Hiking to Explore Cliff Dwellings

Mon Mar 14
We got up bright and early this morning to travel to the Tonto National Monument near Roosevelt, some 80 miles northeast of the park. We had made reservations more than two weeks ago and we needed to be there by 9:30AM for our park ranger-guided tour to the Upper Cliff Dwelling Ruins.

Tour Group and Guide at Beginning of Hike

There are two cliff dwelling ruins and the upper is accessed via a 3 mile hike round trip that climbs 600 vertical feet to overlook Roosevelt Lake in the valley below. Along the way our guide stopped often to explain much about the uses of desert vegetation, particularly to prehistoric peoples for building, food, clothing and etc. She also told as much as is known about the Salado peoples that built the ruins we were visiting. They were in the area around 1200 to 1300 AD and had largely disappeared by 1400 AD. They were not as skilled at building as were the Anasazi of the Mesa Verde area. It was interesting how one could see their hand prints in the mud plaster that covered the walls in some places. After returning from our guided tour Dad talked me into hiking with him the mile round trip with 350 feet of vertical climb to tour the Lower Cliff Dwelling Ruins. My feet were sore and I was tired but the path was smooth and paved and I did enjoy the hike after all. There was a ranger at this site to answer questions and visitors could come and go whenever they wished. The size and condition of both ruins was similar. As you stand there inside you try to imagine what life was like for those ancient people.

Lower Cliff Dwelling Ruins

Roosevelt Lake from Upper Cliff Dwelling Ruins

Upper Cliff Dwelling Ruins

At Lower Cliff Dwelling Ruins

Upper Cliff Dwelling Ruins

Scenery Hiking to Upper Cliff Dwelling Ruins

Visitors Center from Lower Cliff Dwelling Ruins

We then visited the Roosevelt Dam and returned back down the Apache Trail, the first 20 miles of which is a narrow, winding dirt road.

Bridge Just Above Roosevelt Lake Dam

Roosevelt Dam

View of Unpaved Segment of the Apache Trail

 As we neared Tortilla Flat we encountered Gene, Lynn and Laurene. They turned around and we all went to Tortilla Flat for a popular "Bullrider" hamburger and french fries at the restaurant there. The bar stools are saddles and the walls are papered with autographed $1 bills totalling approximately $100,000 as we were told by the waitress.


Waiting for Our Burgers. Notice $1 Bills Wallpaper





Barstools in Restaurant Lounge

 After dinner we stopped at the Gardners to see how Dave was doing as he had apparently not been feeling very well and did not go on the ride with the others.