Our National Parks are exquisite in winter. You may want to take a trip to southern Colorado for some spectacular sights.
Winter in Colorado means pristine alpine skiing, snow-capped mountains and après-ski around cozy fireplaces. But in the southwestern part of the state, winter visitors will find a different kind of winter paradise – with no fees and no crowds.
In Mesa Verde Country, the southwest Colorado travel destination surrounding Mesa Verde National Park, visitors will find – along with the park – two national scenic byways, one national forest, two national monuments, one tribal park and the largest archaeological reserve in the United States. This winter, Mesa Verde National Park will offer free Park entrance, and will open its third largest cliff dwelling, museum and four cross-country ski trail systems to the public.
Free national park entrance: Entrance to Mesa Verde National Park will be free during January and February. The park’s main road and Mesa Top Loop Road will remain open throughout the winter, 8 a.m.-sunset, weather permitting. Food service will be available at Spruce Tree Terrace, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily.
Cross-country ski trails: Four trail systems – the Cliff Palace Loop, Wetherill Road Trail, Prater Canyon and Morefield Campground Trail – will offer 28.4 miles of cross-country and snowshoe terrain, snow permitting. More than 20 miles is groomed; the remaining miles are located on Wetherill Road, closed to vehicular traffic.
Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum: The museum will be open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Dec. 31, and 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Jan. 1-March 10.
Ranger-guided walking tour: Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde National Park’s third-largest cliff dwelling, is the only dwelling open during the winter. Free, one-hour ranger-guided tours will be available daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Mesa Verde National Park, named the best national park for families by Disney FamilyFun, is one of America’s greatest archaeological treasures. The nation’s seventh-oldest park is the sole national park dedicated to the works of humankind. The original inhabitants, the Ancestral Puebloans, occupied the area from AD 1 to AD 1300.
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Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde Country
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