Mesa Verde National Park is a wonderful place for children. However, the idea of scrambling up rock steps and down wooden ladders is worrisome for parents who often wonder which cliff dwelling tours are the best for children.
Of all the cliff dwelling tours in Mesa Verde, Cliff Palace is one of the easiest in the Chapin Mesa area while Step House is the easiest on Weatherill Mesa. The best tour for kids depends on their ages and skills, and some tours might not be suitable for very young children.
Here is the information you need to know about the different tours at Mesa Verde:
What You Need to Know About Tours in Mesa Verde
Before you visit Mesa Verde, there are some things you need to know. It’s important to research and prepare well. The National Park Service website is the best place to visit for up-to-date information on conditions, closures, and last-minute changes. Many of the tours sell out early so you have to plan ahead in order to buy tickets. Once you have decided which tours you would like, and researched to make sure they will be available, visit recreation.gov to book your tickets.
Your children can accompany you on nearly all tours as long as you take some precautions. Children have to be able to walk, climb ladders, and navigate rock steps. Take your and your children’s abilities into account when choosing a tour, and don’t overestimate your skills. However, I believe most children over the age of 3 or 4 with average abilities will be able to handle these tours. Younger children and infants will need to be carried in a backpack or other carrier. In addition, the adults with the carrier must be able to maintain their balance while climbing ladders and stairs and even while crawling through tunnels (Balcony House).
The Cliff Dwelling Tours: What You Need to Know About Each One
There are several different cliff dwellings that can be toured at Mesa Verde, either with a ranger or on your own. Depending on when you visit, some of the tours might not be available. Here is a chart giving the basic information about each tour, followed by more detailed information. Make sure to always check the National Park website to verify the information, especially information on road closures, weather conditions, and other recent developments that might affect your visit. As in any wilderness area, conditions can change rapidly.
Cliff Palace
Cliff Palace is located on Chapin Mesa near the museum and is the largest dwelling in the park. In order to access Cliff Palace, visitors will descend many narrow stone steps cut into the rock. Most of the path is not located directly over a drop-off, however, some parts will require careful navigation and hand-holding. Visitors will also climb several wooden ladders while on the tour. This is now the easiest tour in the Chapin Mesa area, as Spruce Tree House is closed indefinitely. Most children will be able to navigate this tour but babies and toddlers should be in carriers.
Balcony House
The “most adventurous” of the tours according to the NPS, Balcony House requires a higher level of fitness, coordination, and bravery than any other tour. To access Balcony House, visitors climb down a tall set of metal steps and then ascend a 32-foot wooden ladder. After the tour, they must exit through an obstacle course including crawling through a narrow tunnel and pulling themselves up steep stone stairs with a chain railing. Even the dwelling itself has some dangerous spots and narrow ledges. The visitor center has examples of the ladder and tunnel to help you determine if this tour is a good choice for your family. Our children handled it well, including a 5-year-old.
Long House
The trail to Long House is not difficult but it is long and has a few steep areas. You will have to walk about a mile before you get to the dwelling. You will be walking along a paved road or trail. The last stretch before you arrive has switchbacks as you descend into the canyon, but they are manageable and not too steep. Once you arrive you will be treated to the park’s longest and most in-depth tour while you walk around inside this large, open alcove. This tour can be taken by most children as long as they can handle the 1-mile out-and-back hike and can listen quietly during the presentation.
Square Tower House
Square Tower House is different from the other tours in several ways. This is the only cliff dwelling with such a dramatic, high building still standing. The tour is open to those aged 3 and up and may be one of the most strenuous tours to access. Visitors will walk down a 1-milk gravel trail, climbing ladders, scrambling boulders, and avoiding drop-offs along the cliff edges. This tour is best for older children, teens, and adults who are prepared for the difficult hike. You can check the availability of this tour on the recreation.gov site.
Step House
Step House is one of the only cave dwellings in the park that allows self-guided tours. This makes it a great option for children who don’t have the patience to sit quietly during presentations. The dwelling is only open during times when there is a ranger present. To reach this village, visitors will travel along a steep 1-mile trail. While it does require a longer hike compared with some dwellings, there are no steep stairs, ladders, or tunnels here.
