Ancient City · Other · United States
Wupatki National Monument
Wupatki National Monument protects red sandstone pueblos built by Ancestral Puebloan farmers on the dry plains north-east of Flagstaff, Arizona, after the eruption of Sunset Crater in the 11th century. Its largest ruin, Wupatki Pueblo, has more than 100 rooms, a community room and the northernmost ballcourt known in North America.
Photo: Milonica, CC BY 4.0
Wupatki National Monument tickets: which one for you
Our pick for each kind of visit, with live dates and prices from GetYourGuide. Free cancellation on most.
Best for: Joining a small group from Scottsdale
A shared tour that handles the long drive north and covers both Wupatki and Sunset Crater, cheaper than going private when you are travelling alone or as a couple.
- A private day from Phoenix: Phoenix private wupatki and sunset crater monument tour Your own guide and vehicle, so you can set the pace, linger at the pueblos and decide on stops along the way.
Tickets and tours: all the options
Most people visit Wupatki by car on the loop road that runs for about 55 km between Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki before returning to US Highway 89. One entrance fee, charged per vehicle and valid for seven days, covers both monuments, and the America the Beautiful pass is accepted. There are no timed tickets and no reservations; you pay at the entrance or the visitor centre and then stop at each ruin along the road.
On GetYourGuide two tours are sold, both starting in the Phoenix area. One is a shared group tour from Scottsdale and the other a private tour from Phoenix, each covering Wupatki and Sunset Crater with transport and a guide. They are long days, because the drive from Phoenix takes about two and a half to three hours each way. Check whether the entrance fee and lunch are included.
If you are staying in Flagstaff or Sedona and have a car, there is no reason to take a tour: the loop is easy to drive and the trails are short. From Phoenix without a car, the shared tour is the sensible choice, and the private tour suits families or those who want flexibility. Ranger talks at the visitor centre in the warmer months add context at no extra cost.
What to see at Wupatki National Monument
Wupatki Pueblo
Start behind the visitor centre, where a paved trail of under a kilometre leads around Wupatki Pueblo, built against a natural rock outcrop of red sandstone. It had more than 100 rooms on several levels, the largest building in the region for its time. Look for the walls of thin, flat stones laid in mortar, still standing to roof height in places.
Ballcourt, community room and blowhole
Below the pueblo lie the round community room and a stone ballcourt, similar to those of the Hohokam in southern Arizona and of Mesoamerica, and the northernmost found. At the end of the trail, a blowhole in the ground breathes cool air out of an underground cave system on warm days, or draws air in when it is cold.
2 tickets and tours for Wupatki National Monument
Live dates and prices from GetYourGuide. Free cancellation on most tickets.
Wukoki Pueblo
A short drive and walk from the visitor centre, Wukoki is a small pueblo of a few rooms crowning a sandstone block, with a tower that makes it look like a castle on the plain. You can walk round it and look inside some rooms. It is the most photogenic ruin on the loop, especially in the late afternoon light.
The Citadel and Nalakihu
Further north along the road, a short path climbs to the Citadel, a pueblo built on top of a small volcanic mesa with views over the Painted Desert and towards the San Francisco Peaks. At the bottom of the path sits Nalakihu, a smaller pueblo of about ten rooms. From the top you can see sinkholes and other ruins scattered across the plain.
Lomaki and Box Canyon
Near the northern end of the loop, a level trail of under a kilometre leads to Lomaki, a two-storey pueblo on the edge of a narrow earth crack, with smaller Box Canyon dwellings across the gap. It is usually the quietest stop and shows how the builders used natural fissures for shelter and water. Watch your footing near the drop.
Sunset Crater lava flows
Continue south on the loop to Sunset Crater Volcano, whose eruption in the late 11th century spread the ash that drew farmers into the area. The Lava Flow Trail crosses black basalt and cinder fields at the foot of the cone. Climbing the cone itself is forbidden, but the views explain why the landscape around Wupatki looks the way it does.
A short history
The area was farmed for centuries by small communities of the Sinagua, Cohonina and Kayenta, all part of the wider Ancestral Puebloan world. After Sunset Crater erupted between about 1040 and 1100, its ash helped the dry soil hold water, and in the following century perhaps 2,000 people moved in. They grew maize and squash without irrigation and traded for shells and pottery from the Pacific and Gulf coasts. Wupatki Pueblo housed about 85 to 100 people by 1182, but by 1225 the area was abandoned. The monument was established in 1924, and the Hopi, Navajo and Zuni still regard it as a place of their ancestors. In 2016 it became an International Dark Sky Park.
