Balcony House [Suggest Edits]

Description

Excavated in 1910 by national park service archaeologist Jesse Nusbaum, the Balcony House site contains a 40-room cliff dwelling once populated by the Ancestral Puebloans around A.D. 1200. Today, the Balcony House provides visitors with a glimpse into the architecture, religion, and daily life of a once-vibrant people.

Short Run: Visitors can only access the site through a ranger-led tour. Tickets for the tour are required and can be purchased at several locations around the park. For more information, visit the park's website.

Tours meet at the Balcony House Trail Parking Area, and take about an hour. Be prepared for the most adventurous Mesa Verde trail experience you will have, as you crawl through an 18-inch wide tunnel, numerous passageways, and up a 32-foot ladder to reach the archaeological site.

Gem Type: Prehistoric Site