Wupatki National Monument

In the early 1100s, Wupatki Pueblo was a bustling center of trade and culture. Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, this was the location for many local tribes to gather. Though no longer occupied, the Hopi people believe the people who lived and died here remain as spiritual guardians.  

The national monument that commemorates this ancient civilization is situated just beyond the Wupatki Visitor Center, near Sunset Crater. Visitors can easily access the site by taking the loop road and embarking on a leisurely half-mile hike, which features a paved walkway suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.