Winter Tours

Mesa Verde Offers Free Winter Ecology Hike January 28

Park Rangers will be leading a guided hike focusing on winter ecology at Mesa Verde National Park on Saturday, January 28, beginning at 9 a.m.  The guided hike is free, but advance sign-up is requested.   Children should be at least 7 years old to join the hike. 

Participants will meet at the Morefield Village gas station, then explore the hillsides around the Morefield Campground, looking for signs of wildlife and observing adaptations of plants and animals in the winter months.  Be prepared to be outdoors for 2 – 3 hours with extra layers of clothing, water, and snacks. There is a limit of 20 adults and children.  If needed, snowshoes will be provided, or you may bring your own.  Park entrance fees are waived during the months of January and February. 

To sign up, for weather conditions, and for more information on the hike, please call the Chapin Mesa Museum at 970-529-4631.  For more information about Mesa Verde National Park, please visit our website at www.nps.gov/meve

 

Winter Discovery Walk
scheduled for February 18, 10:30 - noon at Hawkins Preserve in Cortez.  Contact the Cortez Cultural Center for more information and to signup at 565-1151.

Snowshoe Tours
Purgatory Ski Area
Half and full-day guided snowshoe tours are available upon request and can accommodate groups or individuals. Inquire and register at the Purgatory Guest Services office at 385-2147.

Winter Discovery Programs

Winter Discovery Programs can include both indoor and outdoor components. Discovery time indoors will include activities discussing snow properties and track patterns of animals; Discovery Time outdoors will include snowshoeing (snow-dependent), looking at snow, snowflakes and evidence of animals, including tracks. Winter Discovery Programs can be done at your school, or in the forest, and they are free! Call soon to reserve your date: 385-1256 or gabi@sjma.org

SJMA is now part of a national program called SnowSchool that gets kids outside in the winter, having fun, exploring nature, and learning winter ecology. For more information, visit www.snowschool.org