Balcony House
Mesa Verde National Park Tours
A tour of Balcony House is one of the most strenuous in the park and not for the faint-of-heart. You will scale the face of a cliff via several tall ladders, squeeze your way through a narrow tunnel on your hands and knees, and explore some of the same passages used over 800 years ago! For those ready for the challenge, this tour offers you the chance to follow in the footsteps of the Ancestral Pueblo residents who lived there. Visit the park website for a virtual tour of Balcony House .
All reservations are available 14 days in advance on a rolling daily window at 8:00 am MDT. For example, a reservation for a tour on May 4 will be available on April 20 starting at 8:00 am MDT.
The tour starts 75 minutes from the park entrance at the Balcony House shade structure.
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If you plan on booking a second tour on the same day, we highly suggest you give yourself a minimum of 2 hours between tour reservations. E.g., a 11:00 am Balcony House tour requires a 1:00 pm or later Cliff Palace tour.
If reserving a tour on Wetherill Mesa, please leave at least 3 hours between tour reservations. E.g.: a 9:00 am Balcony House tour requires 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 one-hour, ranger-led tour, you will climb a 32 foot (9.8 m) ladder, crawl through an 18 inch (45 cm) wide by 27 inch (68 cm) tall tunnel extending 12 feet (3.7 m) long, and climb up a 66-foot (20 m) open cliff face with uneven stone steps and two 18 foot (5.5 m) ladders to exit. This link shows a video of the tour location and challenges.
Ladders can be hot in the morning. Gloves can be helpful for staying cool while climbing ladders at Balcony House.
- 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). Turn left. Balcony House is 3.4 miles (5.5 km) ahead. The tour begins at the Balcony House shade structure.
To make sure you arrive on time, allow at least 1 to 1-1/4 hour to drive to the Balcony House parking lot from the park entrance. Meet the ranger at the benches (under the shade structure). You MUST arrive 15 minutes early for a safety and logistics briefing.
- Safety Information
Balcony House is a strenuous tour, especially if you have heart or respiratory problems or other physical difficulties. Know your physical health and fitness before joining a 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 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. Childrenunder 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 10: 9:00 am. 9:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:00 pm
May 11 - May 23: 9:00 am. 9:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:00 pm
May 24 - September 23: 9:00 am, 9:30am, 10:30 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:00 pm
September 24 - October 19: Anticipated: 9:00 am, 9:30am, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:00 pm
October 20: 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 35 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: 37.162388
Longitude: -108.46519
