Mesa Verde National Park has lifted fire restrictions, which have been in effect since July 16.
Rain showers and cooler temperatures in recent weeks have reduced the fire danger in the park. There are no active fires in the park.
Effective immediately, open fires or charcoal fires are no longer prohibited in Morefield Campground, Chapin Mesa Picnic Area or park residences. Smoking is permitted in designated areas. Fireworks are prohibited in Mesa Verde National Park.
If the fire danger increases later in the season, restrictions may once again be implemented.
Cliff Palace will be temporarily closed Aug. 23-24 for technical scaling work to remove lose rock fragments from the alcove.
There will not be any ranger guided tours of Cliff Palace during the closure. Visitors may see Cliff Palace from overlooks on the Mesa Top driving loop.
Rangers will be available at the Cliff Palace Overlook to provide information about the site and the work being performed. Extra tours of Balcony House will be offered during this time.
A climbing team composed of Park Service employees from Rocky Mountain, Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Chiricahua National Monument will complete the project and assess the alcove to determine if additional rock removal will be needed.
Natural erosional processes such as water, wind, and freezing and thawing patterns cause the surface of sandstone to form cracks. The park removes rock debris from alcove sites each year.
Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde. About 100,000 visitors per year visit the dwelling on ranger guided tours.
The National Park Service invites visitors to join in the celebration of its 100th birthday through August.
Mesa Verde kicks off the centennial celebration at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Visitor Center with speakers and birthday cake. Other activities include curation tours, Native American dances, a historic walking tour, and a special evening program at Morefield Campground. Call 970-529-4614 or 970-529-5074 for reservations for the curation tour.
Park entrance fees will be waived nationwide from Aug. 25-28 for the centennial.
Eight members of the USS Mesa Verde crew will be on hand for the celebration and to work on a trail project Aug. 23-26.
“We’re honored to have crew members from the USS Mesa Verde present for the celebration,” said park Superintendent Cliff Spencer.
The celebration at Mesa Verde is sponsored by Mesa Verde Park Partner Osprey Packs.
A sampling of nationwide events is available on the National Park Service website www.nps.gov, and many more can be found at FindYourPark.com and EncuentraTuParque.com.
Mesa Verde National Park Ranger Larry Gore will speak about the founding and development of the National Park Service on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Chapin Mesa Museum.
The presentation is part of the 2016 Four Corners Lecture Series.
Hear the intriguing story of the creation and development of the National Parks system and the birth of the National Park Service.
Gore has been a seasonal ranger for more than 20 years and has worked in parks throughout the country. This is his third season at Mesa Verde working as seasonal Interpretive Park Ranger.
The Four Corners Lecture Series features presentations about the archaeology, current Native American cultures, history, and natural resources of this spectacular area. All programs are free and open to the public.
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