DiscoverPlaces to seeNatural MonumentsUnited StatesColoradoMontezuma County
Cliff Palace View & Loop Trail
DiscoverPlaces to seeNatural MonumentsUnited StatesColoradoMontezuma County
Cliff Palace View & Loop Trail
Highlight • Historical Site
Cliff Palace View & Loop Trail
Hiking
5.0
(11)
This Highlight is in a protected area
Please check local regulations for:
Tips
Caro "Bandit"
June 25, 2020
Hiking
Perfect photo spot for the Cliff Palace from the Cliff Palace Loop. The palace consists of at least 150 rooms and was home for around 100 people. One assumes that Cliff Palace was a social, administrative site with high ceremonial usage.
The loop trail brings you to the palace, the Balcony House and other view points for cliff dwellings. It is open from 8 am to sunset.
The loop trail brings you to the palace, the Balcony House and other view points for cliff dwellings. It is open from 8 am to sunset.
Sigrid
October 17, 2025
Hiking
The Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, is the largest and most famous cliff dwelling in North America and an architectural masterpiece of the Ancestral Pueblo people. It was built between 1190 and 1280 in a rock niche in the canyon wall from sandstone blocks, mortar, and wooden beams. The settlement housed approximately 100 people and served as a social and ceremonial center. The site can only be visited as part of a ranger-led tour, which involves descending uneven steps and several ladders.
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Nearby routes
Best routes near Cliff Palace View & Loop Trail
1
hikers
722m
00:14
30m
40m
Explore the ancient Cliff Palace on this easy 0.4-mile ranger-guided hike in Mesa Verde National Park, featuring cliff dwellings and canyon
Easy
5.55km
01:38
160m
160m
Explore the ancient Cliff Palace on this 3.5-mile easy hike in Mesa Verde National Park, featuring unique ladders and historical dwellings.
Easy
1
hikers
5.09km
01:27
110m
110m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Easy
Details
Informations
Elevation 2,050 m
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Monday 6 April
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6°C
16 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h
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