The Mesa Verde “Balcony House” climb and tour

Mike Shubic May 11th, 2012 Comments Off

Most of Mesa Verde National Park can be explored on your own, however there are a number of sites (including the Balcony House) that require a permit and guided tour by a knowledgeable park ranger. The price is just $3 for each guided tour, which I really recommend since these are treasured highlights of the park.

Balcony House is an adventurous cliff dwelling tour that requires climbing a series of ladders, including one as tall as 32 feet. And, there is a tight 12′ long tunnel that takes a bit of yielding to get the body through. I found the ladder assents and tunnel navigation to be a lot of fun, however some might look at it with a bit of trepidation. All of the climbing around really adds to the overall excitement of this tour, which I think is one of the coolest in the park. The nod for most popular sight and tour in the park however goes to the”Cliff Palace.”

Balcony House is a medium size cliff dwelling with forty rooms. This particular archeological site illustrates how room and passageway construction evolved over time.

Be sure to stop by the Far View Visitor Center to purchase your tickets for the one-hour tour. Click the following link to see more of my pictures of the Balcony House at Mesa Verde National Park. If you’ve ever been to the “Balcony House” please leave a comment below and tell my readers and me about your experience.

Click the following link if you’d like to see a video of the “Spruce Treehouse.”

Mike Shubic

Mike Shubic is a seasoned road trip travel video blogger, traversing the byways of the world looking for those hidden gems of the road. From unique destinations, unexpected discoveries, creative cuisine, intriguing inns to exciting attractions…the road is his page. The experiences are his ink. And every 300 miles, a new chapter begins. Whether you live vicariously or by example, Mike will do the exploring so you can have an adventure.