Cliff Palace Administrative Seat

Address: Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330, United States (Cliff Palace on Chapin Mesa)

Website: https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

Hours: Visitor Center hours vary seasonally; park open year-round (check NPS for guided tour schedules)

Admission: Mesa Verde National Park entrance fee: $15 per vehicle (7 days); Cliff Palace guided tour fee varies (typically a small additional fee and reservation required)

Cliff Palace is a large Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling located in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, noted as the largest cliff dwelling in North America. It is built into a natural alcove and comprises many interconnected rooms and ceremonial kivas.

The structure includes roughly 150 rooms and 23 kivas grouped across multiple levels, with masonry walls and wooden roof elements preserved in the alcove. Views across the canyon show the dwelling’s position within the cliff face and the surrounding mesa country.

The dwelling was constructed by Ancestral Puebloan people during the Pueblo III period and was occupied in the late 12th and early 13th centuries CE before being abandoned. Archaeological study and conservation have focused on masonry preservation and interpretation for visitors.

Cliff Palace sits within Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado, on cliffs overlooking a canyon system. The nearest town providing visitor services is Cortez, and the site is managed as part of the national park.

• Scale and access: Contains about 150 rooms and 23 kivas, making it the largest cliff dwelling documented in North America. Interior access is restricted and typically requires a ranger-led tour.

Mesa Verde National Park is accessed via US Highway 160 near Cortez, Colorado. Cliff Palace is on Chapin Mesa; follow park roads from the Visitor and Research Center to the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum where Cliff Palace tours depart. The park is about 40 minutes by car from Cortez; shuttles and park roads operate seasonally.

• Cliff Palace is accessible only via ranger-guided tours (seasonal); reserve spots in advance on the NPS website.
• Visit early in the day to avoid midday tour crowds and to get the best light on the cliff dwellings.
• Combine Cliff Palace with a scenic drive through Mesa Verde's Chapin Mesa and stops at other overlooks for context.