Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki National Monument is about 56 square miles of dry, rugged land on the southwestern Colorado Plateau. Among this land are the protected remains of the ancient dwellings of puebloan peoples. Walk the trails at Wupatki National Monument and read the information signs along the way to get a better picture of the lives and history that were a part of this area. And if you have time, follow Loop Road to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument to learn about how volcanism affected and shaped this area as well.

Information About Wapatki National Monument

Directions: From Flagstaff, head north on US-89 for 26 miles and turn right at the signed turnoff for Wupatki National Monument. Or it can be accessed from Loop Road if you’re coming from Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

Fees: Entrance to Wupatki National Monument costs $25 per vehicle. This fee covers both Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments. The “America the Beautiful” national park pass is accepted here.

Know Before You Go: After checking out Wupatki National Monument, continue along Loop Road to connect to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument! This loop is a nice drive and both parks are worth a visit! There are no services along Loop Road.

Visitor Center: The Wupatki National Monument Visitor Center is 14 minutes southeast of the park entrance off of US-89. The visitor center has exhibits and displays of artifacts. It is open daily except for Christmas Day. But it was closed during our visit due to Covid-19. There are restrooms available here as well.

Checking Out the Trails at Wupatki National Monument

There are five hiking trails at Wupatki National Monument that lead to fascinating ancient dwellings, or Pueblos.

Wupatki National Monument Hiking Trails

Wukoki Pueblo Trail

Distance: 0.2 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
The Wukoki Pueblo is an amazing castle-like structure built on a sandstone outcrop. Follow the short path and climb the staircase up to the pueblo. Admire the construction as you explore the remaining rooms. And don’t forget to take a peak out of the windows to appreciated the vast view.

Wupatki Pueblo

Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
The Wupatki Pueblo is a massive 104-room pueblo that was once a regional trade center. As you check it out from the overlook, the size and structure are impressive! Then continue on the trail to see the rooms that make up the pueblo and the construction. But don’t stop there! Make sure to follow the trail all the way to the ballcourt. As you walk in the arena it’s easy to imagine the sport and fun that once occurred here. Follow the trail back and turn towards the blowhole. We were here on a hot day so we spent awhile enjoying the rush of cool air escaping from underground!

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Citadel and Nalakihu Pueblos

Distance: 0.2 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
Just a short walk from the parking area leads to the Nalakihu Pueblo. Follow the trail further as it climbs up to the remains of the Citadel Pueblo. You can picture the layout that once was by noticing where some of the inside walls once were. This was definitely a home with a view! There are great panoramic views of the landscape from atop this hill. If you look around, you’ll notice the remains of other Pueblos in the surrounding area.

Lomaki and Box Canyon Pueblos

Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
The trail leads to several different Pueblos among vast, peaceful scenery. There are some structures built along the canyon wall. Seems like prime real estate if or when water would fill the canyon! As you head away from the small canyon, there are several other modest homes. And even further in the distance, you can spot areas where it looks as though similar structures once stood but have collapsed.

Doney Mountain

Distance: 1.6 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous due to loose cinders Doney Mountain Trail is the only trail in the Wupatki National Monument that we didn’t get to. We were trying to fit both of the national monuments into one full day. So for time’s sake, we skipped this one. According the the parks description of the hike, this trail climbs ancient volcanoes and leads to several pueblos all the while exposing spectacular vistas along the way.

Thank You for Reading!

We had a nice time visiting the Pueblos and learning about the history of the area that is now Wupatki National Monument. And the nearby Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument was a beautiful way to learn about the natural history that shaped the landscapes in the area.

If you’d like to see more of our Arizona adventures, check out the articles below:

• Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monument
• Incredible Adventure on Point Trail
• Hiking Humphrey’s Peak via Inner Basin Trail
• Red Mountain Trail

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