Tuzigoot National Monument
Ways to visit Tuzigoot National Monument
Accompanying the ruins, the Tuzigoot Museum holds ceramics, textiles, and tools made by the Sinagua people, found during the excavation of the pueblo. Located in Clarkdale, the site is roughly halfway between Prescott and Flagstaff near Sedona, and easy to visit along drives to Coconino National Forest or the Grand Canyon from Phoenix. Tours typically visit from Sedona: half-day tours visit both Montezuma and Tuzigoot, while day trips visit all of Arizona’s five national monuments. The Verde Valley Railroad rides past Tuzigoot from Clarkdale to Perkinsville.
Recent reviews from experiences in Phoenix
Things to know before you go to Tuzigoot National Monument
Always bring a hat and plenty of water. Like Sedona, Clarkdale can be cooler than the desert at sea level but is still hot and dry much of the year.
The visitor center and the Tavasci Marsh Overlook trail are fully wheelchair accessible.
To visit the monument or hike the trails, pay an entrance fee or flash a National Park Pass.
Dogs are allowed on park trails, but must remain on leashes no longer than six feet (two meters).
How to get to Tuzigoot National Monument
Tuzigoot is situated along the Verde River on the east side of Clarkdale—a small town on State Route 89A. If you’re not visiting on a tour, you’ll have to drive. It’s about a half hour from Sedona, taking the 89A south toward Cottonwood; from Prescott, it’s about an hour on the same route north.
Trip ideas
When to get there
The monument is open year-round, closing on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. While Central Arizona is a year-round destination, spring and fall are the best times to get outdoors, as the temperatures are milder. Summer can be quite hot (meaning fewer crowds), while winter temps can reach below freezing.
Where to find ancient Sinagua Ruins in Arizona
It isn’t clear why the Sinagua people abandoned their permanent settlements in the early 15th century—the best theories suggest drought or conflicts with other native people and newcomers. The mystery of their disappearance makes them the center of archeological study in Arizona. Five Sinagua archeological sites in addition to Tuzigoot are open to the public in the state: Montezuma Castle National Monument, the V Bar B Heritage Site, and the Palatki and Honanki archeological sites.
- Things to do in Arizona
- Things to do in Scottsdale
- Things to do in Sedona
- Things to do in Flagstaff
- Things to do in Las Vegas
- Things to do in Palm Springs
- Things to do in Monument Valley
- Things to do in San Diego
- Things to do in La Jolla
- Things to do in Albuquerque
- Things to do in Anaheim & Buena Park
- Things to do in Long Beach
- Things to do in Santa Monica
- Things to do in New Mexico
- Things to do in Utah
- Montezuma Castle National Monument
- Lake Pleasant Regional Park
- Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center
- Tonto National Forest
- McDowell Sonoran Preserve
- Homolovi State Park
- Castles N' Coasters
- Wrigley Mansion
- Camelback Mountain
- Wildlife World Zoo Aquarium and Safari Park
- Scottsdale Fashion Square
- Saguaro Lake
- Old Town Scottsdale
- Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)
- Phoenix Art Museum