NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory
Formerly NCAR Mesa Laboratory, Mesa Lab
Closed two days a year for maintenance (one in spring, one in fall); the site says the dates are announced well ahead.
The public visitor center of a US atmospheric-science research lab in the Boulder foothills: free atmospheric-science exhibits, an outdoor Weather Trail and a free guided noon tour twice a week.
Ways to visit
Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided) Open
- What you see
- Exhibits, Visitor center, Groundsscied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- How
- Walk inscied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunOpen 363 days a year for public walk-ins. Mountain Time: weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; weekends and holidays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The reception desk is staffed Monday 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.Closed: two maintenance days a year (one in spring, one in fall)Calendar ↗scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Not required · same day possible · on siteNo reservations are needed for individuals or groups. Self-guided groups are invited to tell the staff beforehand so they can pass on any closures or conflicting events.scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- FreeEntry and parking are free.scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- Fitness and accessibility: No. Wheelchair accessible with an elevator; the Mezzanine level needs a check-in at the front desk or security for an escort. The unpaved Weather Trail can be muddy.
- Languages
- · Materials: English, Spanish (some videos, kiosk content and a trail map)
Walk-in public noon tour Open
The page says walk-in public tours are no longer offered on Mondays.
- What you see
- Inside tour, Exhibitsscied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- How
- Scheduled tour, Walk in · about 60 minutesscied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunWednesdays and Fridays, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time, except federal holidays. Meet the guides in the lobby.Closed: federal holidaysscied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26 · scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Not required · same day possible · on site or onlineNo reservation is needed. You can optionally reserve a free ticket in advance on Eventbrite to let the staff know you are coming.Book (eventbrite.com) ↗scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- Freescied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- None stated.
Private group tour Open
- What you see
- Inside tour, Exhibitsscied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- How
- Private guided tour, By arrangement · groups of 10–30scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- When
- Booked by date through the live availability calendar on the tours page. Dates more than 4 months out may not be released yet.Calendar ↗scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Required · closes 21 days ahead · onlineFirst come, first served for groups of 10 to 30, with at least 3 weeks' notice.Book (scied.ucar.edu) ↗scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- FreeThe tours page says the visitor center is free for any programs or tours.scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- None stated.
Touch tour (audio and tactile) Open
- What you see
- Inside tour, Exhibitsscied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- How
- By arrangement · about 2 hoursscied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- When
- Arranged by phone or email; the program lasts 2 hours and needs at least 3 weeks' notice.scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Required · closes 21 days ahead · by phone or by emailCall 303-497-2401 or email the School and Public Programs Team (spp@ucar.edu).scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- FreeThe tours page says the visitor center is free for any programs or tours.scied.ucar.edu, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- None stated.
About
The Mesa Lab is the National Center for Atmospheric Research building in the Boulder foothills. Its visitor center is free and open to walk-ins every day except two maintenance days a year, with self-guided exhibits across three levels and an outdoor Weather Trail behind the building. Staff lead a free public tour at noon on Wednesdays and Fridays, and groups of 10 to 30 can book private tours with at least three weeks' notice. There is no bus service up to the building, so visitors drive, bike or walk.
Run by: UCAR / NSF NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research, sponsored by the National Science Foundation).
Getting there
1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO, 80305
The visitor center is at the west end of Table Mesa Drive, up a 1.3-mile road with a 433 ft climb from Boulder's neighborhoods. There is no public transit. Visitor parking is free.
The pin marks the visitor entrance (39.97780, -105.27500). Show on our map · Google Maps · Apple Maps
Recorded information: 303-497-1174General: 303-497-1000Program reservations (Mon-Fri) and School and Public Programs: 303-497-2401 · spp@ucar.edu
Last checked 2026-10-26. Sources are listed below.
Sources
- scied.ucar.edu/visit/plan-trip · official page · read 2026-10-26For: name; street address; directions; who runs it; phone and email; Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided): open or closed; Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided): kind of visit; Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided): days and hours; Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided): booking; Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided): cost; Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided): requirements
- wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityData/Q6821… · Wikidata · read 2026-10-26For: location
- scied.ucar.edu/visit/ncar-tours · official page · read 2026-10-26For: Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided): what you see; Walk-in public noon tour: open or closed; Walk-in public noon tour: what you see; Walk-in public noon tour: kind of visit; Walk-in public noon tour: days and hours; Walk-in public noon tour: booking; Walk-in public noon tour: cost; Walk-in public noon tour: requirements; Private group tour: open or closed; Private group tour: what you see; Private group tour: kind of visit; Private group tour: days and hours; Private group tour: booking; Private group tour: cost; Private group tour: requirements; Touch tour (audio and tactile): open or closed; Touch tour (audio and tactile): what you see; Touch tour (audio and tactile): kind of visit; Touch tour (audio and tactile): days and hours; Touch tour (audio and tactile): booking; Touch tour (audio and tactile): cost; Touch tour (audio and tactile): requirements
- scied.ucar.edu/visit/visitor-accessibility · official page · read 2026-10-26For: Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided): requirements; Walk-in public noon tour: days and hours
- scied.ucar.edu/visit/things-to-know · official page · read 2026-10-26For: Visitor Center exhibits and Weather Trail (self-guided): languages
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