Cliff Palace

Mesa Verde National Park Tours

Cliff Palace tours are anticipated to start on May 4, 2026.

Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Built between 1190 and 1280 CE, Cliff Palace was home to about 100 people. Today, it stands as a testament to the engineering and artistic achievements of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Visit the park website for a virtual tour of Cliff Palace .

NOTE: All Ranger-Led tours will require reservations through the Recreation.gov website or toll free number 1-877-444-6777. Reservations are available 14 days in advance, beginning at 8:00 am MDT and fill up early. However, if someone cancels their reservation these tickets become available and can be purchased only at recreation.gov up to two hours before a tour.

Reserving a tour is much easier if you create a recreation.gov account in advance. Go to recreation.gov and select the "Sign Up/Log In" tab in the upper right corner. For more information on the variety of tours offered in the upcoming season, please visit the Mesa Verde National Park Cliff Dwelling Tours page .

The tour starts 75 minutes from the park entrance at the Cliff Palace Overlook, near the Cliff Palace parking lot.

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If you plan on reserving a second tour on the same day, give yourself a minimum of 2 hours between the time you book this Cliff Palace tour and a Balcony House tour. E.g., an 11:00 am Cliff Palace tour requires a 1:00 pm or later Balcony House tour.

If reserving a tour on Wetherill Mesa, please leave at least 3 hours between tour reservations. E.g.: a 9:00 am Cliff Palace tour would require a 12:00 pm or later Long House tour. Note that Long House requires a 1-mile walk to and from the parking lot to the trailhead and that Wetherill Mesa has limited access hours.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• What to Expect

  On this 45-minute ranger-led tour, you will descend very uneven stone steps and climb four ladders, with an elevation change of 100 feet (30 m). Total walking distance is 0.25 mile (0.4 km). This video shows tour details and challenges.

• 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 75 minutes to drive to Cliff Palace from the park entrance. Meet the ranger at the Cliff Palace Overlook, which is a 120 yard (110 meter) walk from the parking lot. You MUST arrive 15 minutes early for a safety and logistics briefing.

• Safety Information

  Know your physical health and fitness before joining a Cliff Palace tour, especially if you have heart or respiratory problems or other physical difficulties such as knee or hip issues. Elevations range between 7,000 and 7,500 feet (2134 m and 2286 m) above sea level. Plan for all weather possibilities because conditions can change.

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

  There are no height or age restrictions for this tour, but children must be capable of climbing the ladders on their own. Infants must be placed in a carrier and the adults carrying them must be able to maintain mobility and balance while climbing ladders. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

  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 and Times

  May 4 - May 9: 9:00 am, 9:30 am, 10:00 am, 10:30 am, 11:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:00 pm.  

  May 10 - May 21 : 9:00 am to 3:00 pm every ½ hour except noon.

  May 22 - August 15: 9:00 am to 3:30 pm every ½ hour except noon. Additional 4:00 pm tour on Wednesdays.

  August 16 - October 21: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm every ½ hour except noon. Additional 3:30pm & 4:00 pm tour on Wednesdays.

  October 22: Closed for the season. No Tours.

• Reservation Price

  $8.00 per person, ages 3 and up. There is NO cell service at the trailhead. 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.

• Tour Capacity

  Tour is limited to 50 people 

• Cancellations

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

• GPS Coordinates

  Latitude: 37.1678

  Longitude: -108.473135

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