Title: Balcony House in Mesa Verde National Park - Tours and Activities | Expedia.ca [Balcony House Hotels](https://expedia.ca/Balcony-House-Hotels.0-l6328128-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels)[Flights to Mesa Verde National Park](https://expedia.ca/Cheap-Flights-To-Mesa-Verde-National-Park.d6144764.Travel-Guide-Flights)[Things to do in Mesa Verde National Park](https://expedia.ca/Things-To-Do-In-Mesa-Verde-National-Park.d6144764.Travel-Guide-Activities)[Balcony House Car Rentals](https://expedia.ca/Car-Rentals-In-Balcony-House.d6328128.Car-Rental-Guide)[Mesa Verde National Park Vacations](https://expedia.ca/Mesa-Verde-National-Park.d6144764.Destination-Travel-Guides) # Balcony House Tours and Activities ![Balcony House featuring heritage elements](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/226000/226615-Balcony-House.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![Balcony House](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/226000/226624-Balcony-House.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![Balcony House which includes tranquil scenes](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/226000/226626-Balcony-House.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![Balcony House featuring a ruin and heritage elements](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/226000/226619-Balcony-House.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![Balcony House showing tranquil scenes](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/226000/226628-Balcony-House.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ## Visit Balcony House Activities * * * * * * #### Careful excavations have ensured the preservation of this historical cliff dwelling, which was built by the ancestors of the Pueblo Indians. Explore Balcony House, a 40-room cliff dwelling carved into a rock face in Mesa Verde National Park. The dwelling was most likely constructed during the 1200s by the ancestors of the Pueblo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico. Enjoy an educational and adventurous tour of this fascinating ancient residence. Learn about the first documented discovery of Balcony House by S. E. Osborn, a prospector whose name and the date 1884 have been found carved into a separate dwelling in Soda Canyon. He later went on to describe his discoveries of the dwellings of Mesa Verde in a newspaper in 1886, with one description closely fitting that of Balcony House as it stands today. Excavations on the dwelling began in 1910 by archaeologist Jesse Nusbaum, who not only beautifully preserved the architectural integrity of the site but also stabilized it to allow visitors to enter. Take a ranger-guided tour of the dwelling’s rooms and passageways. Understand how the construction of the rooms and passages within Balcony House developed over time when you notice the different shapes and styles of the carvings. Accessing the dwelling is an adventure in itself. Climb the 32-foot (10-meter) ladder to reach the main entrance. Be ready for additional steps after passing through a narrow tunnel. Although the steps are modern in design, the climb is steep and requires good balance and confidence. Be sure you’re able to endure strenuous activity at the 7,000-foot (2,100-meter) elevation of the park before you start on this trail. Mesa Verde National Park is located in southwest Colorado. It is accessible only by car and charges admission. The route into the park is steep and narrow, but it offers wonderful scenic views into four different states. Allow about 2 hours to make the round-trip journey into and out of the park from Durango or Cortez. Access Balcony House only through an organized ranger tour. Tours run from mid April to late October and last for about 60 minutes. Purchase tickets at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center or several other sites. Find information on the Mesa Verde National park website. ### Popular places to visit ![Soda Canyon Overlook Trail](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/454000/454539-Soda-Canyon-Overlook-Trail.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Soda Canyon Overlook Trail For an easy hike with good views of several ruins in Mesa Verde National Park, choose this short stroll to the canyon edge. [](https://expedia.ca/Soda-Canyon-Overlook-Trail-Mesa-Verde-National-Park.d553248635695673036.Vacation-Attraction) ![Cliff Palace which includes heritage architecture and building ruins as well as a small group of people](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/226000/226719-Cliff-Palace.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Cliff Palace 5/5(4 reviews) Explore this immense 700-year-old cliff dwelling, the largest and most famous ancestral residence in the impressive Mesa Verde National Park. [](https://expedia.ca/Cliff-Palace-Mesa-Verde-National-Park.d6328139.Vacation-Attraction) ![Cliff Canyon](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/227000/227086-Cliff-Canyon.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Cliff Canyon The Balcony House and the Cliff Palace show how 12th-century people carved out their lives within these awe-inspiring natural walls. [](https://expedia.ca/Cliff-Canyon-Colorado.d553248635185386897.Vacation-Attraction) ![Mesa Verde National Park which includes heritage elements and building ruins](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/227000/227170-Spruce-Tree-House.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Spruce Tree House 5/5(4 reviews) If you have time to see only one of Mesa Verde National Park’s cliff dwellings, make it this beautifully preserved site, visible from the museum. [](https://expedia.ca/Spruce-Tree-House-Mesa-Verde-National-Park.d553248621555471479.Vacation-Attraction) ![Petroglyph Point Trail showing tranquil scenes](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/226000/226564-Petroglyph-Point-Trail.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Petroglyph Point Trail Get a close-up view of ruins and fascinating native rock art on this hiking path, as you learn about the cultural treasures of Mesa Verde National Park. [](https://expedia.ca/Petroglyph-Point-Trail-Mesa-Verde-National-Park.d6328156.Vacation-Attraction) ![Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum showing interior views as well as a small group of people](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/226000/226593-Chapin-Mesa-Archeological-Museum.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum 5/5(5 reviews) This fascinating museum depicts the life of the Ancestral Puebloan people through the use of intricate dioramas and prehistoric artifacts. 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