Cactus Patch Trail
Visitor centers
Along the way Visitor Center
National Monument · Arizona
Trails in Tonto National Monument
3 named trails · 2 miles · 1 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.
3 trails, A to Z.
Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail
Visitor centers
Along the way Visitor Center
Hike the Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail the Park Service's write-up
30-90 Minutes · dogs allowed · entrance fee applies
Start Visitor Center
The Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail starts in the visitor center and winds up a steep path, ending in the Lower Cliff Dwelling. Along the trail are views of the cliff dwelling, various desert plants, and Roosevelt Lake. Exhibits along the trail provide more information about the people who lived here and about the general area. Benches are available on the way, but are fully exposed with little to no shade. This trail ends in the cliff dwelling where visitors can walk through portions of the structure and see expansive views of the basin below.
The Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail is a moderate hike on a paved trail and is fully exposed with no shade. It is strongly recommended to bring water and to check the weather before visiting. Please check in at the visitor center before beginning your hike. This hike is available year-round, but hours do vary. See below for the most up-to-date hours and be aware that the trail may close due to excessive heat, lightning, bee activity, fire activity, or flooding.
Trailhead: Visitor Center
Parking: Available at visitor center.
Distance: 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 350 feet (107 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate (steep incline in a short distance)
Services: Accessible restrooms and a water-fill station are available at the visitor center.
Other Considerations
Stairs: Stairs are throughout the dwelling and the cliff dwelling walls should not be used as support when stepping up. If you need support stepping up stairs, please bring hiking poles, a hiking stick, or use the hand or shoulder of a person that you are with.
This is a cultural site. Within the cliff dwelling touching surfaces, leaning on walls, and entering closed areas is not permitted. Do your part to help preserve and protect the cliff dwelling so that future generations can enjoy visiting and learning at this site.
Leave everything where you find it. Please leave all plants, flowers, rocks, and artifacts in place. Removal of anything is not permitted. Take only photos and leave only footprints.
Delicate rocks and sensitive plants exist throughout this area. Please stay on the main trail and respect all posted signs.
Accessibility The Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail is a steep incline on a paved trail. The pavement on the trail is uneven and cracked in some places. Manual wheelchairs are not recommended due to the steep grade and sharp corners. Electric wheelchairs can be used on this trail but the steep grade, sharp corners, and stairs into the cliff dwelling should be taken into consideration. An alternative to the trail is viewing the cliff dwelling through the binoculars in the parking lot, visiting the museum, and viewing the park film. Trail Information: Surface Type: Paved Total Ascent: 350 ft (107 meters) Length: 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) roundtrip Typical Grade: 13% Stairs: Yes (at the cliff dwelling) Service Animals: Yes (see below) Benches: Yes Benches with a back are available along the trail. General Information: Parking: 2 accessible parking spots are available at the visitor center, near the front door. Visitor Center: In the visitor center is a wheelchair-accessible desk for visitors to talk to park staff. The museum is wheelchair-accessible and the park film can be put on in the museum by request. Restrooms: Two restrooms split by gender are available outside the visitor center. There is 1 wheelchair-accessible stall in each restroom. Service Animals: Service animals are permitted in the visitor center and cliff dwelling, but must fulfill the definition and requirements. Please be prepared to provide this information to park staff. A service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability. Service animals are not emotional support, therapy, comfort or companion animals. Service animals on the trail. If you plan to take your service animal on the Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail please bring enough water for yourself and your service animal. The trail is fully exposed with no shade and cactus plants and animals are common on the trail. In the summer months (May-August), consider the temperature of the ground surface as it can be hotter than the air temperature.
Upper Cliff Dwelling Trail
About these trails
The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.