Saturday, October 8, 2022

Tuzigoot National Monument


Visited: Nov 2021
Nearby town: Cottonwood, AZ

In the Verde Valley in central Arizona lies a large and remarkably well-preserved pueblo ruin. The complex of rooms are built along the spine of a large hill. As you drive up to the site, it makes for an impressive vista.
the ruins atop the hill

The ruins are known as "Tuzigoot" an Apache word meaning "crooked waters" (referring to the nearby Pecks Lake, a cutoff meander of the Verde River). The dwellings here were built and inhabited by the Sinagua peoples from approximately 1125-1400 AD. 

There are over 110 rooms at this site. Some of the pueblos here are 2 and 3 stories high. The visitor center has good information about the history of the peoples here and many artifacts on display.


After going through the museum, take the short trail and walk through the ruins. It's a pleasant stroll and an interesting site. Enjoy the surrounding countryside.



very few of the rooms at Tuzigoot had doorways. The Sinagua accessed their rooms via ladders by openings at the top of the room.









the highest pueblo (at the very top of the hill) had a large doorway opening






the view of the ruins from the highest pueblo














If driving along interstate-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff, take the detour to check out the cool ruins of Tuzigoot. 

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