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Wupatki Pueblo Trail
Hiking Trail
Easy
0.62 mi
115 ft
Hike to a 900+ year-old ancestral Puebloan site behind the Wupatki Visitor Center.
The Wupatki Pueblo is one of the prime destinations to visit within the greater Wupatki National Monument. Just behind the main visitor center, you can enjoy an easy stroll to a 900-year-old ancestral site with more than 100 rooms and even a ball court. The site also includes a geological feature known as a "blow hole," where air currents flow both in and out of the ground, and the scenic views seen from the site are an absolute sight to behold.
According to the NPS, "people gathered here during the 1100s, about 100 years after the eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano, gradually building this 100-room pueblo with a community room and ballcourt." It's suggested that upwards of 100 people lived there at its peak, and that it was the largest building for 50-miles in any direction. Though unoccupied now, the Hopi "believe the people who lived and died here remain spiritual guardians," the NPS continues.
This hike is a great opportunity for everyone in the family to explore the region's history, though plan to leave your pet at home since they are prohibited on trails within the park. There is a $25 fee for a passenger vehicle to enter the park, though other visitors such as bicycles and motorcycles are less expensive. Restrooms, drinking water, and full amenities are available once you are within the park, and the visitor center offers plenty of educational and interpretative exhibits even if you don't plan to get outdoors for a hike.
Sources:
Written by Brendon Voelker
The Wupatki Pueblo is one of the prime destinations to visit within the greater Wupatki National Monument. Just behind the main visitor center, you can enjoy an easy stroll to a 900-year-old ancestral site with more than 100 rooms and even a ball court. The site also includes a geological feature known as a "blow hole," where air currents flow both in and out of the ground, and the scenic views seen from the site are an absolute sight to behold.
According to the NPS, "people gathered here during the 1100s, about 100 years after the eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano, gradually building this 100-room pueblo with a community room and ballcourt." It's suggested that upwards of 100 people lived there at its peak, and that it was the largest building for 50-miles in any direction. Though unoccupied now, the Hopi "believe the people who lived and died here remain spiritual guardians," the NPS continues.
This hike is a great opportunity for everyone in the family to explore the region's history, though plan to leave your pet at home since they are prohibited on trails within the park. There is a $25 fee for a passenger vehicle to enter the park, though other visitors such as bicycles and motorcycles are less expensive. Restrooms, drinking water, and full amenities are available once you are within the park, and the visitor center offers plenty of educational and interpretative exhibits even if you don't plan to get outdoors for a hike.
Sources:
Written by Brendon Voelker
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