Balcony House

Mesa Verde National Park Tours

Balcony House tours have ended for the 2024 season. Tour information will be posted for the 2025 season in March. 

The tour starts 75 minutes from the park entrance at the Balcony House shade structure. 

A tour of Balcony House is one of the most adventurous 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 . 

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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 11:0am Balcony House tour would require a 1:00 pm or later Cliff Palace tour.

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 video of the tour location and challenges. 

  Morning tours should expect ladders that can be hot in the sun. Bring non-slip gloves for the ladders and be prepared for warm surfaces.

• 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

  Know your physical health and fitness before joining a Balcony 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.

  Wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and bring a minimum of 1/4 gallon (1 liter) 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.

  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 15 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

  Tours plan to start in May 2025.

• Reservation Price

  $8.00 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.

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

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