Spring Break at Mesa Verde

While cliff dwelling tours do not begin until mid-April, many of the cliff dwellings can be viewed from a variety of overlooks, including Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House. Quieter than summer, but with more moderate temperatures than winter, spring is a wonderful time to experience the culture and nature protected at Mesa Verde National Park.

Note: Spring weather is variable at Mesa Verde with snow possible as late as April and all activities depend on road, trail, and weather conditions.This means many of the trails listed below may still be covered in ice, snow, slush, or mud, depending on when you visit. To make the most of your visit, it is a good idea to check the weather forecast for the Mesa Verde area before you arrive, and then stop at the Visitor and Research Center near the park entrance for the most up-to-date road and trail conditions.

IF YOU HAVE ONE HALF DAY OR LESS...

Plan to spend at least four hours at Mesa Verde. Two hours of this time will be spent driving in and out of the park.

Your first stop should be at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center (at the park entrance) for information, orientation and current road and trail conditions.
Visit the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum to view artifact exhibits and the park orientation film, walk to the Spruce Tree House Overlook nearby and then drive the Mesa Top Loop Road, a six-mile loop designed to highlight the changing architecture and culture of the Ancestral Pueblo people over their 750 year occupation of Mesa Verde.

IF YOU HAVE ONE FULL DAY...

You’ll have time for all the half-day activities, plus:

Explore the Cedar Tree Tower and 1/2-mile (0.8 km) Farming Terrace Trail to see how Ancestral Pueblo people managed water in this dry environment.
Walk the 3/4-mile (1.2 km) trail through the Far View Sites Complex, a mesa top community with five villages and a dry reservoir.

IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE DAY...

You’ll have time for all the full-day activities, plus:

Hike the upper portions of either the Spruce Canyon or Petroglyph Point trails to enjoy quiet solitude in and around Spruce Canyon.
Stop at the Mancos Valley Overlook for breathtaking views of the snowcapped La Plata Mountains and at Montezuma Overlook which offers a beautiful view of the Montezuma Valley far below.
Visit Park Point, the highest point in the park, and enjoy dramatic 360° views of the entire Four Corners area.
Take a step back in time by hiking the Knife Edge trail, a section of the park’s old Knife Edge road and gain a new appreciation for how early visitors entered the park.