Cliff Palace
Mesa Verde National Park Tours
(This tour will be available in 2021. Reservations will be accepted starting Wednesday, June 2, 2021). Tickets are available 14 days in advance, 8:00 am MDT, on a rolling daily window.
A tour of Cliff Palace is one of the most awe-inspiring in the park. As the largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde, Cliff Palace is a testament to the ingenuity, industriousness, and imagination of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Original kivas, courtyards, and two-, three-, and four-story structures are readily visible on the Cliff Palace tour. For a virtual tour of Cliff Palace, go to https://go.nps.gov/CPvideo .
If you plan on booking a second tour on the same day, we highly suggest you give yourself at least:
- 2 hours between the time you book this Cliff Palace tour and a Square Tower House tour (ie: 9:00 am CP and 11:00 pm STH or CP).
- 3 hours between the time you book this Cliff Palace tour and a Long House tour (ie: 10:00 am CP and 1:00 pm or later LH).
Select a date to see a list of times
Need to Know
- What to Expect
This 30-minute ranger-assisted tour, you will descend uneven stone steps and climb four ladders, with an elevation change of 100 feet (30 m). Total walking distance is 1/4 mile (0.4 km).
- Safety Information
Consider your physical health before joining a hike, especially if you have heart or respiratory problems, or other physical difficulties. 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 are quite variable.
There are no height or age restrictions for this tour, but children must be able to walk the extent of the trail and climb ladders on their own without difficulty. If not, they must be placed in a carrier.
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 Directions
From the park entrance, drive 20 miles (32.2 km) to the all-way stop on Chapin Mesa. Turn left. Drive 0.4 miles (0.6 km) and turn left onto the Cliff Palace Loop. Drive 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to the Cliff Palace parking lot.
To make sure you arrive on time, allow 1 1/2 hours to drive to the Cliff Palace parking lot from the park entrance. Meet the ranger at the overlook to Cliff Palace. You MUST arrive 15 minutes early for a safety and logistics briefing.
- Tour Dates
Wednesday, June 16th to Saturday, October 23rd 9:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm; every 1/2 hour.
- Ticket Price
Price: $8.00 per person, ages 3 and up. You MUST physically print your tour tickets from 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 ticket presented.
- Tour Capacity
Tour is limited to 25 people
