Hey! I Can Do That

🧗‍♀️ The Cliff Palace Tour Adventure: “Hey! I Can Do That!” (Sort Of…)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my Hey! I Can Do That adventures, it’s that sometimes you just have to jump in — even if you’re not totally sure what you’re doing. My trip to Mesa Verde National Park was exactly that kind of moment. Tucked away in southwest Colorado, Mesa Verde is home to some of the most incredible Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in the world — and I was determined to see the legendary Cliff Palace up close.

Getting tickets wasn’t as simple as showing up at the gate, though. You have to reserve your Cliff Palace tour in advance through Recreation.gov( which was simple enough. ) In this post, I’ll walk you through my experience booking the tour, what to expect during your visit, and why Mesa Verde absolutely deserves a spot on your travel bucket list.

When we arrived at the overlook to meet our Mesa Verde park ranger, our group of four adults and two kids — ages 13 and 3 — was ready for the Cliff Palace tour. According to the stats I’d read, it was only a ¼-mile hike, a 100-foot elevation change, and labeled moderate difficulty. Sounds easy enough, right? Spoiler alert: it was not that simple.

Before we started, the ranger explained that everyone must be able to climb a ladder unassisted. My sister-in-law and niece decided to sit this one out. The rest of us looked at each other and said the words that define my blog — “Hey! I can do that!”

At first, it seemed fine. We made our way down slick sandstone steps — the kind that make you instantly question your shoe choice. Then we reached the first 8-foot ladder. Did I mention I’m terrified of heights? That’s when I realized we were officially on the edge of a cliff. Like… literally on the edge. Nothing between us and the canyon floor. My heart was racing, but somehow, I climbed that ladder like a champ (or at least pretended to).

We waited near the cliff dwellings while the group before us finished their tour. Standing there, looking out over the vast canyon, I was struck by how incredible it was to see where the Ancestral Puebloan people lived, carved into these cliffs hundreds of years ago. My teen son was fascinated — leaning over edges, asking questions, and giving me major anxiety while I clung to the rock face like a nervous squirrel.

When we finally moved into the actual dwellings, the rest of my group moved swiftly and without fear. I found a spot far from the edge and didn’t move. Listening to the park ranger describe how the ancient people lived was fascinating — but I’ll admit, I quickly forgot everything I’d learned when the ranger said, “Okay, time to head up.”

Here’s where it got real. I was only six months out from a segmented ankle fracture, and while I was doing my best to keep up, I felt unsteady. When I turned around and saw three ladders stacked nearly 30 feet straight up, with tiny ledges for breaks, my stomach dropped.

I froze. Then the tears started. My son went first, my significant other behind me, gently nudging me upward while I ugly-cried my way up each rung. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it echo off the canyon walls. The entire tour group rallied behind me, cheering me on — “You’ve got this!” “Almost there!” (Lies. I was not almost there.)

When I finally reached the top, I crawled onto the ground and just lay there, worshiping the solid earth beneath me. My whole body was shaking. One by one, people came over to tell me how brave I was. I didn’t feel brave — I felt exhausted, terrified, and deeply grateful that I didn’t have to be rescued by a park ranger.

We laugh about it now, but at that moment, I was certain I’d met my match. Still… I can officially say, “Hey! I did that!”