Flagstaff Adventures: Wupatki National Monument, 11th Century Wonder

History

Visit the largest free-standing pueblo in Northern Arizona, less than an hour north of Flagstaff: Wupatki National Monument. This heritage site preserves many stories of indigenous people including the Hopi, Zuni and Ancestral Puebloan tribes that lived in or passed through the area. The monument encompasses several key sites, including Wupatki Pueblo, Citadel Pueblo, and Lomaki Pueblo, each offering a unique window into the past, and trails to enjoy.

Tour the Pueblo

Directly behind the visitor center, a scenic overlook frames a wondrous site. Wupatki, which means "Long Cut House" in the Hopi language, is a multistory pueblo dwelling comprising over 100 rooms and a community room. Visitors take a half-mile hike to get up close to the remnants of this amazing structure. Guided tours are available, providing insight into the architecture, cultural practices, and historical significance of the sites. Additionally, self-guided walking trails offer a chance to wander among the ruins at your own pace, allowing for a more immersive experience with the landscape. The site includes remnants of an ancient ball court and a natural blow hole. Keep an eye on nearby mesas and ridgelines to spot remnants of other heritage sites, but always stay on the designated trails and leave no trace during your visit. The average number of archeological sites in the greater area surrounding Wupatki is about 12 per square mile, so clearly things were really hopping in the Wupatki area.

Discover More Ruins 

Thousands of people lived in this area supported by reliable water sources, innovative agriculture techniques and expert hunting methods. Drive 2.5 miles from the visitor center to access a short trail to Wukoki, a three-story pueblo. This impressive eight room structure was built on top of a large snadstone pedestal. The large tower still contains original wood beams from the roof and celing structure. The trail here is 0.2 miles round trip, acceessible up to the base of the pueblo, and offers grand views of the Sand Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff. Visitors can spend an entire day in the area, walking along up to four trails to find seven ancient pueblo structures. 

The Citadel and Nalakihu Trail

Drive 10 miles from the visitor center to discover the massive Citadel, a 50-room pueblo. The Citadel Pueblo was built on top of a small extinct cinder hill. Its walls are mostly basalt rocks. There is evidence that people have lived in the Citadel area as far back as the Archaic period (8,000-500 BCE) using smaller sites as seasonal hunting camps. Nalakihu is a Hopi word meaning "house standing outside the village" and is the smaller sandstone structure at the beginning of the trail. Based on tree ring dating construction leikly occurred in the late 1190s CE. It had ten rooms on the ground floor and three or four rooms forming a second story. It is difficult to tell how many people would have lived here though it could have been one family with multiple generations and aunts and uncles living together at the same time. The trail here is accessible to the base of the cinder hill with a compacted decomposed granite surface. Pets are not allowed on this trail, but leashed service animals are ok.

Cultural and Historical Importance

Although it is no longer physically occupied, Hopi believe the people who lived and died here remain as spiritual guardians. The surrounding area is remembered and cared for, not abandoned. Trails and ruins are open sunrise to sunset year-round, and the Wupatki visitor center and museum is open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thank you for visiting respectfully and leaving no trace.

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