (20 Oct – 10 May (usually))