Winter Activities: Guided Hikes
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Southwest Colorado Winter Ecology Series, 2012-2013 Mesa Verde National Park, San Juan Mountains Association, and the San Juan/Four Corners Native Plant Society have teamed up to offer a series of winter hikes during the 2012-2013 winter season. Come enjoy the outdoors during this special time of year while exploring the local winter ecology. See below for hike descriptions, dates, and times. If you have questions or want to sign up for a hike, use the information below to contact the appropriate agency. Snowshoes and poles will be available during each hike for those who need them.
NOVEMBER 2012 Winter Plant Identification Hike at Mesa Verde National Park Winter months strip many plants of their foliage and make winter identification of these plants difficult. Join the San Juan/Four Corners Native Plant Society in Mesa Verde National Park to learn how to identify plants in the winter.
DECEMBER 2012 Winter Discovery Walk for Families at Boggy Draw, Dolores SJMA Winter Discovery Walks are based on what we can 'discover' in the natural world in the winter. Our December walk will include a special focus on our senses - how does winter look, smell, sound, feel, and even taste different from other seasons, and why?
Park biologists and interpretive rangers will lead a hike to explore the amazing ways that animals and plants survive in the cold winter environment of Mesa Verde National Park. The hike will tour the winter habitats of plants and animals in the Morefield Campground area.
JANUARY 2013 Winter Discovery Walk for Families at Echo Basin, Mancos SJMA's Winter Discovery Walk in January in the Echo Basin area will focus on animals in winter, as well as snow studies. Learn about tracks - is a snowshoe hare a bounder, waddler or galloper? And examine snowflakes - are there really no two snowflakes that are exactly alike?
Learn how to discover what animals are out and about during the winter months at Mesa Verde National Park. Hikers will learn how to look for and identify animal tracks and sign, and then explore the hillsides around Morefield Campground. Past animal tracks in snow tracks observed in the area include weasels, rabbits, mountain lions, mice, and coyotes.
FEBRUARY 2013 Winter Discovery Walk for Families at Hawkins Preserve, Cortez Winter Discovery Walks are based on what we can 'discover' in the natural world in the winter. Hawkins Preserve is found at a lower elevation than our other Discovery Walks, but with or without snow, a winter walk in Hawkins is a special visit. On this day we will talk about plant and animal adaptations for winter, and look for evidence of both.
Animal Tracks and Signs at Morefield Campground (New! Additional hike just added to schedule) Learn how to discover what animals are out and about during the winter months at Mesa Verde National Park. Hikers will learn how to look for and identify animal tracks and sign, and then explore the hillsides around Morefield Campground. Past animal tracks in snow tracks observed in the area include weasels, rabbits, mountain lions, mice, and coyotes.
MARCH 2013 Winter Plant Identification Hike at Mesa Verde National Park Winter months strip many plants of their foliage and make winter identification of these plants difficult. Join the San Juan/Four Corners Native Plant Society on the second winter plant identification hike in Mesa Verde National Park to learn how to identify plants in the winter.
For information on self-guided snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities in Mesa Verde National Park, visit this page. Snowshoes are available for loan at the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum and the new Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center (opening December, 2012). |
Did You Know?
Ninety percent of Mesa Verde’s cliff dwellings contain 10 rooms or less. One-third have only one or two rooms. This should help to put the more famous cliff dwellings of Cliff Palace (150 rooms), Long House (150 rooms), Spruce Tree House (130 rooms), and Balcony House (40 rooms) into perspective.