Last updated on .
Spruce Tree House is an Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling at UNESCO World Heritage listed Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.
Visiting the Cliff Dwelling
It’s possible to visit Spruce Tree House on a self-guided tour most of the year. It’s open from early March to early November. During the winter, free ranger guided tours are available three times daily.
Spruce Tree House is the easiest cliff dwelling to access at Mesa Verde and also the best-preserved. There’s a ½ mile round-trip path down to the site or it can be viewed from an overlook.
The structures were built between 1211 and 1278. It’s the third largest cliff dwelling at the park and contains about 130 rooms and eight kivas. About 60 to 80 people lived there.
The cliff dwelling was discovered in 1888 by local ranchers searching for stray cattle. It was opened to the public in 1908.
Visitors to the cliff dwelling have the chance to enter a kiva via a ladder.
Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum
The Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum sits at the top of the trail to Spruce Tree House. It’s possible to watch a 25 minute film about the park and see the UNESCO World Heritage listing plaque.
In the museum, there are dioramas illustrating life in an Ancestral Puebloan village. There are also prehistoric artifacts and other items on display.
Trails
Two trails begin at the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum. The Petroglyph Point Trail and the Spruce Canyon Trail are both 2.4 miles round-trip. Hikers are required to register at the museum or trailhead before setting off. We didn’t have enough time to do either trail, but I hope to do both on a return trip.
Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe
If you need to grab a bite to eat, the Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe. It’s open daily and has indoor and outdoor dining as well as take away orders.
