Tuzigoot National Monument in Pictures
Tuzigoot National Monument is the sister park to nearby Montezuma Castle National Monument and was the ancestral home to the southern Sinagua people who lived here around 1050. The Verde River Valley was home to the Sinagua who traded among each other via several sites in the area. The Tuzigoot site consists of an excavated 110-room Pueblo village. Paved trails lead through the village, so you can see the ruins up close.
Tuzigoot is derived from the Tonto Apache name Tú Digiz, meaning “Crooked Water” – a name given to this particular stretch of the Verde River. 
Many of the artifacts excavated from the site are held in the Tuzigoot Museum which is part of the Visitor Center. Here you will find pottery, tools, and other exhibits on display.
Particularly surprising to archeologists was the discovery of rare items that would have come from hundreds of miles away like “seashells, exotic minerals and paints, obsidian from distant volcanoes, and feathers from macaws.” The macaw feathers would have had to have come from Southern Mexico and South America, significantly extending the range of what archaeologists had previously thought was the extent of trade for this time period. Because of that unique discovery, the macaw has become the unofficial mascot of Tuzigoot, which is why you see pictures of this colorful bird in the logos and souvenirs in the Park Store.
Things to see and do
- Look around the museum’s collection of artifacts
- Take a self-guided tour of the site
- Keep an eye on the calendar for special events
- Junior Ranger Program
- Picnicking
- Photography
- Be sure to visit nearby Montezuma Castle National Monument. Your admission fee is already included with Tuzigoot!
Tuzigoot National Monument Hours
Tuzigoot National Monument is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Directions to Tuzigoot National Monument
Tuzigoot NM is located about 90 miles north of Phoenix and 52 miles south of Flagstaff. From I-17, take exit 287 for Highway 260 West to Cottonwood, AZ. After driving through town, follow the signs for Tuzigoot Road.
Tuzigoot National Monument Park Stats
Date created: 1939
Annual Visitors: 78,358 in 2020
Fun Fact: The total size of Tuzigoot’s museum collection is 3,158 objects, most of which were excavated on site.
Visitor Centers and Passport Stamps
Passport Stamps are available at the Tuzigoot Visitor Center and Park Store. The Visitor Center is open from 8am – 4:45pm.
Other Nearby Parks
Montezuma Castle National Monument is the closest, and admission is included with your Tuzigoot fee. Other nearby NPS sites include Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Tonto National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, and Petrified Forest National Park.
Related: If you’re interested in ancient Pueblo sites like this one, there are several multi-room sites and villages that were built around the same time in the region that are also National Park Sites.
New Mexico: Bandelier National Monument, Aztec Ruins National Monument, and Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Colorado: Mesa Verde National Park, Yucca House National Monument, and Canyons of the Ancients
Arizona: Sites along the Mogollon Rim in Arizona, including Wupatki and Walnut Canyon National Monuments, Honanki, Palatki, Sacred Mountain, and Montezuma Castle.
Be sure to read about all of Arizona's National Parks here.
Have you visited Tuzigoot National Monument?
You May Also Like
- Utah’s National Parks: A Family Road Trip to Visit Utah’s Mighty Five
- Colorado: A Winter Adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Arizona: Best Things to do in Saguaro National Park
- New Mexico: Visiting White Sands National Park
- Montana: Things to do in Glacier National Park
Let’s be friends! Come follow us on our social media channels.
