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Cliff Palace is a cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s located along the Cliff Palace Loop Road which can be found at the end of Mesa Top Ruins Road.
Overlook
From the parking lot, there’s a short trail to an overlook where you can view Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America, from above.
History
The cliff dwelling was built by the Ancestral Puebloans from about 1190 to 1260 and was abandoned by about 1300. The structure contained over 150 rooms and 23 kivas. About 100 people lived there. It was rediscovered on December 18, 1888, by local rancher Richard Wetherill and his brother-in-law, Charlie Mason, while searching for stray cattle.
Guided Tours
It’s only possible to visit the cliff dwelling on a ranger guided tour. Tickets cost US$8 (as of September 2024) and must be purchased online up to 14 days in advance. They sell out quickly and are only available mid May through mid October. Tours last about an hour.
Tours to Cliff Palace were sold out for our visit, but we were able to do a tour of Balcony House, which is also located on the loop.
Other Views
Also from the overlook, there are some fantastic views of the canyon and another smaller cliff dwelling across the way.
