Arizona is called the Grand Canyon State. Of course, Grand Canyon National Park is impressive. But there are so many more protected areas worth visiting – such as Arizona’s National Monuments! And spring is the perfect time to plan a trip to visit. Join us as we reveal our top three picks for “must-see” monuments in the state!
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How Many National Monuments are There in Arizona?
As of January 2021, there are 18 national monuments in Arizona. There are, of course, other national lands and properties. These range from parks to recreation areas to historic sites. But the focus of this post is strictly national monuments.
What is a National Monument?
Like U.S. national parks, national monuments are federally protected lands. They are nationally significant for their natural and/or human history. But the main difference between a national monument and other sites is in the way they are established. National monuments can only be created by the U.S. president through the use of the Antiquities Act.
Sometimes a president will set aside land as a national monument. Congress will amend it later to change its designation. For example, this happened when President Theodore Roosevelt established the Grand Canyon in 1908. It was Arizona’s first national monument. Congress redesignated it as a national park in 1919.
Alphabetical List of Arizona’s National Monuments
- Agua Fria National Monument
- Canyon de Chelly National Monument
- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
- Chiricahua National Monument
- Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
- Hohokam Pima National Monument
- Ironwood Forest National Monument
- Montezuma Castle National Monument
- Navajo National Monument
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
- Pipe Spring National Monument
- Sonoran Desert National Monument
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- Tonto National Monument
- TuzigootNational Monument
- Vermillion Cliffs National Monument
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Wupatki National Monument
Why is Spring a Good Time to Visit?
In summer months, many of these monuments are smokin’ hot! Too hot for enjoyable visits. Casa Grande Ruins, for example, is one of the hottest areas in the state in summer. It can reach temperatures up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. However, in cooler springtime these sites beg for longer visits.
Arizona’s national monuments are busy during summer months. There are many reasons to choose spring months for your visit. Firstly, visitation is lower in spring in most cases. Secondly, wildflowers are prime in spring. This makes the monuments even more beautiful than normal. Finally – and maybe it’s just me! – but there are also less chances of coming across a snake during the cooler spring months. As a result, I think these are all perfect reasons to visit in late February or March.
Tallying the Numbers
There are 18 national monuments in Arizona. However Hohokum Pima National Monument is closed to the public for its protection. To date we have checked off 15 of Arizona’s 17 national monuments that public are allowed to visit. Of course a few have been featured in previous posts. More will follow in the future. In other words, stay tuned!
- Canyon de Chelly National Monument
- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
- Chiricahua National Monument
- Ironwood National Monument
- Montezuma Castle National Monument
- Navajo National Monument
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
- Pipe Spring National Monument
- Sonoran Desert National Monument
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- Tonto National Monument
- Tuzigoot National Monument
- Vermillion Cliffs National Monument
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Wupatki National Monument
Our Top Three
Of course all of Arizona’s national monuments are worth visiting. It is hard to pick a top three. First choice would be Organ Pipe Cactus. Second would be Chiricahua. And finally, our third choice would be Canyon de Chelly. Or is it Chiricahua, followed by Canyon de Chelly and then Organ Pipe? Or Canyon de Chelly, Organ Pipe, Chiricahua? They are all equally amazing.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Ahhh… the Sonoran Desert landscape. It promises warm springtime temperatures, brilliant night skies and endless hiking. Of course Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has it all. The monument is situated on the U.S./Mexican border in southern Arizona. It is 126 miles (203 km) west of Tucson or 172 miles ( 277 km) southeast of Yuma. The closest community is Why. This tiny town is 22 miles (35 km) away. It is remote, however, camping is available within the monument!
Chiricahua National Monument
There is spectactular hiking, impressive scenery and tons of human history. What’s not to love about Chiricahua National Monument? It is a wonderland of rocks and hidden trails. The monument is located roughly 117 miles (188 km) east of Tucson, Arizona. Camping is available, but sites are small. Access is tight and campsites are short and narrow. Larger RVs may want to look outside the monument.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
It carves through the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona. There are many reasons to visit this monument. For example, Canyon de Chelly (pronounced de Shay) is one of the best places in the state to experience Ancestral Puebloan ruins. It is located approximately 167 miles (269 km) southeast of Page, Arizona or 169 miles (272 km) northeast of Flagstaff, Arizona.
There are scenic drives and overlooks. The monument has miles of hikes. But it is the thousands of years of prehistoric, historic and present-day use in this fertile valley that draw one in. The twin, 800-foot-high sandstone towers called Spider Rock are the source of an important Navajo legend. Camping is available within the monument at Cottonwood Campground.
Important Note: At time of writing, the Navajo Nation is closed to all visitors. Check for current Coronavirus restrictions before visiting.
How many of Arizona’s national monuments have you visited? Which ones are top on your list of must-sees? Drop your answers in the comments below!
When You Go
As mentioned, at time of writing the Navajo Nation is closed to visitors. This closure directly affects Navajo National Monument and Canyon de Chelly National Monument. A few other monuments have a variety of facility and program closures. Check for current Coronavirus restriction before visiting any of the national monuments listed above. For more information, visit the National Parks Service site.
Most of Arizona’s national monuments are run by the National Parks Service. A few are administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Entrance fees vary. Of course, if you plan on visiting multiple monuments (or any other national sites), purchase the annual “America the Beautiful” pass. The pass currently costs $80 U.S. It admits the pass holder and up to three additional adults to all federal recreation lands for one year.
Next Up: Arizona’s National Historic Landmarks
I’d love to visit Arizona in spring. It’s a US state I haven’t explored enough. I also didn’t know many of these monuments before reading your post, I’m inspired to visit!
I hope you love the state as much as we do when you do get a chance to visit, Lisa!
I’ve actually never been to Arizona but would love to visit. I’m hoping that once Covid stuff isn’t so crazy, we can hop on a plane and go visit. It’s a beautiful state!
Yes, it is!