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Palatki Heritage Site: A Window to the Past

Discover ancient cliff dwellings and rock art at Palatki Heritage Site, a window into the lives of early inhabitants near Sedona, Arizona.

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Explore the ancient cliff dwellings and rock art of the Palatki Heritage Site, nestled in the red rock canyons near Sedona. This site, inhabited by the Sinagua people between 1150 and 1350 CE, offers a glimpse into the lives of early inhabitants of the Verde Valley and their cultural legacy.

A brief summary to Palatki Heritage Site

Local tips

  • Reservations are required for guided tours and can be made through Recreation.gov.
  • A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is required for each vehicle.
  • The roads to Palatki are rough gravel roads, so drive slowly and carefully.
  • Bring water, as potable water is not available on-site.
  • Wear comfortable shoes for walking on uneven stone steps and trails.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    From Sedona, take State Route 89A west through West Sedona and continue for 5 miles past the last traffic light. Turn right onto Forest Road 525, just past mile marker 365. Continue north for 5 miles on FR 525, then continue straight onto Forest Road 795 for 2 miles to the Palatki parking lot. Note that FR 525 and FR 795 are rough gravel roads. A Red Rock Pass is required for parking, which can be purchased at the site for $5 per day.

  • Driving

    From Cottonwood, take State Route 89A north. About 0.5 miles north of mile marker 364, turn left onto Forest Road 525. Drive 7 miles on FR 525 to FR 795 and continue to the Palatki Heritage Site and the parking lot. A Red Rock Pass is required for parking, which can be purchased at the site for $5 per day.

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Discover more about Palatki Heritage Site

Palatki Heritage Site, meaning 'Red House' in the Hopi language, is an archaeological treasure located 13 miles northwest of Sedona, Arizona. Managed by the Coconino National Forest, this site features well-preserved cliff dwellings and a remarkable collection of rock art, including pictographs and petroglyphs dating back thousands of years. The Sinagua people, who lived here from approximately 1150 to 1350 AD, constructed the cliff dwellings using the red Supai sandstone. These dwellings, built under south-facing overhangs, provided shelter and captured the winter sun. The Sinagua were agriculturalists who also hunted and gathered, leaving behind pottery shards, corn cobs, and metates. The rock art at Palatki tells the stories of multiple cultures, including the Sinagua, Hopi, Apache, Navajo, and Yavapai. Some of the abstract pictographs and petroglyphs are estimated to be 3,000 to 6,000 years old, predating the cliff dwellings. These images offer insights into the spiritual beliefs and daily lives of the ancient inhabitants. Visitors can explore the site through guided tours led by knowledgeable Forest Service guides. The tour includes a stop at the cliff dwellings and the rock art gallery, with trails leading to the sites. The visitor center, housed in a historic ranch house built in the 1920s, offers exhibits and information about the site's history and significance.

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