Explore Mesa Verde natl park, CO - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
The hike is currently closed, but can still see these from the overlook! Wish we could’ve done the hike.
reviewed 
Closed in 2020 but you can see the Balcony House fron the Soda Canyon Overlook trail.
Short, easy trail. This trail has the viewpoint that's closest to a cliff dwelling by far. It's so awesome to see and to imagine what a different life the cliff dwellers had.
Super easy hike with an overhead view of Cliff Palace.
May 2019 trip to Southwest, fourth visit to CO, last time was only year ago in summer. Day 11 Second longer visit (Main Goal#12 of trip), last was 22 years ago (then I was at Cliff Palace). Even on weekdays very crowded and popular are all ruin tours. Was lucky to get one ticket for Balcony House. If you hiked before in the mountains on trails with some exposure this one is not a problem. Very nice and informative tour about history of Mesa Verde, ruins are not visible from road. Latter hike short Soda Canyon Trail to see Balcony Ruins from a distance.
With all tours closed due to Covid we had to just do overlooks. This is one of the best overlooks we saw on our drive.
Needed to have tickets to see the better views.
Closed for covid19 except for the overlooked.
A short little walk and climb down to the cliff dwelling. The guide was entertaining and knowledgeable. Totally, recommend this tour. Enjoy!
Did the 100 years of history tour. 10/10 experience. Loved it. In my 20s.
Great guided tour to see Ancestral Puebloan ruins.
Did as much as I could do considering the park was closed for tours a few months ago. Guess it's a seasonal thing. Snow on the ground and raods closed so I hiked in the few extra miles to see what I could. From the overlook I got a pretty decent view from above. First time seeing cliff dwellings in person. Can't wait to take the tour and see them sure close up!
best guided trail tour I've been on. The ruins are spectacular!! It really is a little palace, so well preserved and you can walk on the rebuilt portion.
Awesome informative, short hike. Loved it!
Very fun little hike! Of course it’s a tour guided hike, so be early to the welcome centers before 11AM or you won’t guarantee a spot! It was a nice little short hike, but be respectful of the architecture since it’s old!
This trail is a tour guided one, so you must check at the welcome center before entering to get a spot! Spots do fill quickly, so I suggest trying to get there before 11AM! Totally worth the beautiful sight, but do be respectful of it!
Of course this was an amazing Ranger guided tour. Lots of information and sites to behold. Since this is a hiking app, I am sure that everybody is able to walk down the stairs and climb some ladders. Just know that they are there. We took the early 9 AM tour and it was perfect. I am sure during the summer months it gets hot early. Have fun, enjoy, discover.
We took the last tour of the day, and you get your money's worth because our tour ran about 15 minutes long. Great education about the area and enlightening to see it up close. I don't do well with heights, but the ladder climbs are mostly enclosed by rocks, so it wasn't too bad.
Must do tour! Some ladder climbs, but nothing strenuous, our ranger was very knowledgeable, loved the history.
This trail is a must for the kids! They loved climbing to the tall ladder and crawling through the tunnel at Balcony House!
Cliff Palace is amazing to behold and lives up to it's name! Only complaint was that our park ranger had little knowledge about the area and was unable to answer most of the questions asked. Our guides for the other tours were all phenomenal.
Amazing tour, definitely a bit adventurous if you have small kids or are not prepared to climb a 35 ft ladder up a cliff face (that's 3 stories up), crawl through tunnels connecting parts of the dwelling, or scamper up footholds in the cliff face with just chain netting separating you from a 60-80 ft plunge. Made it with kids 9, 7, 5 but wouldn't want to take smaller kids. Ranger played Native American flute while in the dwelling, was magic.
Amazing views and history. If you pay for the tour of Balcony House some might have a difficult time with the climb out. There is a small rectangular tunnel you need to crawl through (my husbands shoulders almost got stuck) you then need to climb a ladder and steep steps. They suggest those with recent hip or knee replacements forgo this hike/tour.
definitely worth $5. Go do it.
This guided tour is one of the main attractions and reasons for going to Mesa Verde. This one is a bit more adventurous than cliff palace because of longer ladders, a higher location on the cliffs, and a small tunnel that you need to fit through. It is well worth taking more than one of the cliff dwelling tours in the park if you can.
buy a tour, incredible views.
Prachtige tour met een park gids. Afdalen via een stalen trap om wat verder weer een houten ladder op te klimmen om Cliff Palace te bewonderen. Met een gids gaat een groep naar deze geweldig indrukwekkende plek onder de overhangende rotsen. In de zomer met de zon erop is het behoorlijk warm op deze plek, maar zeker de moeite waard om hier een bezoek aan te brengen. Zeer leerzaam. Ook het verlaten van deze plek is leuk via een houten trap, maar voor iedereen te doen. Het was in 8 jaar tijd mijn 2e bezoek aan Cliff Palace.
Cliff Palace tour
Short climb down to Cliff Palace. Great view of the house. There is an overlook right before the ranger brings you through the gate that lets you see the palace from above.
Short climb up a ladder to Balcony House. Great view of the house. Tiny narrow tunnel that you have to climb through that requires you to go on all fours. Will definitely not recommend for someone who has knee or leg issues, or are plus sized...
