The Balcony House View at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado is a quick roadside stop that leads to the western cliff edge of Soda Canyon and provides visitors with views of Soda Canyon and distant mountains.
This is not a hike and just barely a few steps out from the parking lot to take-in the views of Soda Canyon from the Balcony House View. Note that this viewpoint in the park has a strange name as you actually can't see the Balcony House from the cliff's edge as the ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings are sitting in an alcove below your feet. This is the starting point for the long, and strenuous, guided tour to explore the Balcony House, however. If you do not have a guided tour scheduled, you can show up to enjoy the views of Soda Canyon before heading off to explore more stops or actual trails at the park.
For folks who want a good view of the Balcony House, you should consider hiking the short and relatively-easy Soda Canyon Overlook Trail, located right down the road. The views from the southern-most overlook along that trail provide stunning views into the Balcony House complex.
Universal Access
This trail follows a paved and universally-accessible pathway as of June 2024.
Parking
Visitors will find a parking lot at the coordinates provided along Cliff Palace Loop Road in the park. As of June 2024, the lot is large enough to fit approximately a dozen vehicles.
Pets
Dogs are not allowed on this trail. Dogs are allowed on paved trails including the Park Point Trail and the Mesa Top Loop Sites including: The Navajo Canyon Overlook, Square Tower House Overlook Trail, Pithouses & Pueblos Loop, Mesa Top Sites Trail, Sun Point Pueblo, Sun Point View, Oak Tree House View, Fire Temple & New Fire House View, and the Sun Temple & Cliff Palace View.
Warning
Steep cliffs: This trail leads out to tall and steep cliffs.
This is not a hike and just barely a few steps out from the parking lot to take-in the views of Soda Canyon from the Balcony House View. Note that this viewpoint in the park has a strange name as you actually can't see the Balcony House from the cliff's edge as the ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings are sitting in an alcove below your feet. This is the starting point for the long, and strenuous, guided tour to explore the Balcony House, however. If you do not have a guided tour scheduled, you can show up to enjoy the views of Soda Canyon before heading off to explore more stops or actual trails at the park.
For folks who want a good view of the Balcony House, you should consider hiking the short and relatively-easy Soda Canyon Overlook Trail, located right down the road. The views from the southern-most overlook along that trail provide stunning views into the Balcony House complex.
Universal Access
This trail follows a paved and universally-accessible pathway as of June 2024.
Parking
Visitors will find a parking lot at the coordinates provided along Cliff Palace Loop Road in the park. As of June 2024, the lot is large enough to fit approximately a dozen vehicles.
Pets
Dogs are not allowed on this trail. Dogs are allowed on paved trails including the Park Point Trail and the Mesa Top Loop Sites including: The Navajo Canyon Overlook, Square Tower House Overlook Trail, Pithouses & Pueblos Loop, Mesa Top Sites Trail, Sun Point Pueblo, Sun Point View, Oak Tree House View, Fire Temple & New Fire House View, and the Sun Temple & Cliff Palace View.
Warning
Steep cliffs: This trail leads out to tall and steep cliffs.
