Conditions and Alerts

Alerts

Air Quality

Wildfires outside of Mesa Verde can affect the park’s air quality. Conditions can change rapidly. With little notice, ranger guided tours may be cancelled if conditions become unhealthy. For the current air quality index, visit AirNow. Also, smoke forecasts for area towns are issued by the US Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program.

 

Upcoming Construction

• August 15 to September 1: Sealant will be applied to the pavement at Cliff Palace Overlook. Visitor impacts are expected to be minimal. Portions of the sidewalk and steps will be closed temporarily while the sealant dries.
• Work on the tunnel begins in October. Expect delays up to 30 minutes. Give yourself extra time to arrive at your tour or destination.
• The replacement of safety barriers along the five overlooks on Mesa Top Loop will be replaced. As the work is in progress those overlooks will be closed to the public beginning in fall.

 

Summer Updates

All areas of the park are open. Please check the webpage, Operating Hours & Seasons, for hours and more details. Visiting in Summer has suggestions for planning your summer activities.

Wetherill Mesa

Open May 23 to September 29, 2025. Learn more

• Entry gate opens at 8:30 am and the last entry of the day is 2:00 pm
• All visitors must exit by 4:00 pm when the gate closes for the night
• Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Step House is a self-guided opportunity to visit a cliff dwelling. Step House is open when a ranger is present and does not require a reservation to enter. See the Cliff Dwelling webpage for info regarding scheduling a Long House tour.

Cliff Dwelling Tours

Go to the Cliff Dwelling Tour webpage for videos, current details, and links to reservations. Along Chapin Mesa, tours are available at Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Square Tower House, and Long House on Wetherill Mesa.

 

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.