Spruce Tree House
Spruce Tree House is the best-preserved dwelling in the park, and also one of the easiest to access and most accessible. It also used to be open for self-guided tours, which are ideal for children with short attention spans. Unfortunately, this tour was closed indefinitely in 2015 because of falling rocks. The park is taking measures to evaluate and mediate any further rock falls, however, they have no estimated opening time for this dwelling. It can be viewed from the Spruce Tree House Overlook.
How to Be Prepared for Your Tour
It’s important to be adequately prepared for your adventures in Mesa Verde National Park, especially if you are visiting with children. You need to understand the types of obstacles you will encounter on your tour and make sure everyone in your party is mentally and physically capable. In my opinion, most children over the age of 3 or 4 can handle all of the cliff-dwelling tours, as long as they are able to obey instructions and they aren’t scared of heights. Both children and adults need to be honest about their abilities to squeeze through tight spaces, climb ladders and stone steps over drop-offs, and handle strenuous hikes at high altitudes. People of all ages successfully attend these tours each year.
Southwestern Colorado is a high desert environment which means you could encounter a variety of temperatures and weather conditions during your visit. The weather could be hot or cool, and you are likely to have sunny conditions but afternoon thunderstorms are common as well.
Be prepared for your tour by taking the following precautions:
- Dress in layers-bring a light sweater or windbreaker even if the day seems warm
- Carry plenty of water
- Bring snacks, but leave them in the car (food isn’t allowed in archeological areas)
- Wear good-quality hiking shoes or tennis shoes with good traction
- Pack lightly, you will be climbing ladders and stairs on your tour
- Apply sunscreen in the car and bring sunglasses and hats if needed
- If you feel the need to bring a first-aid kit, keep it simple- bandaids, ointment, tweezers, and itch cream are usually sufficient
Safety and Respect In Archeological Areas
Your children can learn to be both safe and respectful while you are visiting these fragile archeological sites. First, make sure that you and your family understand that the cliff dwellings and trails are often located near drop-offs and the dwellings themselves contain pits and walls that children could fall off of. Emphasize the importance of listening, remaining near the adults, and holding hands when needed.
Along with being safe, children can also learn how to be respectful during their visit. These important historic places were once the homes, farms, burial sites, and religious areas for hundreds of people and today they are sacred to the descendants of the original residents. Teach your children to listen quietly to the tour guides, to respect the rules (such as not touching the structures to avoid damaging them), and to try and picture what it would be like to live there. Avoid running and yelling as it isn’t respectful to the atmosphere or other guests (there are better places for this kind of play, which we encourage!) Finally, respect the wilderness status of the park and teach your children to stay on trails, leave plants and flowers alone, and not feed the wildlife.
- Stay on trails (unless you are in an off-trail area)
- Don’t remove or move anything such as artifacts or flowers
- Avoid touching and climbing on any ruins or protected structures
- Don’t take food or snacks of any kind into cliff dwellings
- Listen quietly when you are at a ranger talk or demonstration
- Never feed wild animals or birds
- Pets are not allowed in many areas of the park including trails and dwellings.
Education and History in Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde National Park provides a wealth of educational options for parents and children. You will learn so much while visiting, and you will have fun doing it. The park is an interesting place where the imaginations of your children will be ignited and they will be able to picture what it would be like to live in a different time and place.
One of the best ways to learn about the park, the people who used to live there, and the history of the area is by completing the Junior Ranger Program. This program is available at over 400 National Park Sites around the country, including Mesa Verde. In order to get their Junior Ranger badge, children (and interested adults!) simply need to pick up a copy of the Junior Ranger book at the visitor center, complete it, and return it. The booklet contains activities that children can do while exploring the park or riding in the car. Younger children don’t have to complete as many activities.
While you are in the park, make sure that you take advantage of educational displays, dioramas, and activities. Visit the park museum and visitor center and encourage your children to take their time looking at the exhibits. Consider attending a ranger program or talk, especially any geared towards children. Cliff dwelling tours are the best way to learn about the daily life of the families who lived here so long ago.
Finally, consider visiting nearby museums, archeological sites, and other educational areas if you still want to learn more about the ancient ones and their families, history, and way of life.
Conclusion
Mesa Verde National Park is one of my favorite parks. It has nature, beautiful views, excellent weather, and a wonderful amount of history. There is plenty here to keep kids interested and exploring, from museums and tours to hiking and camping. While you are here, be sure to have fun with your kids, take your time, and allow them to hike and learn at their own pace.
Read more about Mesa Verde in the rest of this series:
Visiting Mesa Verde National Park With Your Kids