State of Arizona

In February of 2018, I made my first visit to Tonto National Monument. The temperatures were cool, and I at first needed a jacket as I walked the trail to the lower cliff dwelling. It being referred to as the “lower cliff dwelling” wasn’t something I understood before my first visit. There are two cliff dwellings, one referred to as a “lower cliff dwelling,” and the other as “upper cliff dwelling.” In spite of what they are called, you walk and/or hike up to both. The lower cliff dwelling involves a 1-mile roundtrip hike. The upper cliff dwelling is 3-miles roundtrip hike by guided tours only and takes about 3 to 4 hours.

To tour the upper cliff dwelling, you have to book it online months in advance. During my first visit, I had the chance to join a tour but couldn’t due to time restrictions. I very much regret it and hope to do it on a future visit. Maybe my next trip down, I will stop there again.

All of the saguaro cacti and other desert succulents were unforgettable. Saguaros are iconic of the Southwest. I have visited places similar to Tonto, where you find a couple of these giant cacti. However, I haven’t been to many places with this many saguaros and the ruins of a pueblo or cliff dwelling. The combination is something that makes Tonto National Monument one of a kind.

The unmanicured nature of the National Monument adds to the beauty of the place. As you walk up the trail to the lower cliff dwelling, it gets obscured as you walk the windy path up. A visitor’s excitement builds as you walk up and get to see a little more with every step.

Your Visit

I have visited this national monument twice: once by myself and once with my dad. My dad has some mobility issues, and he is not able to walk great distances. For people with cant walk great distances, you are able to view it from the visitor center. The banner photo above was taken from the visitor center.

The trail to the lower cliff dwelling is paved, but it is a half-mile incline hike. Depending on when you visit, be aware of the weather conditions. Hiking during the summer months can be dangerous, especially for people who are not used to it.

If this article interested you, read about other state and national parks I have visited in Arizona. Or check out other articles related to the Indigenous People of the Southwest or Indigenous Peoples of North America.

For more information about Tonto National Monument, its days and hours of operation, as well as fees, visit nps.gov. Also visitarizona.com for other information that might improve your visit.

Physical Address

Tonto National Monument
26260 N AZ Hwy 188 Lot 2
Roosevelt, AZ 85545