Navajo National Monument

Explore the ancestral past of modern tribal communities at these preserved cliff dwellings.

At Navajo National Monument in the far northern reaches of Arizona, ancient homes were notched into the sides of cliffs. The dwellings here date back to 1300, when many Ancestral Puebloan people dispersed to different areas of the region. Navajo, Hopi, Paiute and Zuni once lived in this area and likely in these structures before moving onto more permanent villages. These pueblos are remarkably well-preserved, along with the stories of nomadic hunter-gatherers who lived in this region for centuries.

Explore the Dwellings

These remote ties to the past are difficult to get to, but worth the effort. The monument protects the remains of three massive pueblos. Visitors can walk along a short self-guided trail from the visitor center to reach a viewpoint of the Betatakin ruins in the distance. To get up close, join group tours led by park rangers that require a strenuous 3- or 5-mile hike to the cliff dwelling. The other big draw, Keet Seel, requires a backcountry permit to take a 17-mile roundtrip hike across streams and up steep switchbacks to reach the site. A third site, Inscription House, has been closed to visitors due to its remote location and fragility.

Stay the Night

Visitors to this remote area should plan to stay overnight. Primitive campgrounds near the monument offer free camping. Choose from 31 sites at the Sunset View Campground, open year-round. An additional 17 sites at the Canyon View Campground are open during the warmer months. Nearby towns provide traditional lodging options for visitors who prefer not to camp. Spend the night in Kayenta, Page or Tuba City to explore more attractions on the vast Navajo Nation.

Continue the Tour

The northeast corner of Arizona presents a spectacular collection of heritage sites and natural wonders. To explore the dramatic badlands and colorful slot canyons near the Arizona-Utah border, make time to add Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park to the itinerary. To see other Ancestral Pueblo sites in the area, visit the Hopi mesas to the south where tribal members continue to reside and Homolovi State Park near the historic Route 66 town of Winslow.