The Grand Canyon is in the northern part of the  state and fifteen other national monuments are scattered throughout the state.  Plus there are 14.6 million acres of national forest, parks and recreation areas.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument is near Chinle on the Navajo Reservation.  Five periods of Indian culture are represented in these incredible cliff dwellers’ ruins nestled within red sandstone walls.  Approximately 313 miles northeast of Phoenix.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is near Coolidge off AZ 87 and contains an imposing four-storey building dating from the late Hohokam period, probably 14th century and contemporary with other preserved ruins in Arizona such as the Montezuma Castle Monument.   Village sites and irrigation canals are evident.  Approximately 50 miles southeast of Phoenix.

Chiricahua National Monument features the “Wonderland of Rocks”, Large expanses of volcanic rocks eroded into dramatic pinnacles and spires, an interesting variety of vegetation and some unusual wildlife species. Not many people visit, since the monument is quite remote and access is difficult.  This land was once controlled by the Apaches under Cochise. Approximately 228 miles southeast


The Grand Canyon National Park and Monument of Phoenix.
is one of the seven wonders of the world and is unbelievably breathtaking.   The Colorado river runs through the canyon for 277 miles.  The South Rim is open year-round while heavy snows close the North rim during late October until mid-May.

The Canyon is sometimes too vast to take in at first sight.  A hike down beneath the rim gives a more intimate and manageable perspective.

The two main south rim trails are the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab; this connects with the North Kaibab route which links to the north rim. There are also many longer (unmaintained) paths suitable for experienced hikers, leading both to the river and along the canyon, such as the Lava Falls Trail near Tuweep.

Montezuma Castle National Monument off 1-17, is a five-story cliff dwelling with 20 rooms, built by the Sinagua Indians in the thirteenth century.  The castle is just two miles from I-17 (exit 289; north Camp Verde) at the end of a side road that winds across flat scrubland and down into the valley formed by Beaver Creek - a small stream, but a reliable source of water all year round and hence a good locality for the Sinagua to establish a home.

Today there is a visitor center with a small museum, and a short paved nature trail leading past the ruins, which are not visible from the approach road, through gardens with good examples of cacti and other local plants.

A picnic area is located near the visitor center, in the shade of sycamore trees beside the creek. Since 1951, visitors have not been permitted to climb up to the ruins due to their unstable condition so there is not much to do other than take a few photographs but the site is definitely worth a visit.  Approximately 110 miles north of Phoenix.

Navajo National Monument off US 60, is the site of the largest of Arizona’s cliff dwellings.  Located on the Navajo Reservation Navajo National Monument preserves threecliffof the Ancestral Puebloan people.

A visitor center, museum,short self-guided,small campgrounds, and a picnic area provide service to travelers that make the trek to this remote hamlet.  The most accessible ruin “Betatakin” has 150 rooms.  Approximately 220 miles north of Phoenix.

Organ Pipe National Monument. The desert west of Tucson is about the hottest and driest in the USA. Much of the land is within the boundaries of the huge Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Gunnery Range and closed to the public but there is also a large Indian reservation, home of the Tohono O'Odham people.

The whole area is quite densely covered by various types of cactus including the ubiquitous saguaro, sacred to the local tribe, and the much rarer organ pipe; these grow only in the far south of the state and particularly strongly in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - an extensive section of protected desert bordering Mexico  approximately 125 miles southwest of Phoenix.

Petrified Forest National Park 
On first impression, the Petrified Forest may not sound very appealing as it comprises stone log fragments scattered over a rather remote and otherwise featureless section of Arizona desert. Apparently it comes as a disappointment to some who expect the trees still to be standing in thick rocky groves instead of lying flat in sections as they are.

The petrified logs are extremely beautiful with most unexpectedly bright colors, and the park contains a section of the scenic Painted Desert so it is well worth a visit especially as the site is quite easily reached, being close to the main east-west route interstate 40.  Approximately 217 miles northeast of Phoenix.


Tonto National Monument off  AZ 88 is a fourteenth century Salado Indian pueblo, visible from the visitors  center  The monument consists of the ruins of two cliff dwellings established by the Salado Indians in about 1300 AD.

The southeast-facing settlements were built quite high up a steep hillside within well-protected natural caves overlooking the Tonto Basin, which is now flooded forming Theodore Roosevelt Lake, Originally the Salt River flowed through the Basin, which was therefore well irrigated and fertile.  As with many other ancient peoples of the Southwest, the Salado appear to have abandoned their villages suddenly, early in the fifteenth century, for reasons which are not known.   Approximately 80 miles east of Phoenix.

Tumacacori National Monument was once a Pima Indian Village, of which very little remains.  The site became a Spanish mission in 1697 when Jesuit Father Kino arrived.  The ruins of a massive church which was never completed are here, along with a museum and some beautiful cacti in the gardens.  Approximately 160 miles from Phoenix.

Tuzigoot National Monument the ruins of a 110-room pueblo can be seen on this site situated on the top of a barren knoll.  Most of the buildings are now just ruins, but the main building is still intact with a restored roof and can be toured.  The visitors center displays artifacts found at the site.  The ruins are wheelchair accessible.  Approximately 106 miles north of Phoenix.

Walnut Canyon National Monument  More than 300 Sinagua Indian cliff dwellings from 1120 AD are on the ledges in the Walnut Canyon

Many of the dwellings were built around a U-shaped meander in Walnut Canyon, where the creek circles around 3 sides of a high rocky plateau, almost creating an 'island'.  Approximately 155 miles north of Phoenix