Is Tuzigoot National Monument Worth It? A Review
If you’re traveling to Sedona, Arizona, one side trip that you might be considering is Tuzigoot National Monument. In this blog post, I’ll will help you determine if Tuzigoot National Monument is worth a visit by discussing what you can expect to see and do here, and whether or not it’s worth a detour to explore the Tuzigoot pueblo ruins.
What is Tuzigoot National Monument?
Located on the top of a ridge above the Verde Valley in Arizona, Tuzigoot National Monument is home to the ruins of a pueblo village built by the Sinagua people. Originally, this pueblo, which was built in about 1000 AD, was 3 stories, had 110 rooms and was home to roughly 250 people. Like other Sinagua ruins in the area, no one knows for sure why they abandoned these pueblos but common theories are drought or disease.
There are other Sinagua ruins you can visit around Arizona, including Montezuma Castle and Walnut Canyon National Monument
Where is Tuzigoot National Monument?
Tuzigoot National Monument is in the middle of nowhere! But, if you’re taking a trip to Sedona, Arizona, it’s about a 30 minute drive away, making this a good day trip from Sedona if you’re looking for something else to do (or just want to check another NPS site off your bucket list).
Tuzigoot National Monument – Practical Information
Cost: $10 per person. You’re asked to enter the visitor center and pay your fee or show your America the Beautiful pass before viewing the ruins. If you don’t have a park pass, keep your receipt, as your fee here also covers admission to the nearby Montezuma Castle + Well National Monument.
Hours: Daily from 8 am to 5 pm. This park is gated off and these hours are enforced. The gates close to entry at 4:50pm each day.
How much time do you need? I’d say 30 minutes to an hour
There is a visitor center with a small museum and gift shop. There is no food available, but there are picnic tables.
Best time to visit: Tuzigoot National Monument is open year-round, but the best time to visit is during the cooler months from October to April. Remember, this is Arizona and summers can be extremely hot, making exploring the ruins uncomfortable.
Dogs are allowed on the trails
Visiting Tuzigoot National Monument
I thought Tuzigoot was a bit more interesting than the nearby Montezuma Castle and Well. There was a bit more to see here than what you see at Montezuma Castle, where you walk up to a viewpoint and just look at it. At Tuzigoot National Monument, there’s a bit more to look at, plus you can go inside and climb to the tip of one of the dwellings.
I didn’t go to the top of the pueblo, as there was a guided ranger tour up there, going on at the time, and I didn’t want to interrupt them. But apparently, you can get a great view of the Verde Valley from there — and it’s also a great way to imagine how the Sinagua people entered the various rooms — rooms didn’t have outside doors, instead, they entered through the roof via ladders.
The trail around the pueblo is pretty short and the rock wall remains of the rooms all pretty much look the same. The park service has some interpretive signs along the trail to help you imagine what life was like.
You’ll also want to make sure to check out the small museum in the visitor center, as it has actual artifacts found here that were used by the Sinagua people, including lots of pottery.
Final Thoughts – is Tuzigoot National Monument worth it?
Overall though, is Tuzigoot National Monument in Arizona worth it? Is it worth a side trip from Sedona? I guess it depends on your interests — if you love history or ancient ruins, you’ll love this. Let’s be honest, there isn’t a whole lot to see here and it won’t fill up an entire day but it is worth seeing once. Either way though, Tuzigoot isn’t that far away from Sedona, and if you have a park pass, it’s free to see, so you’d only be out an hour or so of your time if you chose to come here and end up bored out of your mind.
