Three National Parks to Visit in One Weekend in Arizona
The rugged yet beautiful landscape of central Arizona holds traces of ancient cultures just waiting to be experienced. Three Arizona national monuments that you can visit in one weekend protect incredible cultural sites and offer glimpses into the lives of Native peoples who have called this area home since time immemorial. Grab your hiking boots or walking shoes, camera, and sense of adventure to explore Arizona’s fascinating cultural heritage.
Tuzigoot National Monument
Located within the lush Verde Valley just ten minutes outside Cottonwood, Arizona, Tuzigoot National Monument safeguards a 110-room Sinagua pueblo perched atop a limestone ridge. Constructed between 1125 and 1400 CE, this commanding hilltop settlement once housed over 200 people. Meander along the trails to take in the striking views and admire the pueblo’s immaculate stonework. Check out original artifacts like twined cotton textiles and colorful ceramics in the visitor center museum. Don’t miss the replica Sinagua room furnished with authentic tools and furnishings to envision daily pueblo life centuries ago.
Check NPS.gov for current alerts. For help planning your trip, check out VisitCottonwood and VisitArizona.
Pets are permitted in the park. Please do not leave pets in parked cars and remember to leave no trace!
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Designated in 1906 as one of the first national monuments preserving Native American culture, Montezuma Castle showcases one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. Located about thirty minutes away from Tuzigoot National Monument, this impressive five-story, 20-room apartment nestled into a limestone alcove tells a story of ingenuity and survival. Early Sinagua farmers built this structure around 1100 CE using native materials and clever architectural adaptations to the desert environment. Peer up at the towering dwelling and envision what life was like for its inhabitants. Hike the nearby National Monument Trail for different vantage points of this marvel of engineering. Stop by the visitor center to get oriented before your experience.
Check NPS.gov for current alerts. For help planning your trip, check out VisitCottonwood and VisitArizona.
Pets are permitted at the monument. Please do not leave pets in parked cars and remember to leave no trace!
Tonto National Monument
Nestled within the cactus-studded northern Sonoran Desert about two hours away from Montezuma Castle and two hours outside of Phoenix, Tonto National Monument protects two impressive 13th-century Salado cliff dwellings. Built into towering canyon walls, these ingeniously engineered homes blend into the natural landscape. Gaze up in awe at the Lower Cliff Dwelling’s several stories of artfully constructed rooms and granaries. Marvel at the craftsmanship of the small Upper Cliff Dwelling tucked into a high sheltered alcove. Enjoy the scenic hike to the Lower Cliff Dwelling and learn of the innovations in farming and irrigation canals. Don’t miss the visitor center exhibits highlighting artifacts of Salado culture including vibrantly painted ceramics.
Check NPS.gov for current alerts. For help planning your trip, check out VisitArizona.
Pets are permitted in designated areas of the park. Please do not leave pets in parked cars and remember to leave no trace!
One Weekend, Three Astounding Parks
With striking cliff architecture, immersive hiking trails, and exhibits to learn from, Arizona’s national monuments offer one-of-a-kind opportunities to connect with cultures whose descendants still thrive today. If you’re planning your perfect park hop from Phoenix to Cottonwood, you can hit the road early in the morning and arrive at Tonto National Monument before 9 AM. There’s a two-hour stretch between Tonto and Montezuma Castle, but plenty of beautiful landscape to enjoy on the drive through Tonto National Forest. On the short drive between Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot, you can follow the Verde Valley Wine Trail and experience Arizona’s renowned vineyards. Total drive time for this park hop is about five hours! Of course, with all the opportunities to hike and learn about Arizona’s unique Indigenous cultures, you might decide to stretch your trip out over a weekend. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that Tonto National Monument is an International Dark Sky Park, so consider planning your return trip for a post-sunset stop to appreciate the breathtaking astronomical views before heading home.
By Julie Thompson
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