Wupatki Pueblo
Picnic areasVisitor centers
Along the way Picnic Area Visitor Center Wupatki National Monument Visitor Center 4900ft 1493m
Antelope House Ranger-Led Hike the Park Service's write-up
no dogs · entrance fee applies · reservation required · Winter, Spring, Fall · season Antelope House Hikes are held between November and March to take advantage of cooler weather and avoid disturbing wildlife during specific breeding or migration times.
Start Wupatki National Monument Visitor Center
No ranger-led hikes for 2026 are planned at this time.
Wupatki Ranger-Led Hikes take place on Saturdays between November and March. Learn about the archeological sites, petroglyphs, geology, flora, and fauna that make Wupatki National Monument a beautiful and special place. Hikes are 2-3 miles on moderate terrain. Wupatki is typically 10 degrees warmer than Flagstaff. Wear hiking boots and dress in layers. Bring a snack and at least 2 quarts of water.
All hikes meet at the Wupatki Visitor Center at 12:00pm on the day of the hike. Park entrance fees apply but there is no additional fee for the hike.
Please note that hikes have a limited number of spots available (12 for Kaibab House and East Mesa, 8 for Antelope House) and reservations are taken on a first come first served basis.
If participants cancel prior to the hike we will contact those who selected to be on the wait list in the order they signed up.
For questions about this hike please contact [email protected] .
The Antelope House Hike is a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the backcountry of Wupatki with a ranger and see excellent examples of Ancestral Puebloan structures and scenic views within Wupatki National Monument's Eligible Wilderness. These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area.
Accessibility The hike is moderately strenuous to include uneven terrain over loose cinders and limestone rocks. Hike length is a minimum of 2.5 mi (4km) in desert conditions and participants will be exposed to outdoor conditions for the entire hike.
Crack-In-Rock Ranger-Led Hike the Park Service's write-up
6-8 Hours · no dogs · entrance fee applies · reservation required · Spring · season Hikes are held during the months of October and April to take advantage of cooler weather and avoid disturbing wildlife during specific breeding or migration times.
Start Wupatki National Monument Visitor Center
Crack-In-Rock Day Hikes
Day trips to Crack-In-Rock will be offered each year in April and October. The number of participants on each hike is limited to 12 to preserve these fragile resources. Hikes may be conducted with smaller groups depending on staff availability. Spots are filled on a first come first served basis with a waitlist of 5 people per hike. Two people maximum can be signed up at one time.
The 2026 October hikes are now FULL and registration is closed.
For questions about this hike please contact [email protected] .
Participants will be driven by NPS staff in 4x4 vehicles and then led on a guided hike to the Crack-In-Rock Pueblo and other nearby archeological sites to experience protected petroglyph panels and Ancestral Puebloan structures.
This day hike will be approximately four miles total in desert conditions. The hike is strenuous to include uneven terrain and steep talus slopes, participants will be exposed to outdoor conditions all day.
These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area.
Accessibility The hike is strenuous to include uneven terrain and steep talus slopes, will be approximately four miles total in desert conditions, and participants will be exposed to outdoor conditions all day.
East Mesa Ranger-Led Hike the Park Service's write-up
2-4 Hours · no dogs · entrance fee applies · reservation required · Winter, Spring, Fall · season East Mesa Hikes are held between November and March to take advantage of cooler weather and avoid disturbing wildlife during specific breeding or migration times.
Start Wupatki National Monument Visitor Center
No ranger-led hikes for 2026 are planned at this time.
Wupatki Ranger-Led Hikes take place on Saturdays between November and March. Learn about the archeological sites, petroglyphs, geology, flora, and fauna that make Wupatki National Monument a beautiful and special place. Hikes are 2-3 miles on moderate terrain. Wupatki is typically 10 degrees warmer than Flagstaff. Wear hiking boots and dress in layers. Bring a snack and at least 2 quarts of water.
All hikes meet at the Wupatki Visitor Center at 12:00pm on the day of the hike. Park entrance fees apply but there is no additional fee for the hike.
Please note that hikes have a limited number of spots available (12 for Kaibab House and East Mesa, 8 for Antelope House) and reservations are taken on a first come first served basis.
