An annular or "ring of fire" eclipse will be visible at Mesa Verde National Park on October 14, 2023. With safety precautions and a good telescope, solar flares are visible.
NASA Image/Stefan Seip.
See the Ring of Fire!
On October 14, 2023, Mesa Verde National Park will experience a direct annular eclipse covering the park. Starting around 10:31 am, areas of the park will experience over three minutes of "annularity", the period where the sunlight is blocked to its largest extent (nearly 90% of the sun)! Read below for more details and event planning, including partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Safety:
Unlike a total eclipse, an annular eclipse is NEVER safe to view without special filters to protect your eyes (and your camera!) from the sun. Learn more about how to safely view a solar eclipse. Eclipse glasses will be available for free at the Visitor and Research Center, Park Entrance Station, and event locations below during park events on the day of the eclipse for as long as supplies last.
Parking off designated roads and lots is not permitted. Do not stop on roadways.
Stay on designated roads and trails.
No overnight parking is permitted in the park. The Morefield Campground is the only campsite within the park. The Far View Lodge is the only lodging facility within the park.
Food and drink are available within the park at these locations.
The partial eclipse begins at approximately 9:11 am and ends at 12:04 pm at all locations. Maximum annularity occurs at approximately 10:33 am for locations experiencing annularity (greatest coverage of the sun by the moon).
Tours of cliff dwellings will take place in the afternoon on October 14. No cliff dwelling tours will be offered on the morning of October 14. Sign up for tours at Recreation.gov up to 14 days in advance!
Viewing Events:
Mesa Verde will host viewing events at the Chapin Mesa Museum, the Far View Parking Lot, and the Morefield Campground Ampitheater. Events will have limited parking. Eclipse glasses will be available at each location (while supplies last).
Located approximatley 50 minutes south of Highway 160 and the park entrance.
Parking is limited to approximately 210 vehicles.
This location will have NASA Scientists and NPS Rangers providing information and education about the eclipse.
Amenities at this location include flush toilets, nearby picnic tables (0.25 mile/0.4 kilometer) walk, and drinking water. Snacks and meals are available to purchase at the nearby Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe when open.
Accessibility information: This location is mostly ADA accessible. Some rooms of the museum and some slopes of the trail to the overlook of Spruce Tree House are inaccessible or too steep for full accesibility.
Far View Parking Lot:
Located approximately 40 minutes south of Highway 160 and the park entrance.
Parking is limited to approximately 115 vehicles, with additional nearby parking at the Far View Terrace Cafe.
This location will have NASA Scientists and NPS Rangers providing information and education about the eclipse.
Amenities at this location include flush toilets and drinking water within a 1/8th mile walk, port-o-johns nearby, and a limited number of picnic tables. Snacks and meals are available to purchase at the nearby Far View Terrace Cafe.
Accessibility information: This location is fully ADA accessible. Some trails leading to the Far View Parking Lot from the Far View Terrace are gravel and are more difficult to traverse with a wheelchair.
Morefield Campground Ampitheater:
Located approximately 15 minutes south of Highway 160 and the park entrance.
Parking is limited to approximately 220 vehicles.
This location will have NASA Scientists and NPS Rangers providing information and education about the eclipse.
Amenities at this location include flush toilets and drinking water, unless there is an early hard freeze. There are also many benches at the ampitheater. Snacks are available to purchase at the nearby Morefield Campground Store.
Accessibility information: This location is fully ADA accessible.
Other parking areas:
Cliff Palace Parking Lot:
Located approximately 50 minutes south of Highway 160 and the park entrance.
Parking is limited to approximately 100 vehicles.
This location will have NPS staff helping to faciliate parking. No events or formal talks are planned at this location.
Amenities at this location include vault toilets, picnic tables, and drinking water. No food is available at Cliff Palace.
Accessibility information: The overlook of Cliff Palace is not ADA accessible, as it requires navigating 16 stairs to access the overlook. Other areas ot the parking lot are fully accessible.
Balcony House Parking Lot:
Located approximately 1 hour south of Highway 160 and the park entrance.
Parking is limited to approximately 115 vehicles.
This location will have NPS staff helping to faciliate parking. No events or formal talks are planned at this location.
Amenities at this location include vault toilets and benches. No food or water is available at Balcony House.
Accessibility information: This location is fully ADA accessible.
Visitor and Research Center:
Located directly off Highway 160 near the park entrance.
Parking is limited to approximately 170 vehicles.
This location will have NPS staff. No events or formal talks are planned at this location.
Amenities at this location include flush toilets, nearby picnic tables, and drinking water. No snacks or food are available at this location.
Accessibility information: This location is fully ADA accessible.
Evening Programming - October 13 and 14:
On Friday and Saturday, NPS rangers and NASA staff will present at the Morefield Ampitheater, starting at 7:00pm. These presentations will be followed by a Star Party, complete with telescopes and staff to chat about the importance of the night skies!
Events after the Eclipse:
Cliff Dwelling tours will resume around 1:00 on October 14. Afternoon tours will run until approximately 3:30.
Science! Join a NASA scientist for more discussion at the Museum, Visitor and Research Center, or Balcony House Parking Lot from 1:00 until 3:30. Each scientist has their own focus, so visit a couple spots to hear different information!
Want to go for a hike? Come see a ranger! NPS Rangers will be stationed on the Petroglyph Point and Spruce Canyon Trails to talk to visitors and provide more information about the park and the hikes.
Check out the Mesa Top Loop and be sure to download the audio tour ahead of time (or get the NPS app and make sure to download the info for Mesa Verde when in service)!
