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Wupatki National Monument

The Wupatki National Monument is a scenic landscape nestled between Northern Arizona’s ponderosa highlands and the Painted Desert, and features ancient pueblos across the prairie. These pueblos, built around 900 years ago, make this landscape a human artifact, with the changed soil composition and surviving structures showing the link between human and environmental history. Juniper woodland is gradually replacing this former grassland habitat where you can find some non-native plant species, like tamarisk, and native grasses. In addition, the monument is home to various animals highly adapted to the barren environment. A visit to Wupatki offers a chance to appreciate natural and artificial beauty while helping you better understand different values and cultures and their effect on the present-day landscape.

Things to Do

Things To Do Near Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki National Monument presents different guided hikes categorized into Discovery Hikes and Crack in Rock hikes, allowing you to access dozens of ancestral Pueblo villages. The former involves short day hikes that last between about two to three and a half hours, typically on some Saturdays from November to March, but Crack in Rock hiking is more strenuous and occurs over two days, enabling you to explore deeper into the Wupatki backcountry. RV travelers can enjoy this monument since it is easily accessed via the northern or southern end of the Loop Road in the area. Besides the historic architecture within Wupatki, you can drive to the neighboring Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and enjoy a scenic view of the grasslands, meadows, and red rock geology, all from the Loop Road. In addition, RV users can relax and take in the various features at Wupatki since most vehicle entry fees support up to seven-day stays at the site.

Hiking Trails

Sightseeing

Museums

Nearby Shops and Restaurants

map-marker-alt-regular How to Get There

How To Get To Wupatki National Monument

To get to this site from the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, take Interstate 17 and connect to Route U.S. 89 N. Drive for around 12 miles until you see a signpost for Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments. Turn right to Loop Road, and drive approximately 21 miles from this junction to the Wupatki Visitor Center. The drive from Flagstaff to the center takes between about 45 to 60 minutes. 

Wupatki National Monument operates daily from sunrise to sunset throughout the year, except on January 1 and December 25, when it closes for the New Year and Christmas holidays. You can also access the monument on Thanksgiving when it runs for half a day from morning to around 1:00 p.m. 

Address

Wupatki Visitor Center, 25137 N. Wupatki Loop Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Fee: Entry fee per bicyclist or pedestrian (7-day pass) $15.0

Fee: Entry fee per motorcycle (7-day pass) $20.0

Fee: Entry fee per private vehicle (7-day pass) $25.0

Fee: Entry fee per commercial sedan (per day) $28.0

Fee: Entry fee per commercial van (per day) $40.0

Fee: Entry fee per commercial bus (per day) $100.0

Wupatki National Monument provides an exciting and educational trip where you can appreciate natural landscapes, historical architectural structures, and cultures. You can choose between moderate day hikes and challenging tours to partake in an overnight ranger-guided adventure around the scenic monument. In addition, an RV trip to Wupatki ensures you can bring along family or friends for a fun-filled experience, including a ride around the scenic Loop Road to the neighboring Sunset Crater Volcano attraction.