- See the Largest Cliff Dwelling in North America
- Take the Trail along Far View
- Step Into Step House
- Have a Meal at Mesa Verde National Park
- “Fall” In Love with Mesa Verde
- Ski Through Mesa Verde National Park
- Camp in a Canyon
- Read the Writing on the Wall
- Take a Backcountry Tour to Square Tower House
- Visit Balcony House
- Circle Soda Canyon Overlook
- Walk the Knife Edge for Sunset Views
- Capture the Night Sky During a Campfire Chat
- Take the Scenic Route along Mesa Top Loop Drive
- Watch “Footprint of Our Ancestors”
Helpful Related Links
More Mesa Verde National Park History: 11 AMAZING Facts About Mesa Verde National Park
Things to Do Rocky Mountain: 15 EPIC Things to Do Rocky Mountain National Park
Best Hikes Rocky Mountain: 18 EPIC Hikes Rocky Mountain National Park
RMNP Guide: Rocky Mountain National Park: An Epic Guide to Colorado’s Alpine Gem
Colorado National Parks: These 4 Colorado National Parks Will Blow Your Mind (Helpful Guide)
National Parks Near Denver: 6 Epic National Parks Near Denver You’ll Love
Zion National Park Guide: Ultimate Guide to Zion National Park
National Parks Rankings: ALL 63 US National Parks Ranked By Experts
Most Visited National Parks: Top 10 Most Visited National Parks
Least Visited National Parks: Top 10 Least Visited National Parks
Set an alarm for 8:00 AM MDT exactly 14 days before your visit. Tour tickets for Cliff Palace and Balcony House sell out in under 30 minutes. Have your Recreation.gov account loaded, payment info saved, and refresh at 8:00 sharp.
Do Balcony House if you can only pick one tour. Cliff Palace is more famous, but Balcony House is the experience. You climb a 32-foot ladder to enter, crawl through an 18-inch tunnel, and navigate original stone steps. Not suitable for anyone with claustrophobia or fear of heights.
Budget 45 minutes just to drive from the park entrance to the cliff dwellings. The road from the US-160 entrance to Chapin Mesa is 21 miles of winding mountain road. If your tour starts at 10:00 AM, leave Cortez by 8:30 at the latest.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 7-day vehicle pass costs $30 in summer (May 1 to October 22) and $20 in winter. Walk-in or bicycle entry is $15, and motorcycles pay $25 in summer and $15 in winter. Entrance station is credit/debit only.
Yes. All ranger-led cliff dwelling tours require advance reservations through Recreation.gov. Tickets release on a rolling 14-day window at 8:00 AM MDT and sell out within minutes during peak season. Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Long House, and smaller dwellings all require tickets.
May through early October is when cliff dwelling tours operate and the full park is open. June and September hit the balance between access and crowd levels. Late July and August bring afternoon thunderstorms that can make the mesa roads slick.
Plan for at least 1 full day for one cliff dwelling tour, Mesa Top Loop Drive, and the museum. Ideally spend 2 days for multiple cliff dwelling tours, Wetherill Mesa for Long House, and the Soda Canyon Overlook hike.
The nearest major airport is Durango-La Plata County (DRO), about 50 minutes to the park entrance. The park entrance is directly off US-160, 10 miles east of Cortez.
May through early October is when cliff dwelling tours operate and the full park is open. June and September hit the balance between access and crowd levels. Late July and August bring afternoon thunderstorms that can be dramatic but also make the mesa roads slick. April and late October have reduced services but you can still drive the mesa top loops without the tour crowds.
The nearest major airport is Durango-La Plata County (DRO), about 50 minutes to the park entrance. From Albuquerque (ABQ), it is about 4 hours via US-550 North to US-160 West. The park entrance is directly off US-160, 10 miles east of Cortez.
