tonto national monument

First time we have been to a pueblo so impressed. Look forward to the visiting some of the larger sites in the future. Friendly and informative hosts. Wish we had more time to hike to the upper one, but something for next trip.

The lower ruins were great and the guide was super helpful with tons of information about the ruins. We were disappointed to hear we could not go to the higher ruins without a reservation. Why not have 3 tours per day go out 2 hours apart? Really hoped we could have seen the upper. Definitely should stop and see this if your in the area.

Just east of Phoenix at Tonto National Monument are some of the best preserved cliff dwellings in the Southwest. As I've come to expect of the staff of our national parks and monuments, the eagerness to answer questions will only encourage you to visit other sites. Be sure to pull out your Passport and get it stamped. This site is a winner!

We drove the entire Apache trail starting from Apache Junction heading towards Globe. Fantastic ride (that,s another review!). Stopped at Tonto to see the cliff dwellings. OMG, 1/2 mile hike, 350 feet up a cemented path with handrails and benches along the way. The good news is that it was worth the effort. It is not too often that you get to stand in a ancient dwelling from the 13th century looking out over beautiful Lake Roosevelt.We are "seniors" so we have the national park pass (best purchase ever!) but if you do not the entrance fee is only $3.00. Excellent Rangers available to answer questions. Worth the visit!

It is worth the steep hike up. There are hand railings to hold, and benches to rest on. Awesome view from inside the dwelling. We stopped here after the Apache trail drive.

It's not exactly on a frequently traveled roadway, but if you find yourself in eastern Arizona with a couple of hours to spare, I recommend visiting Tonto Nat'l Monument. The visitor's center presents a nice video and some displays about the native Salado tribe who lived in this area 600 to 700 years ago. Those who can handle a half-mile hike with a 350' vertical elevation gain will be rewarded with the opportunity to walk through one of the cliff dwellings set into a natural grotto in the hillside above the visitor's center. A ranger is on duty at the cliff dwellings to answer questions. The site has well-preserved walls, and some of the implements of the occupants' daily lives are still present on the site. The hike itself is quite lovely with a rich of saguaro cacti and other desert flora alongside the path and sweeping vistas of Roosevelt Lake in the distance.I'm told there is an upper cliff dwelling site that can be visited by advance registration, but we didn't visit that.

It figures we arrived here on the day the elevator was out. Just kidding! There's no elevator here, but the stroll up the steep path is well worth it. Not only do you get to step inside ancient cave dwellings, you'll be treated to yet another spectacular view of Arizona. Staff if very knowledgeable and cave gives you a great glimpse of life long before iPhones and Amazon Prime. Give yourself about 45 minutes here.

It was very interesting to see how the natives constructed and lived in the cliff dwellings. You can still see the smoke on the ceilings from their cooking fires.The Ranger that was there was fantastic.

When we did the Apache Trail this was one of our stops. The cliff dwellings are in shallow caves overlooking Roosevelt Lake. The dwellings are around 700 years old. Access is only to the lower dwellings and you need to organise prior to your visit permission to access the upper dwellings. The caves are around a leisurely 20 minute walk along a paved path. There are plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the view. At the dwellings are a couple of rangers who are able to give you lots of information about the history of the site.

This is a beautiful location. It's a steep, almost half mile paved trail with benches along the way. Beautiful cactus abound. Views of Roosevelt Lake in the distance. The cliff dwelling is interesting to view and to imagine its inhabitants long ago. A park ranger answered a variety of questions. Visitor center with friendly staff and small gift shop. Definitely a great stop.

This is a nice stop, especially in conjunction with the Apache Trail circuit. Would have liked to have seen the upper ruins, but they are not accessible without prior arrangement. Well planned, fairly steep walk up the cliff. Park ranger clearly loved his job. The view from the ruins is stunning. The visitor center has a water fountain with wonderful spring water. A welcome reprieve from the less than tasty water of Phoenix. Plan to fill your water bottles while you are there.

Well worth the trip! Guided tours and good exercise make it a great addition to see a piece of American history!

It is a pretty good little walk up to the Lower Cliff Dwellings, but you don't have to be in good shape to do it - just take it slow, if you're not. The walls are still in very good shape, and the view from the top is amazing. Also, the cactus is beautiful to get to see up close. The only reason it's not "great" is that right now, you can't see the artifacts that were found in the cave. I understand that they will be putting some of them in their Visitor Center around March.

This monument is a great addition to your stop when driving the Apache Junction Trail. Not only will you learn something about the 14th century cliff dwellings here (one is open to visitors year-round and the other is by guided tour and only on the cool months) and their builders, the Salado people, but you’ll also have a fantastic view of the Theodore Roosevelt Lake with Saguaro cacti on the foreground. It’s a good idea to watch a short video about the monument. Although the trail to Lower Cliff Dwelling is paved, it’ll be a somewhat of a challenge for those people with disability. There’s an entrance fee to get in; “free” if you have the America the Beautiful Pass.How to get there: If you’re heading north on the Apache Junction Trail (aka: Route 88), turn right onto Route 188. The monument entrance is on the right. (There’s a sign pointing to the entrance at either direction of Route 188.

It is an amazing portal into ancient history and well worth the walk. The path is paved, but steep, and has benches at intervals. Take your time and take some water. We live about an hour away, and usually bring our guests to see this when they visit. There has always been a ranger/guide at the top to answer any questions and tell about the cliff dwellings. The best thing about it is the fact that it is open to walking around the dwellings and seeing the inside as well as the beautiful view.(FYI: it's free with your National Parks Pass)