Pros & cons
PROS
- Mesa‑top tower paired with a kiva from around AD 1100–1300
- Adjacent 0.5‑mile Farming Terrace Loop with check dams and terraces
CONS
- Very limited parking at a small pullout
- No onsite services; plan as if there are none
Overview
Cedar Tree Tower is a mesa‑top Ancestral Puebloan tower paired with a kiva, built roughly between AD 1100 and 1300. Its purpose is debated—ceremonial space, part of a communication network, or a lookout—but the combo of tower and kiva hints at something more than everyday living. It’s a quick, self‑guided stop that adds welcome variety to the park’s many cliff‑dwelling overlooks.
What You’ll See
From the small roadside pullout, you’ll walk a short path to view the tower and kiva foundations (the structure is roped off; viewing only). The setting gives you a feel for mesa‑top life and, on clear days, decent views across the surrounding country.
Farming Terrace Loop
Right next door, the 0.5‑mile Farming Terrace Loop showcases check dams and terracing the Ancestral Pueblo people built to slow runoff and trap soil and moisture—smart water management on a dry mesa. It’s an easy stroll and the best way here to connect the dots between architecture and agriculture. Plan about 15–30 minutes at the tower and another 20–40 minutes if you walk the loop.
Getting There & Facilities
Access is via Chapin Mesa, with a small pullout/parking area. There are no services at the stop; the nearest full facilities are at the museum area on Chapin Mesa and at the park entrance complex. Stay on marked paths and please don’t touch or climb the walls—preservation matters.
Best Time to Visit
Open roughly 8:00 am to sunset for self‑guided viewing. Morning or late afternoon brings cooler temps and softer light for photos. Midday can be hot and harsh, and the tiny pullout can fill, so time your stop accordingly or pair it with a lap of the Mesa Top Loop when traffic ebbs.
Where it is
37.1984, -108.4822Tips for Cedar Tree Tower
- 01Budget 15–30 minutes for the tower and 20–40 minutes for the loop.
- 02Hit it early or late to beat heat and get gentler light.
- 03The structure is roped off—view from the perimeter and stay on paths.
- 04Bring water, sun protection, and sturdy shoes; no services at the pullout.
- 05Pair this stop with the Mesa Top Loop drive for broader context.
Amenities
Near Cedar Tree Tower
All places →All trails →
0.1 mi awayFarming Terrace TrailQuick loop into ingenious Ancestral Puebloan dryland farming.Easy · 0.5 mi · 30 min
0.8 mi awaySpruce Canyon TrailQuiet canyon loop with shade, bridges, and a stout climbModerate · 2.4 mi · 2 hr
0.9 mi awaySpruce Tree Terrace CafeQuick, canyon-view cafe near the museum and Spruce Tree HouseFood · Restaurant
1 mi awayChapin Mesa Archaeological MuseumCompact museum with a film and a stellar Spruce Tree House viewRestroom · Exhibit
1 mi awaySpruce Tree HouseThird-largest cliff dwelling, best seen from easy museum overlooksParking · Scenic Viewpoint
1 mi awaySpruce Tree House OverlookBest‑preserved cliff dwelling viewed from easy museum‑side viewpointsParking · Scenic Viewpoint
2.2 mi awayCliff Palace TrailShort, stair-and-ladder tour to Mesa Verde’s signature cliff dwellingModerate · 0.4 mi · 1 hr
2.4 mi awaySun Temple TrailTiny paved loop to a stellar Cliff Palace viewpoint and D-shaped ruinEasy · 0.1 mi · 15 min
