Getting to visit historic sites is always excited to me, and I take my family to them wherever we travel. Wuptaki National Monument was so much more than I expected and it quickly became my favorite historic site in Arizona. There are several different ruins areas, a great visitors center and quite a few trails to explore. You can easily spend a half day or more at Wupatki National Monument, especially if you’re into wildlife photography.
Had you heard of Wupatki National Monument before now? It’s a fascinating place, both for the ancient ruins side of things AND for the sociological interest bit. Wupatki National Monument is going to kind of blow your mind a bit, so hang tight. If you have any questions about visiting Wupatki National Monument or planning an Arizona road trip, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help others plan awesome adventures.
Highlights of Wupatki National Monument
Wupatki National Monument really is unique in comparison with other ancient ruins sites in Arizona. wow! places like Casa Grande or Tuzigoot are not very large, Wupatki National Monument is huge and it has several different ruins areas with pueblos and even architectural technology that you might not ever expect to see in historic ruins.
As you enter from the north, there are some small Pueblo ruins you can visit and each one is very different. Some of them it is very clear what the structures are and others have lost more to time. When you get to the main site at Wupatki National monument, it is absolutely incredible. when I look at it, it’s what I imagine any sort of ancient city would have been like. It’s rooms upon houses, all stacked and connected through tunnels, passageways and windows. I can only imagine how cool Wupatki was 900 years ago.
Tips for Visiting Wupatki NM
When you visit Wupatki National Monument, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to visit each of the pueblo sites. Each set of ruins is very different and worth doing the short hike to. Unfortunately, none of them are directly next to the road and do have a small hiking trail to them, which means that accessibility is quite limited if you have any mobility issues, but if you are ready for a short hike then they are all worth your time.
Like with most outdoor sites around Arizona, from Phoenix to the Grand canyon, visiting early in the day is best so that it isn’t ridiculously hot. none of the trails at Wupatki National Monument are shaded so you’ll want to be on them early.
Another hot tip: watch for wildlife! There are lots of coyotes, roadrunners, and rabbits all around Wupatki National Monument. It’s actually a fantastic place for wildlife photography. This part of Arizona, while still very arid, is not the desert like you expect as it’s much more of grasslands. This means that the wildlife you’ll see is a bit larger and easier to spot. Don’t forget to be cautious of rattlesnakes though, because you are still in Arizona and there are plenty of them all around.
Parking and Accessibility at Wupatki National Monument
When you explore Wupatki National Monument, there are three main areas you may plan on visiting. The first is the Visitor Center and primary archaeological site. This is the most accessible of all parts of the park. You’ll be able to easily check out the visitor center, a bit of the grounds, and then access the viewpoint for the largest of the Anasazi pueblos.
The smaller pueblo sites in Wupatki National Monument have parking areas and then trails to access the ruins. You’ll be able to see some of the ruins from the road or parking areas, but you’ll have anywhere from 1/4 to 3/4 of a mile to access the other ruins sites. There are lots of trails through the whole area, but most of the ruins are fairly close to the road.
Operating Info at Wupatki NM
To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan your adventure.
- Operating Dates/Season: year-round, sunrise to sunset for the trails, visitor center is open from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
- Entrance fee: $15 per person OR covered by your National Parks Pass Get your National Parks Pass here!
- Visitor Center office phone number: 928-856-1705
- Official website: National Park Service site
- Visiting address: 25137 Loop Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
More Ancient Indigenous Sites to Visit in Arizona
The indigenous cultures of Arizona are just as much a beautiful element of the area as the landscape, and they both historically and presently play off the landscape in their art, dwellings and lifestyles. As you do an Arizona road trip, you’ll have lots of opportunities to support local indigenous artisans from the Navajo, Apache, Hopi and Paiute Nations. For historic context and ancient structures, here are some great sites to visit in Arizona that really tell the story of ancient peoples of the area:
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Montezuma Castle National Monument
- Wupatki National Monument
- Casa Grande National Monument
- Navajo National Monument
- Toozigut National Monument
- Tonto National Monument
Each of these is actually a part of the National Park Service system, so you’ll have access to interpretive exhibits and rangers for any questions or learning opportunities at the different ruins.
Are you excited to visit Wupatki National Monument and the other cool ancient sites of Arizona? I hope so; I think this is one of the most interesting areas in the USA and such a treasure to get to experience. If you have any questions about visiting this spot or planning an AZ road trip, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
