If you bust out your happy dance at the mere thought of Puebloan ruins then Wupatki National Monument better make your bucket list.
The area was believed to have been a huge farming and trading community based on Hopi and Zuni oral histories as well as the diversity of artifacts found in the area. Many of the structures are quite well preserved.
The first structure we visited (Wukoki Pueblo) sits like a castle on a hill. This three-story building was believed to have been occupied from 1120-1210AD. The sandstone bricks are tightly packed. Maybe that’s why it’s still standing after 800 years.
A few more miles down the road, the visitor center is next to the largest of the sites, the Wupatki Pueblo. A map from the visitor center will guide you through the areas multiple structures, including a ball court.
There are several other dwellings (Citadel, Nalakihu, Box Canyon and Lomaki) just a short drive from the visitor center. Citadel Pueblo was built atop a hill offering great 360 panoramic views of the Colorado Plateau. The Box Canyon and Lomaki Pueblos are smaller but just as fun to tour.
