The ancient ruins of Arizona
Flagstaff has long been considered the “hub of northern Arizona’s natural and historical attractions,” said Anne Z. Cooke in National Geographic Traveler. Past the pioneer town’s pine forests and “rolling ranch land” sit two ancient monuments that offer a rich window into the Southwest’s history. Just northeast of town, the Wupatki National Monument is the largest and most well-preserved Native American pueblo standing. Dating back some 850 years, the ruins were once home to the “ancestors of today’s Hopi, Zuni, and other Pueblo people.” The park’s “centerpiece” is a 100-room pueblo with sandstone walls that controlled temperature extremes and flat roofs that funneled rain into clay jars. Farther east, the Walnut Canyon National Monument hints at how the Sinagua people thrived in the high desert. Descending 185 feet, the Island Trail passes by 25 different rooms cut into cliffs. The “scenic but strenuous” hike feels like a pathway into the past.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.