The Wupatki National Monument, near Flagstaff, AZ, is a great destination to explore if you love ancient history like Erin and I. The Wukoki Pueblo site is one of the pueblos you can go visit and explore within the park. This post covers the Wukoki pueblo within the Wupatki National Monument.
Indigenous Communities
The Sanagua, Cohonina, and Cayente Anasazi inhabited and flourished in this area. They grew crops, hunted wild game, and made pottery. The Anasazi were living on the water from the Wupatki Springs, unfortunately, which is now dry. They had to learn to “dry garden”. They enjoyed a diet of corn, beans, squash, seeds, and grains, plus fresh meat from hunting.
The area around Sunset Volcano Crater has been home to indigenous people for thousands and thousands of years. They were here even before the volcano erupted way back in 1085. The Hopi and Zuni elders, who are wise and respected members of their communities, still share stories about what it was like to witness the amazing fireworks when the volcano would explode. Can you imagine that? It must have been quite a sight!
A Littered Landscape
The area around Sunset Volcano Crater is covered in old volcanic cinder and spatter cones. What are those, you ask? Well, cinder cones are formed when volcanic ash and rocks pile up around the volcano’s vent, creating a cone-shaped hill. Spatter cones, on the other hand, are formed when blobs of lava are ejected from the volcano and harden into cone-shaped structures.
Where is the Wupatki National Monument Located?
The park is located about 30 miles north of Flagstaff. If in the Flagstaff, AZ area or driving to or from Page, AZ, or another location on AZ Hwy 89, the turnoff is to the East on Hwy 89. Sunset Crater is nearby so can bundle both attractions together.
Where is the Wukoki Pueblo Located?
The Wukoki Pueblo is located in the East portion of the park. It’s a 2.5-mile drive from the Visitor Center down Wukoki Pueblo Rd.
The following map gives you a close-up look at the Wukoki Pueblo site including the trails and pueblo.
Wukoki Pueblo Site
The three-story Wukoki Pueblo looks like a fortress built up on the rocks and offers a great view of the surrounding landscape. The name Wukoki means “big house”. A short wall once surrounded the pueblo. It’s thought that it was used to defend the pueblo against occasional skirmishes by other indigenous raiders.
The Wukoki Pueblo is one of the best-preserved pueblo ruins in the monument and has not undergone any reconstruction whatsoever. This shows how well the builders of this pueblo could construct a dwelling like this that can withstand everything nature has thrown at it for over 800 years.
The trail is mostly dirt with a few sections of sandstone. It’s very clear the park service doesn’t want anyone wandering off the trail seeing they are lined with rocks. The trail loops completely around the ruins.
What to Expect at the Wukoki Pueblo Site?
The trail to the Wukoki Pueblo site is hard-packed gravel and dirt in some areas (like around the backside). There are a few interpretive signs along the trail that inform you about what you are looking at. The round trip distance is 0.2 miles so its a short trail. This is an easy to moderate walk with having to go up a series of stairs to climb up on the pueblo floor.
Plan to spend at least 30 minutes at this historical site.
The Wukoki Photos
If you like this content, make sure you check out my summary post on the Wupatki National Monument, along with a more detailed post (like this post) covering the other sets of pueblos:
Erin and I love history and we love being outdoors. Visit Wupatki National Monument as it is well worth the visit. You will thoroughly enjoy the history and the short hikes. The bonus of going to the Wupatki National Monument is the fact that the Sunset Crater National Monument is right next door. So you get two National Monuments in one shot.
Check out our post on the Sunset Crater National Monument. Again, package these two together when you visit.
If you like this content, I know you’re really going to enjoy the Montezuma Castle and Well National Monument posts, and all the epic Arizona trip videos we have to help you plan your next epic trip with your significant others.
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