Getting there
Flagstaff, about 20 km south of the loop road entrance, is the base; Flagstaff Pulliam Airport has flights from Phoenix and other hubs, and Amtrak trains stop in town. From Flagstaff drive north on US Highway 89 for about 20 km and turn right onto the loop road at the Sunset Crater sign; the Wupatki visitor centre is about 35 km further on. The loop rejoins Highway 89 to the north, so you can drive it in either direction. From Phoenix the drive is about three hours on Interstate 17. There is no public transport. Each ruin has a small car park, and the walks from them are mostly short.
Rules and what to bring
Stay on the trails and do not climb, sit or lean on walls, which are original and fragile. Do not take or move pottery fragments, stones or plants. Drones are not permitted in national park units. Bring plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen, as there is no shade and little water along the loop; the visitor centre has toilets and drinking water. There are no restaurants on the loop, so carry food from Flagstaff, and fill the tank before you leave town.
When to go
The ruins are at around 1,500 metres, lower and hotter than Flagstaff, and summer afternoons on the open plain can pass 38 degrees. Come in the morning, when the light on the red stone is soft and the wind is lighter, or after about 3 pm, which also gives fine views of the San Francisco Peaks at sunset.
April to June and September to October are the best months. July and August bring the summer monsoon, with sudden thunderstorms and lightning in the afternoons, when you should keep away from exposed ridges like the Citadel. Winter is cold and windy, with occasional snow that can close the road for a short time. The monument is rarely crowded, though tours from Phoenix and Sedona arrive around midday. Dark Sky events and evening ranger programmes run on some nights. Allow two to three hours for Wupatki and half a day with Sunset Crater.
Combine it with
Sunset Crater Volcano is on the same loop road, about 30 minutes south. Walnut Canyon, with cliff dwellings along a canyon wall, lies 15 minutes east of Flagstaff, and the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff covers the cultures of the region. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is about an hour and a half north-west of the loop.
At a glance
| Hours | Trails sunrise to sunset; visitor centre 9 am to 5 pm; check the park site for changes |
|---|---|
| Closed | Visitor centre closed on 25 Dec; trails open daily |
| Entry fee | from USD 25 per car, 7 days, with Sunset Crater; passes valid |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 hours |
| Best time | Morning or late afternoon; April to June and September to October |
| Booking | No booking; pay at the entrance station or visitor centre |
| Access | Short paved trails, some uneven and sloping; the Wupatki Pueblo trail has steps; no shade and strong wind |
| Getting there | Drive US 89 north from Flagstaff and the loop road, about 45 minutes to the visitor centre |
| Abandoned | 1225 |
| Civilisation | Other |
| Visitors | 146 074 a year (2020) |
| Website | nps.gov/wupa/index.htm |
| Checked | October 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
When is Wupatki National Monument open?
Trails sunrise to sunset; visitor centre 9 am to 5 pm; check the park site for changes. Closed: Visitor centre closed on 25 Dec; trails open daily.
How much is the entry fee for Wupatki National Monument?
Entry fee: from USD 25 per car, 7 days, with Sunset Crater; passes valid.
How long do you need at Wupatki National Monument?
Allow 2 to 3 hours for Wupatki National Monument.
Do I need to book Wupatki National Monument in advance?
No booking; pay at the entrance station or visitor centre.
Can I book a ticket or tour for Wupatki National Monument online?
Yes. GetYourGuide lists 2 tickets and tours for Wupatki National Monument, with live dates and prices and free cancellation on most of them.
When is the best time to visit Wupatki National Monument?
Morning or late afternoon; April to June and September to October.
How do I get to Wupatki National Monument?
Drive US 89 north from Flagstaff and the loop road, about 45 minutes to the visitor centre.
Is Wupatki National Monument accessible, and what is the terrain like?
Short paved trails, some uneven and sloping; the Wupatki Pueblo trail has steps; no shade and strong wind.
Is Wupatki National Monument worth visiting?
Worth it for several well-preserved pueblos in a vast, empty volcanic landscape, easily paired with Sunset Crater on one scenic loop. Skip or shorten it if you have only a few hours in Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon is your priority.