July 26, 2026
Wupatki Pueblo Trail
in the high desert northeast of Flagstaff, AZ
We walked the Wupatki Pueblo Trail starting just behind the visitor center. "It was a short, easy, out-and-back self-guided walk with gentle inclines on packed surfaces. We visited its very interesting features including a 900-year-old masonry pueblo with over 100 rooms, a ceremonial ballcourt, and a natural geological blowhole." "Wupatki, meaning "Tall House" in the Hopi language, is a massive 11th-century Pueblo built by Ancestral Puebloans. Sparked by the eruption of nearby Sunset Crater Volcano, volcanic ash enriched the soil for farming. It grew into a busy trading hub of over 100 rooms before being abandoned in the 1200s due to climate shifts."
Today's hikers: Mike Bell, Jenny Bell. Scott Bell, Renée Robson, Jim Robson & John Robson.
The route
0.8 mi · 82 ft climbing · 43m out, 34m walking · 1.4 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
14 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (15)
The central building, Wupatki, was believed to be a central meeting place for those living in the surrounding area. Today Hikers: Mike & Jenny, Not shown: Scott, Renée, Jim & John. Let's go Want some background? 1 of 3 Want some background? 2 of 3 Want some background? 3 of 3 A view of the surrounding terrain. You can see the volcanic rocks. Pretty arid now. A long shot of the Wupatki pueblo. The flat, deep red-brown slabs are Moenkopi Sandstone, a sedimentary rock. The dark grey to black stones and gravel fragments are basalt and volcanic ash ejected from the Sunset Crater in 1085 AD. A detail of one of the rooms of Wupatki pueblo. This "swiss-cheese" texture on sandstone is known as honeycomb weathering or tafoni being formed through a gradual, repetitive breakdown, not air holes. The ceremonial ball court with the Wupatki pueblo in the background. Jenny checks out the "blowhole." Archaeologist are not certain it was active in the 1200's. Information of this "blowhole." Rubber rabbit brush, who knew.