Tonto National Monument

National Monument · AZ · nps.gov page

cliff dwelling in the spring with desert plants and wildflowers.
The Lower Cliff Dwelling in SpringPhoto: NPS Photo

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.

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Photos

Hillside with Saguaro Cactus
Hillside with Saguaro Cactus near the Lower Cliff DwellingPhoto: NPS Photo/ Christa Sadler
Visitor Center with cliff dwelling and a rainbow in the background.
The Visitor Center sits below the Lower Cliff DwellingPhoto: NPS Photo/ Macario Mora
Two story rooms of the Upper Cliff Dwelling.
Front view of the Upper Cliff Dwelling.Photo: NPS Photo/ Davis Stevenson
The view looking out from the cliff dwelling over Roosevelt Lake.
The view from the back of the Upper Cliff Dwelling.Photo: NPS Photo/ Davis Stevenson

Park information and photos come from the National Park Service. This is not an official NPS site.