Square Tower House

Mesa Verde National Park Tours

Square Tower House tours begin Friday, May 24. All reservations are available 14 days in advance starting at 8:00 am MDT.

Featuring the tallest standing structure in the park, an intact kiva roof, original plaster and paint, and plentiful rock art, Square Tower House is one of Mesa Verde's most impressive cliff dwellings. Visitors to the Mesa Top Loop can get a great view from the overlook, but intrepid hikers are treated to an adventurous and intimate look inside Square Tower House on this special ranger-led tour.

This tour starts 75 minutes from the park entrance at the Square Tower House trailhead.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• What to Expect

  This strenuous ranger-led 90-minute tour is a 1-mile (2.6 km) round-trip along an unpaved, uneven trail that descends 100 feet (30 m), and includes steep drop-offs, switchbacks, and two ladders (the longest is 20 feet [6.1 m]). Each hiker must be able to scramble over boulders, navigate steep gravel trails, and descend/ascend ladders unassisted. 

  Wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and bring a minimum of 1/2 gallon (2 liters) of water per person. Ancestral sites are vulnerable to damage caused by rodents attracted to food crumbs. Food, gum, and chewing tobacco are not permitted within the site during your tour.

• Tour Directions

  From the park entrance, drive 20 miles (32 km) to the all-way stop on Chapin Mesa. Turn left onto the Mesa Top Loop. Drive 1.9 (3 km) miles to Square Tower House parking. To make sure you arrive on time, allow 75 minutes to drive from the park entrance to the Square Tower House trailhead.

  Meet the ranger at the Square Tower House trailhead at 8:45 am. Hikers depart for Square Tower House promptly at 9:00. You MUST arrive 15 minutes early for a safety and logistics briefing before your tour. 

  Parking may be limited. Consider parking at the Navajo Canyon Overlook on the Mesa Top Loop, from which Square Tower House is a short walk.

• Safety Information

  Know your physical health and fitness before joining a Square Tower House tour. Elevations range between 7,000 and 7,500 feet (2134 m and 2286 m) above sea level. You should plan for all weather possibilities because conditions can vary. It's possible to begin your hike in full sun and end with a thunderstorm. Bring a minimum of 1/2 gallon (2 liters) of water per person. 

  This hike may not be appropriate for young children. Each hiker must be able to scramble over boulders, navigate steep gravel trails, and descend/ascend ladders unassisted. 

  Cameras are welcome, but you must be able to carry all of your gear while keeping your hands free to climb the ladders. No tripods are allowed.

• Tour Dates

  May 24 to Oct 22: 9:00 am, daily.

  October 23: Tours close for the 2024 season.

• Tour Capacity

  Tour is limited to 10 people.

• Tour Price

  Price: $25.00 per person, ages 3 and up. You MUST physically print your tour reservation at home OR download it to your phone to show the ranger before joining the tour. You will NOT be able to join the tour without a valid tour reservation presented. Late arrivals may result in forfeiting your tour. No refunds for late arrivals.

• Weather

  All tours will be conducted as scheduled. However, any tour may be delayed or cancelled if lightning occurs near the tour location or for a park emergency. 

• Refunds

  All tickets are NON-TRANSFERABLE AND NON-REFUNDABLE unless the tour is cancelled by the National Park Service.

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