There are many cool stops you can make when you’re driving through Arizona on the way to the Grand Canyon, and I think Toozigoot National Monument needs to be one of them. It’s a small area, part of the National Park Service, but it’s really fascinating and kids will love it. Toozigoot National Monument is one of the ancient ruins sites from the Southern Sinagua peoples that used to live here in Arizona.
While you might not have heard of Toozigoot National Monument until right now, you’ll want to set aside some time on your Arizona road trip to visit. Below you’ll find all the information for visiting, including a little bit of history and more interesting indigenous ruins sites in Arizona to visit. If you have any questions about visiting Toozigoot or planning an AZ adventure, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more.
Why Visit Toozigut National Monument
If you’ve already been to other ancient ruins around the Southwest, you probably expect that each monument or historic site you visit is going to be something to admire or learn about from afar. Toozigut National Monument is quite different from these in that you actually can go into the structure and actually see how the structure was built and how people occupied these unique compounds. Yes, the structures have been reconstructed and reinforced, but they’re true to their origins but with 21st century safety taken into account.
When you visit Toozigut National Monument it’s best to start at the visitor center/museum. Here you’ll be able to see some archaeological finds, from tools to pottery. There’s a lot of information about the Sinagua peoples, including why it’s believed that they had to leave the region. It’s all very interesting, and when you do the museum and then head out to the ruins. Follow the trails, most of which are wheelchair accessible, to check out the structure, the rooms and the views.
Things to See at Toozigut National Monument
Toozigut National Monument isn’t a lengthy visit, but you can easily plan to spend an hour or so taking it in and breaking up the drive between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. I think it’s a nice combination of history and beauty.
If you’re up for it, there are actually trails from the visitor center over to the marsh area, which is a great spot for birdwatching. The marsh is a unique spot to explore, as it’s been a huge drainage for 10k years, but is much smaller now. You can learn more about this interesting area at the visitor center and then on the trail. If you’re heading out on a short hike, be sure that you’ve got plenty of water and sunblock. I also like to carry an umbrella for shade, as there isn’t shade along the trail.
Is Toozigut a National Park? What’s the difference?
Like with the other ancient ruins throughout Arizona, Toozigut is a part of the National Park Service. That means that you can get your National Park Passport stamped here, but it’s not a National Park. Being a monument, this protected space is managed within the National Park system as a place of historic and cultural significance. A monument is for the preservation of a place or structure, and while a National Park is also for this, a National Park is also for the enjoyment of people, which is why the Parks are so large and developed for extensive exploration and activities. Toozigut is very much a monument with some interesting elements to explore.
Also, even though it’s not a huge National Monument, there is a small gift shop area just off the museum space where you can get some interesting books and cool postcards. I’m not all about the souvenirs, but the Arizona monuments have some cool ones, really rolling with the vintage vibe of the great western road trip theme.
Parking at Toozigut National Monumer
When you arrive at Toozigut NM there is plenty of parking most of the time. This isn’t a wildly popular site, despite how unique it is. From the parking area to the visitor center and then up to the main area of the primary structure is all wheelchair accessible. There are stairs too, but for the most part there is a great series of ramps making it a good spot to visit for people with varying mobility.
Operating Info at Toozigut NM
To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan your adventure.
- Operating Dates/Season: year-round, 8:00 am – 4:45 pm
- Entrance fee: $10 per person OR covered by your National Parks Pass Get your National Parks Pass here!
- Visitor Center office phone number: 928-634-5564
- Official website: National Park Service site
- Visiting address: 25 Tuzigoot Rd, Clarkdale, AZ 86324
More Ancient Indigenous Sites to Visit in Arizona
The indigenous cultures of Arizona are just as much a beautiful element of the area as the landscape, and they both historically and presently play off the landscape in their art, dwellings and lifestyles. As you do an Arizona road trip, you’ll have lots of opportunities to support local indigenous artisans from the Navajo, Apache, Hopi and Paiute Nations. For historic context and ancient structures, here are some great sites to visit in Arizona that really tell the story of ancient peoples of the area:
Each of these is actually a part of the National Park Service system, so you’ll have access to interpretive exhibits and rangers for any questions or learning opportunities at the different ruins.
Are you going to add Toozigut National Monument and the other cool ancient sites of Arizona to your trip? I hope so; I think this is one of the most interesting areas in the USA and such a treasure to get to experience. If you have any questions about visiting this spot or planning an AZ road trip, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
