Navajo National Monument

At the end of State Highway 564 off of US Highway 160 Tonalea, AZ 86044
Website

Phone: (928) 672-2700

May 24 through September 13, 2008: 8:00 a.m.. to 6:00 p.m.

September 14, 2008 through May 22, 2009: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

No fees are charged to visit or camp at this National Monument.

You can view the Betatakin/Talastima ruins by taking a paved trail to an overlook (about one mile round trip).

To get a closer look at them, take a guided hike. Hikes to Betatakin leave at 10 a.m. on the weekends in winter (mid-September through late May) when weather permits. The rest of the year, they are given daily. This strenuous (begins at 7,300 ft. elevation; loses/regains 700 feet) five-mile loop trip takes more than half a day.

Sunset View campground is open year round. Its 31 small sites have picnic tables, charcoal grills, parking spaces, restrooms and running water. RV's are limited to 28 feet or less and there are no hookups. In winter, be prepared for cold temperatures and possible snow.

Canyon View campground is open late May through mid-September only. Its 16 sites have pit toilets and charcoal grills, but you'll have to go to Sunset View campground to get water. People like this spot for its silence and spectacular night skies.

• The Navajo National Monument visitor center is at 7,000 feet elevation. Take the thinner air into account when deciding about the hikes and carry plenty of sunscreen and water.
• Even though it's within the state of Arizona, Navajo National Monument is part of the Navajo Nation and observes mountain daylight time.

Three intact cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloan people in the 13th century are the focal point of Navajo National Monument. Two are available for visitors to see. You'll find a small visitor center and two campgrounds here.