Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in Arizona.

In the park service’s words

Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument is an unlikely landscape for a thriving community. The early 1100's marked a time of cooler and wetter weather, when the ancestors of contemporary Pueblo communities created a bustling center of trade and culture. For indigenous peoples, these sites represent the footprints of their ancestors.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Antelope House Ranger-Led Hike: The Antelope House Hike is a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the backcountry of Wupatki with a ranger and see excellent examples of Ancestral Puebloan structures and scenic views within Wupatki National Monument's Eligible Wilderness.
• East Mesa Ranger-Led Hike (2 to 4 Hours): The East Mesa Hike is a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the backcountry of Wupatki with a ranger and see excellent examples of Ancestral Puebloan structures, petroglyphs, and artifacts.
• Kaibab House Ranger-Led Hike (3 to 5 Hours): The Kaibab House Hike is a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the backcountry of Wupatki with a ranger and see excellent examples of Ancestral Puebloan structures, petroglyphs, and artifacts.
• Crack-In-Rock Ranger-Led Hike (6 to 8 Hours): Crack-In-Rock hikes are led by park staff and are only accessible by reservations offered by the park. This strenuous hike provides an opportunity to visit Ancestral Puebloan structures and view petroglyph panels.
• Visit Citadel and Nalakihu Pueblos (5 to 20 Minutes): The Citadel and Nalakihu Pueblos were the central hub of a vibrant agricultural community between the early 1100s and mid 1200s CE
• Become a Junior Ranger at Wupatki (30 Minutes): Join Jackie Rabbit in exploring the human history, geology, and wildlife of Wupatki National Monument and earn a Jr. Ranger badge.
• Visit Wupatki Pueblo (5 to 30 Minutes): Visit the largest free standing pueblo in northern AZ which was once a bustling hub of trade and agriculture. View the whole pueblo from an overlook behind the visitor center or walk the half-mile trail to see the structure up close.
• Visit Wukoki Pueblo (5 to 15 Minutes): Wukoki Pueblo is an impressive eight room structure built on top of a large sandstone pedestal. It was occupied between the early 1100s and mid 1200s CE.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful pass covers it.

Hours: Daily, Sunrise to Sunset. The Wupatki National Monument Visitor Center is open 9:00AM to 4:30PM MST March 8th- November 1st. The visitor center is closed Tuesdays through Thursdays November 2nd- march 7th and is closed for December 25th and January 1st. Trails to Wupatki, Wukoki, Citadel, Nalakihu, Box Canyon, and Lomaki Pueblos are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Getting there

Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monuments are connected by loop road FR-545 (paved). Visitors can enter the loop road near mile markers 430 (Sunset Crater Volcano) and 444 (Wupatki) on U.S. Highway 89.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• [Wupatki Visitor Center](): Daily, 9:00AM - 4:30PM. The visitor center is open daily with exceptions during extreme weather conditions and select holidays. The visitor center is closed Tuesdays-Thursdays from November 2nd through March 7th.

Weather

Be prepared for variable and extreme weather conditions. You may expect high winds any time of year, summer temperatures above 100ºF (38ºC), afternoon thunderstorms July, September, and occasional snow in winter and early spring. Dress in layers, as Wupatki weather can change quickly at any time of year. For current weather please visit https://www.nps.gov/wupa/planyourvisit/weather.htm

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Grand Canyon, about 54 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Wupatki National Monument (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.