Top 5 Caves モンテズマ郡

The Balcony House in Mesa Verde National Park is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people. A long parapet wall and prominent balconies give the settlement its name. Balcony House is a striking testament to the architecture and daily life of the Pueblo peoples in the 13th century. Visits are only possible as part of a ranger-led tour and require climbing a 10-meter-high wooden ladder and crawling through a short, narrow tunnel.

Saddle horn ruin is visible from the trail and is a lovely sight to behold

The Balcony House Tour in Mesa Verde National Park is a one-hour, ranger-guided experience that provides a chance to learn about a mid-sized cliff dwelling with 38 rooms and two kivas. This strenuous tour requires participants to descend a 130-step staircase, climb a 32-foot ladder to enter the site, navigate small ladders and uneven steps in the dwelling, crawl through an 18-inch wide by 12-foot long tunnel, and ascend a 60-foot open cliff face with uneven steps and then back down two 17-foot ladders. Reservations are required and can be made through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777, starting 14 days in advance. The tour begins at the Balcony House parking area on Cliff Palace Loop Road, which is accessible seasonally. It is not recommended for individuals with heart or respiratory issues, problems with heights and ladders, and children must be able to climb the ladders on their own.

Fantastic visit !

The Sand Canyon Trail is a one of a kind trail. It's true to its name in the fact that it's sandy and travels up a canyon the whole time. That being said, it's almost guaranteed to provide you with a lot of solitude since not a ton of people hike this trail. It's also lined with cool rock features, canyon plants, and lots of hidden caves and ancient ruins. There are spur trails that lead to most of the ruins accessible off the side of the path.

At the end of a short spur trail, you come to a cave in the side of the canyon wall. Within the cave are some well-kept ruins. The closer you get, the better the view, but make sure to not disturb the area so that it can be preserved for future generations.

Of the many cliff dwellings and ruins that can be found at Canyons of The Ancients National Monument, the Saddlehorn Pueblo is one of the most picturesque. It features some obvious brick walls that are preserved within a cave in the side of the canyon wall. There are spur trails that let you explore area up close.

Step House is free to visit and can be accessed from the trailhead by the Wetherill Mesa kiosk. The trail is open between spring and fall and you should allow around three quarters of an hour to do the site justice. Among the ancient dwellings at Mesa Verde, Step House is unique in that there is evidence of two separate occupations. It is thought that the site was occupied some six hundred years before the famous cliff dwellings were built.