Cliff Palace

About

Cliff Palace is the largest known cliff dwelling in North America, located within Mesa Verde National Park on the Western Slope of Colorado. The site is accessible via a moderate hiking trail that begins at the Cliff Palace Overlook, approximately 200 feet from the parking lot. The route involves descending roughly 100 feet total, first via a steel stairway and then through narrow, uneven stone steps within a rock defile. The typical duration for the visit is about two hours. The site is open year-round, though the access road operates from 8 am to sunset between late spring and December 1. Parking is available for both automobiles and buses, and pets are permitted in the outdoor areas. The dwelling was constructed between 1190 and 1280 CE by the Ancestral Pueblo people and once housed over 100 residents. Ranger-guided tours are available, though reservations may be required.