If participants cancel prior to the hike we will contact those who selected to be on the wait list in the order they signed up.
For questions about this hike please contact [email protected] .
The East Mesa Hike is a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the backcountry of Wupatki with a ranger and see excellent examples of Ancestral Puebloan structures, petroglyphs, and artifacts. These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area.
Accessibility The hike is moderately strenuous to include uneven terrain over loose cinders and limestone rocks. Hike length is a minimum of 1.5 mi (2.4km) in desert conditions and participants will be exposed to outdoor conditions for the entire hike.
Kaibab House Ranger-Led Hike the Park Service's write-up
3-5 Hours · no dogs · entrance fee applies · reservation required · Winter, Spring, Fall · season Kaibab House Hikes are held between November and March to take advantage of cooler weather and avoid disturbing wildlife during specific breeding or migration times.
Start Wupatki National Monument Visitor Center
No ranger-led hikes for 2026 are planned at this time.
Wupatki Ranger-Led Hikes take place on Saturdays between November and March. Learn about the archeological sites, petroglyphs, geology, flora, and fauna that make Wupatki National Monument a beautiful and special place. Hikes are 2-3 miles on moderate terrain. Wupatki is typically 10 degrees warmer than Flagstaff. Wear hiking boots and dress in layers. Bring a snack and at least 2 quarts of water.
All hikes meet at the Wupatki Visitor Center at 12:00pm on the day of the hike. Park entrance fees apply but there is no additional fee for the hike.
Please note that hikes have a limited number of spots available (12 for Kaibab House and East Mesa, 8 for Antelope House) and reservations are taken on a first come first served basis.
If participants cancel prior to the hike we will contact those who selected to be on the wait list in the order they signed up.
For questions about this hike please contact [email protected] .
The Kaibab House Hike is a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the backcountry of Wupatki with a ranger and see excellent examples of Ancestral Puebloan structures, petroglyphs, and artifacts. These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area.
Accessibility The hike is moderately strenuous to include uneven terrain over loose cinders and limestone rocks. Hike length is a minimum of 2.5 mi (4km) in desert conditions and participants will be exposed to outdoor conditions for the entire hike.
Visit Wupatki Pueblo 0.5 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up
5-30 Minutes · no dogs · entrance fee applies
Start Wupatki Pueblo
From the early 1100's to the mid 1200's CE this large Ancestral Puebloan structure was a bustling hub for trade and agriculture. Consisting of 104 rooms, a ceremonial ballcourt, and a large community room that likely held dances and ceremonies, the Wupatki Pueblo is the largest free standing pueblo in Northern, AZ. You can view the whole pueblo from an overlook point just a few hundred feet behind the visitor center along an accessible trail, or you can continue onto the 0.5 mi (.8 km) round-trip trail to get up close and personal with this important heritage site.
One of the most popular features at any pueblo in the Monument is the ball court and blow hole, both found at the farthest point on the trail.
This pueblo is located directly behind the Wupatki Visitor Center. It is a 13mi (20.9km) drive from the northern entrance of the monument off of Hwy 89, or 19.5mi (31.3km) from the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. For a more in depth experience pick up the Wupatki Pueblo Trail Guide in the park store for $2 which follows the numbered stops on the trail.
Although it is no longer physically occupied, descendent communities believe the people who lived and died here remain as spiritual guardians. These places are remembered and cared for, not abandoned. Thank you for visiting respectfully and leaving no trace. These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area. Thank you for visiting respectfully and leaving no trace.
Pets Pets are not allowed on the Wupatki Pueblo trail. There is a shaded patio on the back side of the visitor center where pets can wait with a member of your group. Pets must be leashed at all times. Leashed service animals are ok.
Accessibility The parking area for Wupatki Pueblo has two accessible parking spaces (one van accessible). The path from the parking lot up to the Pueblo Overlook is paved concrete at a grade no more than 5% and a width of at least 4 ft. (48 in). Service animals are welcome on this trail. The trail beyond the overlook is a compacted decomposed granite surface with grades in excess of 5% and a width of at least 3 ft. (36 in). One side of the loop around the pueblo has a few sets of stairs with long platforms in between. The difficulty for the majority of the trail is easy. There is a moderate hill coming back from the ballcourt.