tonto | AZ | Find park - Future Camping

cliff dwelling in the spring with desert plants and wildflowers.

The Lower Cliff Dwelling in Spring

Hillside with Saguaro Cactus near the Lower Cliff Dwelling

Visitor Center with cliff dwelling and a rainbow in the background.

The Visitor Center sits below the Lower Cliff Dwelling

Two story rooms of the Upper Cliff Dwelling.

Front view of the Upper Cliff Dwelling.

The view looking out from the cliff dwelling over Roosevelt Lake.

The view from the back of the Upper Cliff Dwelling.

Physical Address:

26260 N AZ Hwy 188 Lot 2

Roosevelt, AZ 85545

Mailing Address:

26260 N AZ Hwy 188 Lot 2

Roosevelt, AZ 85545

contact-details

Phone Number: 9284672241 Voice
Phone Number: 9284672225 Fax

Email Address: tont_information@nps.gov
Description: If you have general questions about Tonto National Monument and the cliff dwellings, please send us an email. We will respond as soon as possible.

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Per Person: $10.00

Tonto National Monument charges a fee to all visitors hiking to the Lower or Upper Cliff Dwelling. Tour reservations are required to visit the Upper Cliff Dwelling. The Lower Cliff Dwelling is open September through May 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and June through August 8:00 am to noon. Credit and Debit only

Entrance - Education/Academic Groups: $0.00

Education groups may be granted an educational fee waiver. All requests and documentation must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance of the school's planned visit.

Entrance Passes

Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant groups that lived in the Tonto Basin. Together they formed a new ideology, which archeologists refer to as Salado. Today, descendants of the cliff dwellers continue to call Arizona home.

park designation:National Monument

Directions:

The cliff dwellings at Tonto National Monument are roughly two hours from the Phoenix metro area, located in the Tonto Basin. The Monument is off AZ Highway 188 near Roosevelt Lake. The nearest major towns are Globe (30 miles) and Payson (50 miles). See our Directions page for recommendations on the best way to drive here from the larger metro areas of Arizona.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Tonto National Monument

Tonto National Monument is open 8 am to 5 pm. The park is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The park closes early at 1:45 pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. September through May, the Lower Cliff Dwelling trail is open 8 am to 4 pm. June, July, and August, you must start your hike before 12 pm (noon). The Visitor Center Park store and museum are open from 8 am to 5 pm.

Exceptions:

Closed Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2025 - November 27, 2025)

Closed December 25 (December 25, 2024 - December 25, 2024)

Closed New Year's Day (January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025)

Open Juneteenth (June 19, 2025 - June 19, 2025)

Open Independence Day (July 4, 2025 - July 4, 2025)

Weather Information:

Weather during the summer can be extremely hot. It is typically 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than Phoenix, AZ. Winter weather may create hazardous conditions on the roads to Tonto National Monument. Severe thunderstorms may lead to a closure of the hiking trails.