Tuzigoot National Monument
HIGHLIGHTS
Easy paved trail with the ability to enter and ascend to the top of the Ruins for a 360 degree view of the valley.
WHERE TO CAMP
Verde River RV Resort & Cottages
HILLTOP PUEBLO RUINS IN THE VERDE VALLEY
We continued our goal of visiting all three national monuments in the Verde Valley with a visit to the Tuzigoot Ruins. Unlike the cliff dwellings of Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well, the Tuzigoot ruins sit atop a hill in the middle of the Verde Valley and offer expansive 360-degree views. While walking along the perimeter, we noticed there was no doorway to enter the rooms. We later learned the Sinaguan people entered the rooms by descending a ladder through a hatch in the roof. The location on the pueblo reminded us of castles from Europe perched on hills. It probably made this community easily defensible against rivals in the valley. Tuzigoot is well worth a visit, as it’s a short walk from the parking lot to view the ruins.
Aerial view of the pueblo ruins from Google Maps.