Planning to visit the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park? Here’s How

Planning to visit the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park but not sure how the logistics actually work? You’re not alone.

Between the timed tickets, guided tours, seasonal closures, and restricted access at certain sites, figuring out how to visit the cliff dwellings can be surprisingly confusing – especially if it’s your first time in the park.

This guide is best for first-time visitors who want clear, practical instructions. If you want to know which dwellings require tickets, when they’re available, and what you can realistically fit into a day, this will help.

Whether you’re dreaming of standing inside Cliff Palace, braving the ladders of Balcony House, or exploring quieter sites around the park, I’ll walk you through exactly how to make it happen – step by step.

Let’s get you set up for an unforgettable visit to Mesa Verde’s cliff dwellings.

There are basically four “types” of dwellings (from a sightseeing standpoint, not architecturally or historically-speaking). 

(1) Cliff dwellings that have daily, ranger-assisted tours 

These are the three major cliff dwellings and they all have (largish) tours throughout the day, every day in the season. 

The ‘tours’ aren’t tours per se.  This is actually more of a timed entry system.  You enter at the time on your ticket and move through the dwelling in a (large) group.  There are rangers spaced along the way to give information.   

Although there are ladders to climb, they are very wide and designed for mass use.  You do need to have a basic level of fitness, good health and regular mobility, but if you do, you should be fine. 

However, bear in mind that you will be between 7,000 and 7,500 feet (2,134m and 2,286m) above sea level, which can affect some people and make physical activity more difficult.  You should wear solid shoes or boots (➡️ read my Guide to the Best Hiking Shoes/ Boots if you need to buy some). 

Buying tickets for Mesa Verde tours 

You used to have to buy tickets for the ranger-assisted Mesa Verde tours in person, but now you can only buy them online. 

Tickets go on sale 14 days/ 2 weeks in advance at 8:00 am Mountain Time (so, for example, tickets for a June 21 tour go on sale June 7 at 8:00 am MT). 

You used to be able to get tickets fairly easily, but in summer tickets can sell out quickly. So, I recommend booking right at 8:00 am on the day the tickets get released.  You will book on the National Park reservation system recreation.gov.

Which cliff dwellings have regular ranger-assisted tours? 

A ranger-led tour is a 45-minute tour with a ranger leading groups.

Cliff Palace

🔹Chapin Mesa
🔹Early May – late October

Balcony House 

🔹Chapin Mesa
🔹Early May – late October

Long House 

🔹Wetherill Mesa
🔹Usually late May – late October

(2) Cliff dwellings that have special backcountry tours 

There are several cliff dwellings that you can only see on a small tour that goes once or twice a day (or sometimes just a few times a season).  There are several dwellings in this category, but they are not all available every year. 

Each year some are closed for the full season to prevent damaging them from over usage.  For example, I saw Square Tower House and Oak Tree House, but Oak Tree House is not open for visitors in 2024.   

These tours are typically early in the morning and you go in a small group (just 10 people) with a guide. 

Getting to them is more difficult – rather than wide ladders that are easy to navigate, you may need to climb down narrow ladders or even use the steep footholds carved by the dwelling’s original inhabitants right into the cliff face. (There are ropes to hold on to, though, so it not really dangerous). 

Balcony House has a narrow section you need to crawl through. 

Several are at the end of long back-country hikes.  Summer temperatures can reach 100°F / 38°C, so you need to be fit enough and adequately prepared for these. 

➡️ For more information about hiking in Mesa Verde, read my Guide to the Best Hikes in Mesa Verde (that you can do without a guide).

They are a more intimate experience and you will have plenty of opportunities to ask the guide questions.  You will usually have more time there, and at some of them, you can even see artefacts like ancient corncobs, bits of pottery, etc. still strewn around.

However, the sites are smaller, less excavated and in some ways less spectacular than the main three in the ranger-assisted tours.  

If you are able to, I recommend visiting at least one of these, as the visit is quite different from the ranger-assisted tours to Cliff Palace or Long House. 

Buying tickets for backcountry tours 

You have to buy tickets online. The process is the same as for the ranger-led tours described above.  

(3) Cliff dwellings you can visit by yourself on a self-guided tour

There is one Mesa Verde cliff dwellings tour you can do by yourself, as a self-guided tour.  There is no cost (other than the park entrance fee) for a self-guided tour. 

Step House 

🔹Wetherill Mesa
🔹Typically late May to October

See below for details 

(4) Cliff dwellings you can see from an overlook

You can drive around the top of the mesa and visit mesa-top sites and stop at multiple viewpoints to see various cliff dwellings. Most of them are fairly small (still very cool to see, of course), but a few on Chapin Mesa that are especially noteworthy are: 

📷 Cliff Palace. This can be visited on a ranger-assisted tour.

📷 Spruce Tree House. This is the best-preserved cliff dwelling, but instability makes it too dangerous to be open for visitors.  You can see it very clearly from behind the Chapin Archaeological Museum. 

📷 Balcony House.  Open for ranger-guided tours and you can see it from an overlook. Most overlooks are a very short walk from a parking area, but for Balcony House, you need to hike out to Soda Canyon Overlook.  It’s a 1.2-mile/ 1.9-km round trip mostly flat trail.   

📷 Oak Tree House.  This is open for special tours in some years, but not 2023.  However, you can still see it from an overlook.

📷 Square Tower House. This is open for special tours in some years, including 2023.  You can also see it from an overlook.

📷 Sunset House (small, distant) 

📷 Mummy House (small, distant) 

📷 Fire Temple (small, distant) 

On Wetherill Mesa, there are two cliff dwellings you can see from overlooks, but not visit: 

📷 Kodak House 

📷 Nordenskiold #16  

⚠️ Note that there are other places of historical interest on the top of the mesa, which I am not including in this Cliff Dwellings guide. 

Enjoy the Mesa Verde ruins!

More Planning Resources for Mesa Verde National Park

⭐ Mesa Verde National Park Guide
⭐ Planning A Trip to Mesa Verde National Park: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ How to Visit Mesa Verde National Park
⭐ 10 Tips For Visiting Mesa Verde National Park
⭐ The 10 Best Mesa Verde Hikes Not to Miss
⭐ The 10 Best Things to Do in & Around Mesa Verde National Park
⭐ Visiting Mesa Verde National Park: What To Expect Throughout the Year
⭐ How to Get to Mesa Verde National Park
⭐ Best Time To Visit Mesa Verde National Park
⭐ The Airports Near Mesa Verde National Park
⭐ The Closest Airport to Mesa Verde National Park
⭐ 10 Fun Facts About Mesa Verde National Park
⭐ The Best Airbnb Durango

What are your favorite cliff dwellings? Colorado / Mesa Verde NP has plenty of others.  I’d love to hear about them.  Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know. 

About the Author 

James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.

He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.

Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.

As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.

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