Square Tower House Tours (reservation required) 10 people per tour.

Fee:

General Admission $25.00 Cancellation Fee $1.00 per ticket Late Cancellation Fee No refunds on day of tour

Location: LAT/LONG: 37.166880, -108.492858

From the park entrance, drive 20 miles (32 km) to the all-way stop on Chapin Mesa. Turn left onto the Mesa Top Loop. Drive 1.9 (3 km) miles to Square Tower House parking. To make sure you arrive on time, allow 75 minutes to drive from the park entrance to the Square Tower House trailhead. Meet the ranger at the Square Tower House trailhead at 8:45 am. Hikers depart for Square Tower House promptly at 9:00. You MUST arrive 15 minutes early for a safety and logistics briefing before your tour. Parking may be limited. Consider parking at the Navajo Canyon Overlook on the Mesa Top Loop, from which Square Tower House is a short walk.

Repeating Event

Days:

Every day

Dates:

August 05, 2024 to October 22, 2024

Time:

9:00 AM

Duration:

1 hour and 30 minutes

Type of Event

Guided Tour

9:00 am – Every day as scheduling permits.

Description

Backcountry tours are held once daily starting May 24th and are limited to 10 people.

Square Tower House

Featuring the tallest standing structure in the park, an intact kiva roof, original plaster and paint, and plentiful rock art. Square Tower House is one of Mesa Verde's most impressive cliff dwellings. Visitors to the Mesa Top Loop can get a great view from the overlook, but intrepid hikers are treated to an adventurous and intimate look inside Square Tower House on this special ranger-guided tour.

What to Expect

This strenuous ranger-led 90-minute tour is a 1-mile (1.6 km) in and out access along an unpaved, uneven trail. It descends 120 ft (37 m), and includes steep drop-offs, switchbacks, and two 16 ft (5 m) ladders. Each hiker must be able to scramble over boulders, walk a 34 ft long (10 m), narrow cliff ledge, navigate steep gravel trails, and descend/ascend ladders unassisted.

Know your physical health and fitness before joining a Square Tower House tour. Elevations range between 7,000 and 7,500 ft (2134 m and 2286 m) above sea level. You should plan for all weather possibilities because conditions can vary. It's possible to begin your hike in full sun and end with a thunderstorm. Bring a minimum of 1/2 gallon (2 liters) of water per person.

More information

Reservation or Registration: Yes

our reservations are made only on recreation.gov or by calling the toll free number 1-877-444-6777. Reservations are available 14 days in advance, beginning at 8:00 am MDT and fill up early. However, if somone cancels their reservation these tickets become available and can be purchased only at recreation.gov up to two hours before a tour. Reserving a tour is much easier if you create a recreation.gov account in advance. Go to recreation.gov and select the "Sign Up/Log In" tab in the upper right corner. You will receive digital confirmation and a digital ticket which is your reservation. You will not receive a paper ticket. Please take a screenshot of your reservation or print a paper copy before you arrive at the park and bring it with you to show the ranger before your tour. Without it, you will not be allowed on a tour. Because cell service is extremely limited, reservations cannot be accessed at tour sites. American Sign Language interpreters are available for ancestral site tours upon request. Please make your reservation through recreation.gov then contact the park with a request for an ASL interpreter at least one week in advance of your tour reservation.

Make Reservation or Register

Contact Us