Visiting the Upper Cliff Dwelling at Tonto National Monument normally requires a reservation, and can only be booked from November through April (on certain days of the week). However, once a year, they host an open house, allowing people to hike to the Upper Ruin without a reservation. This year, we decided to take advantage of this opportunity and check it out.
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Not long ago, we visited the Lower Ruins of Tonto National Monument. Today we headed up to experience the stunning Upper Ruins of Tonto National Monument. We hiked to the top surrounded by an impressive display of wildflowers that beats the amount seen most years. Once at the top, we enter the cliff dwellings and get up close to the 700-year-old ruins. They're simply amazing!
The wildflowers during Spring 2020 at Tonto National Monument rivaled most years due to an abundance of winter rainfall following a fire the previous year. California poppies and Coulter's Lupine created a thick blanket up the side of the hillside that dazzles the eyes. It was something we were grateful to have witnessed!
The Upper Ruins are accessible by guided tour only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from the month of November through April. Reservations begin October 1st and are limited to groups no larger than 6 people. The hike up the trail to the Upper cliff dwellings is 3 miles (4.8 km) long and starts promptly at 10am. The elevation ascends 600 feet and visitors are advised to wear good closed-toe shoes and bring water.
If one cannot make a reservation, the park holds an open house once a year, usually in March, called Heritage Days. During this event, admission is free and open to the public. However, hikes to the Upper and Lower Dwellings are self-guided with volunteers at the ruins to answer questions. Demonstrations, dancers, and children's activities are also available for guests.
The cliff dwellings at Tonto National Monument were inhabited by the Salado people between 1250 and 1450 AD. The term Salado came later in time as they were named after the Salt River, or Rio Salado, which was an important source of water in the area. The area the Salado chose provided trees at higher elevations and rich soil at lower elevations offering plenty of land, perfect for farming.
VIDEO FILMED: 03/07/2020
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⚪ TONTO NATIONAL MONUMENT | Lower Cliff Dwelling Ruins | 2020 - • TONTO NATIONAL MONUMEN...
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⚪ Tonto National Monument - www.nps.gov/tont/index.htm
⚪ Directions to Tonto National Monument - goo.gl/maps/3E5Wv9NdQK6HYRTt9
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Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking and day trips as well as campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!