Balcony House, Mesa Verde National Park, CO
Posted by: 
94RedRover
N 37° 09.694 W 108° 27.866
12S E 725146 N 4115806
The Balcony House is one of the ruins that is not visible from the roadway, but from the view and meeting area for this tour, there are numerous other dwellings visible.
Waymark Code: WM3B18
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 03/07/2008
Views: 28
A $3.00 guided tour is required to gain access to the Balcony House. From Mesa Top Ruin Road, it isn't visible, as it is snuggled in the cliff below you. The Balcony House is believed to have been inhabited much later than som eof the other ruins, and it's claim to fame may have been a strong spring that provided ample water to its residents. There ia evidence however, that the structure changed dramatically towards the end of it's inhabitation.
Getting down to the dwelling, one is immediately faced with a wall that was put up blocking good entrance to the rest of the dwelling. The distinct outline of a doorway and large windows being bricked up stare right at you. The only way in is through a 12 foot tunnel, that even a child would have to crawl to get through. This would easily allow anyone protecting the site to be able to strike whoever came through easily and effectively.
Was this bricked up entrance for protection...or was this a stronghold for the precious water source?
Wanna get back up to the mesa top? Don't worry. You do not have to climb up the cliff wall with your fingertips, as the original inhabitants obviously did. There is now a 32 foot ladder to climb up. It shakes, it's high up...just don't look down...
Trailhead: N 37° 09.693 W 108° 27.895
Type: Ruins
How did you find this "Ancient Evidence": Other
Terrain Rating: 
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