Tracy Farmer cross country skis Saturday in the Morefield Campground area at Mesa Verde.
Tracy Farmer cross country skis Saturday in the Morefield Campground area at Mesa Verde.Sam Green/The Journal

Early winter snowfall has created good conditions for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Mesa Verde National Park.

The park has a foot or more of snow on the ground and is grooming trails. The park is offering free snowshoe rentals as well, available at the visitors center and the museum.

“The conditions are really nice and the snow is sticking around,” said Katie Lyons of the Chief Ranger’s office.

At Morefield campground, two groomed loops are designated for classic and skate skiing. The campground trail follows the loop road for four miles, and the Meadow Bliss trail winds through the meadows south of the campground for three miles.

The Cliff Palace Loop Trail (6.5 miles) offers multiple viewpoints of the cliff dwellings.

Snowshoeing trail locations are at Morefield Campground, and the Prater, Knife Edge and Point Lookout trails.

Snowshoers must travel on designated snowshoe trails or fresh snow that is ungroomed. If a groomed trail is designated as mixed use (snowshoe and ski), snowshoers must travel at the edge of trail opposite the classic ski tracks.

Backcountry trails are not regularly groomed and provide for more solitude and rely on skier self-sufficiency.

The Wetherill Mesa Road Trail starts at the Far View Center parking lot and continues for six miles through hilly conditions. The Prater Canyon trails begins at the Montezuma Overlook parking area. Cross the road to the trailhead and travel east down the canyon toward the tunnel to the turnaround point.

“It’s the best snow conditions since 2012,” Lyons said.

Dogs are not allowed on any of the trails in the park. If there is anyone at the entrance booth, the winter fee is $10 per vehicle.

Go online to http://1.usa.gov/1Tst2Cq or call the ranger office at (970) 529-4631 for more information on winter trails and conditions at Mesa Verde.

More groomed areas

Chicken Creek Nordic Area
Located north of Mancos, this local skate-skiing mecca offers up to six miles of groomed trails with adjacent classic track, plus many more miles of just classic track.
As of Jan. 30, only the Bauer loops had been groomed, but more grooming is in the works. Recent skate skiing was describe as “a sublime experience with fresh firm corduroy” by the Chicken Creek Nordic blogspot. The Rush Connector, Rush Creek Loop, and CC road to the turnaround, have been machine packed. Trailhead access and parking is from the Millwood Road (CR 40). Dogs are allowed on the lower trails, but are prohibited on the three upper loop sections. For more information go to http://chickencreeknordic.blogspot.com/
Lizard Head Pass
The Telluride Nordic Association does daily groomings on trails at Lizard Head Pass, Trout Lake, and Priest Lake. The pass area has seen three to five feet of snow from the recent storms.
Conditions are typically good to excellent for skate and classic skiing between storm cycles, and soft but good during storm cycles. The Lizard Head Pass to Trout Lake trail is distinguished by consistently receiving significantly more snow than any other Nordic trail in the region. It is always the first and last trail skiable for the season.
Skiers can access the 6.5 mile Trout Lake trail from the top of Lizard Head Pass. There is ample parking and a nearby USFS rest area. For more information go to http://www.telluridetrails.org/index.html
Rico
The town grooms a 5-mile network of trails on the west and east side of town. The Rico trail system is decidedly casual, and not ideal for skate skiing, although it is still possible. The eastern trail, accessible from the Mill Road, is more forested with some gradual climbs and nice views of town and the valley.
“We get lots of walkers, snowshoers, and traditional cross-country use. Dogs are welcome as well,” said local skier Deanna Drew.