Tonto National Monument
National Monument · AZ
Caution · Water is Required
Due to the trail being steep of 12 percent grade, all visitors wishing to hike the Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail must bring a water bottle with them. No Exceptions.
2 noticesfrom the National Park Service
Information · Change in Hours for Summer Season
Due to the potential of excessive summer heat, starting Monday May 4, The Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail will close at 12:00P.M. The visitor center & park will remain open until 4:00P.M. These hours will be in place until Saturday October 3.
Information · Upper Cliff Dwelling Tour Reservations Not Available
We are currently not taking reservations for our Upper Cliff Dwelling tours. The trail has been damaged due to the Monsoon season. For updated information please visit our website or the parks Facebook page.
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant groups that lived in the Tonto Basin. Together they formed a new ideology, which archeologists refer to as Salado. Today, descendants of the cliff dwellers continue to call Arizona home.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/tont
- Location
- Tonto National Monument (33.648, -111.114)
Track your visit to Tonto National Monument
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Passport stamp locations
- Visitor Center
Hours
Tonto National Monumenttoday: 8:00AM - 4:00PM
- Sat Oct 38:00AM - 4:00PM
- Sun Oct 48:00AM - 4:00PM
- Mon Oct 58:00AM - 4:00PM
- Tue Oct 68:00AM - 4:00PM
- Wed Oct 78:00AM - 4:00PM
- Thu Oct 88:00AM - 4:00PM
- Fri Oct 98:00AM - 4:00PM
Upcoming closures: Nov 26 (Closed Thanksgiving Day)
Tonto National Monument is open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm all year round. The park is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The park closes early at 1:45 pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. October 3rd through May 3rd, the Lower Cliff Dwelling trail is open 8 am to 3 pm. May 4th to October 3rd, you must start your hike before 12 pm (noon). The Visitor Center, store and museum are open from 8 am to 4 pm.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
1
- Visitor Centertoday: 8:00AM - 4:00PMDirections
Self-guided tours
1
Hike to the Lower Cliff Dwelling60–90 minutes · 11 stops
This hike is one mile round trip with 350 feet of elevation change. Along the way, you will experience scenic views of the Tonto Basin and Roosevelt Lake. Waysides are placed along the path to give you more information on the people who lived here and the natural world. The hike will culminate at the Lower Cliff Dwelling where you can explore a number of rooms before you return upon the same path.
Entrance fees
2
- Per Person — $10.00
Tonto National Monument charges a fee to all visitors hiking to the Lower or Upper Cliff Dwelling. Tour reservations are required to visit the Upper Cliff Dwelling. The Lower Cliff Dwelling is open September through May 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and June through August 8:00 am to noon. Credit and Debit only
- Education/Academic Groups — Free
Education groups may be granted an educational fee waiver. All requests and documentation must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance of the school's planned visit.