Stop At: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route(s) to match your interests and schedule.
Or you can use our trip planners for our suggestions on half, full or multi-day itineraries.
Some of the many highlights are listed below
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Balcony House, Colorado
Located on the Cliff Palace Loop, Balcony House is one of the more adventurous of the cliff house tours as it requires climbing multiple ladders and even squeezing through tight passageways.
The best non-tour view of Balcony House is from the Soda Creek Overlook Trail, also located on the Cliff Palace Loop Road.
To see inside Balcony House, you must have a ticket for the Ranger-guided tour.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, Colorado 81330
This museum has a superb collection of items and exhibitions and provides an excellent opportunity to experience more of the culture, beyond just seeing the ruins.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Cliff Palace, Colorado
Perhaps the most famous of all the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde, Cliff Palace was first re-found by rancher Richard Wetherill, though he'd received tips of its existence from a local Ute member. It is the largest cliff dwelling in North America with 151 rooms and 23 kivas.
Getting into Cliff Palace requires a pre-purchased ticket and the tour is considered Ranger-assisted. Your timed visit is supervised by a ranger who provides information, but you are somewhat allowed to self-explore.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Montezuma Valley Overlook Trail, Montezuma Valley Overlook Trail, Colorado 81328, USA
Mesa Verde is most famous for its cliff dwellings and rich archeological sites, but its elevated mesa-top setting also means we get to enjoy some fantastic views in every direction.
Though its naming is factually incorrect, the Montezuma Valley Overlook reveals a landscape where we can see as far as 100 miles away. This view is also significant because it shares the locations of other significant pueblo sites in the valley below.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Park Point Overlook Trail, Park Point Overlook Trail, Colorado 81328, USA
There are many worthwhile scenic views throughout Mesa Verde, but this one must rank as the best. A full 360 degrees of viewing can be enjoyed from this highest, easily-accessible point in the park.
On a clear day you should be able to see into each of the Four Corners states, as well as numerous mountain ranges and specific geological features such as Shiprock.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Spruce Tree House, Colorado
Spruce Tree House is located at the same access area as the museum and other park services. Though it is not as large as Cliff Palace, this dwelling is considered the best preserved. It is easily appreciated and photographed from the viewpoint behind the museum.
Unfortunately due to some rock falls and destabilization, it is not possible to visit inside the Spruce Tree House for an indefinite time moving forward.
There are also 2 popular but somewhat strenuous hiking trails that leave from this location; Petroglyph Point Trail - which as the name suggests, leads to a petroglyph panel, and the Spruce Canyon Trail. Expect each of these hikes to take approx 2 hours.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Square Tower House, Colorado 81330
The unique 4 story tall tower structure makes Square Tower House one of the most photogenic sites in the park.
Square Tower is accessible on a ranger-led tour and pre-purchase of tickets is mandatory, using the same procedure as other cliff dwelling tours.
If you do not have a tour booking, the best viewing location is along the Mesa Top Loop Drive.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Step House, Wetherill Mesa Rd, Colorado
Step House is the best opportunity in Mesa Verde to be able to get up-close and personal with a cliff dwelling, but does not require a that you join a ranger-led tour, and that you do not need tickets to see.
Step House is located at the end point of the excellent drive along Wetherill Mesa Road. The bonus of visiting Step House is the many outstanding views along the 20 minute each way drive.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sun Temple, Mesa Top Loop Road, Mesa (Mesa County), Colorado 81330
Sun Temple was one of the last mesa-top pueblos built at Mesa Verde. The distinction is that it is built on the land, and not in a cliff alcove - almost like a regular building!
Duration: 30 minutes
