National Monuments

Protecting Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and cultural landscapes on the Navajo Nation. Experience ranger-guided tours, scenic overlooks, and desert wilderness.

Overview

• The monument preserves Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, archeological sites, and canyon environments.
• The park is situated 9 miles off Highway 160 at the end of Arizona Highway 564.
• There is no entrance fee to the park; it is free to visit.
• The visitor center serves as the main access point and offers exhibits, an information desk, a museum, an auditorium, and a park store .

Visitor Center

• The visitor center is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• The center includes an information desk for trip planning, a museum with cultural and archaeological exhibits, an auditorium for presentations, and a park store.
• Three self-guided trails start behind the visitor center and remain open until sunset, even after the visitor center building closes.
• Two free campgrounds, Sunset View and a second unnamed site, are available on a first-come, first-served basis; campfires are not permitted due to fire restrictions .

Self-Guided Trails

• Sandal Trail: A 1.3-mile roundtrip paved trail that descends about 150 feet to an overlook of the Betatakin cliff dwelling. This is the only place visitors can view a cliff dwelling without a guided tour.
• Aspen Trail: A 0.8-mile roundtrip nature trail ending at a viewpoint of the relict forest at the bottom of Betatakin Canyon. It descends approximately 350 feet. Cliff dwellings are not visible from this trail.
• Canyon View Trail: A 0.8-mile roundtrip trail along the canyon rim from the visitor center to the historic ranger station. The trail is mostly flat, and no cliff dwellings can be seen along the route .

Guided Tours

• Tours run from Memorial Day (late May) to Labor Day (early September); Inscription House is closed to visitation.
• Betatakin Tour: Tours are offered at 7:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Participation is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. The hike is subject to cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
• Keet Seel Tour: Ranger-led tours to Keet Seel will be available in September (seasonal). Four overnight ranger-led trips will require online registration, with limited spots available. These hikes are strenuous and subject to cancellation if needed.
• Inscription House: Closed to public visitation for preservation reasons.

How to Reserve a Guided Tour

• Keet Seel overnight ranger-guided hikes require online registration beginning in March each year. These are strenuous, multi-mile hikes and only prepared visitors should apply.
• Betatakin tours do not require reservations but have limited spots and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
• For more information and to register for Keet Seel hikes, visit the Navajo National Monument guided tours page .

Additional Information

• The monument is accessible by traveling 19 miles west of Kayenta, Arizona, on Highway 160, then turning onto Arizona Highway 564 and driving 9 miles to the visitor center.
• Hiking tour parking lots for Keet Seel and Betatakin are restricted to authorized hikers on the guided tours.
• Visitors are encouraged to check weather and trail conditions before hiking, as tours may be canceled due to lightning, extreme heat, or other safety concerns.
• The site preserves important Navajo Nation and Ancestral Puebloan history and ongoing stewardship of the region.
• For inquiries, contact the visitor center office at 928-672-2700 or visit Navajo National Monument on NPS.gov .

Summary