For hikers of all levels, the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail is a great place to visit during your trip to Mesa Verde National Park. Follow the easy, family-friendly walk leading to great views of Balcony House and Soda Canyon’s other archaeological sites. The park has 5,000 known sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.
One of the Chapin Mesa trailheads, this 1.2-mile (1.9-kilometer) round-trip trail starts 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) north of the parking space for Balcony House along the Cliff Palace Loop Road. Follow a smooth dirt path through Gambel oak, sagebrush, Utah juniper and yucca. In the summer, expect high temperatures in this open area. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
Notice some of the park’s most photographed cliff dwellings from three canyon overlooks, including the famous Balcony House cliff dwelling to the southwest. This is the only place in the park to see the Balcony House without signing up for a tour.
To learn more about the Ancestral Puebloan residents and get a closer look at the Balcony House, purchase tickets for an adventurous guided tour. From the overlook, you’ll notice the 32-foot (10-meter) ladder that visitors climb to get to the ruins.
Other interesting hikes in the Chapin Mesa area include the Petroglyph Point Trail, offering excellent views of Navajo and Spruce Canyons and the opportunity to view a large petroglyph panel. The Spruce Canyon Trail allows exploration of the canyon floor and its vegetation. Both trails are 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometers) loops. Additionally, walk the 0.5-mile (0.8-kilometer) Farming Terrace Trail loop to see a series of check dams built by the Ancestral Pueblo people. Visit the Far View Sites Complex, including Far View House, several other villages and a dry reservoir.
Walk along the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail from March through October when the Cliff Palace Loop Road is open to car traffic. At other times of year, consider cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or winter hiking.
There is a weekly entrance fee for Mesa Verde National Park or you can purchase an annual pass for free or reduced admission at more than 2,000 sites nationwide.
