Mesa Verde National Park will extend morning hours in the Wetherill Mesa area and access to Petroglyph Point and Spruce Canyon trails in response to increased visitation within the park and high daily temperatures. The number of tour tickets available at Long House will also increase.

Beginning July 4, Wetherill Mesa Road and the gate at Petroglyph Point and Spruce Canyon Trailhead will open at 7 a.m.

“Providing opportunities to explore the park during the cooler morning hours will allow more visitors to access the trails and sites and make for a safer and more enjoyable visit,” Superintendent Cliff Spencer said.

Ranger-assisted tours of Long House are structured to promote safety while providing an enhanced experience for visitors. Tours of the park's second largest cliff dwelling offer visitors an opportunity to explore the site at their own socially-distanced pace while still receiving in-depth information about Ancestral Pueblo and modern Pueblo heritage.

Wetherill Mesa also offers self-guided experiences. Step House is a self-guided cliff dwelling available from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Rangers are available within the site to answer questions and a guide booklet is available. Dogs are not allowed in Step House, but are allowed on the Long House Loop.

For more information and tickets, visit www.recreation.gov.