Agua Fria National Monument, Arizona

Agua Fria National Monument is a national monument managed by the US Bureau of Land Management in Arizona. Covering 71,100 acres (288 sq km), it is about 40 miles (64 km) to the north of downtown Phoenix.

Agua Fria National Monument protects ancient Native American ruins and petroglyphs. The ruins include pueblo structures, some of which containing more than 100 living chambers. They were built between 1250 and 1450 AD by a Native American people known today as the Perry Mesa Tradition.

Ofu Beach
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agfr_agua_fria_river.jpg
Author: BLM Photo


Petroglyphs at the Agua Fria National Monument depict various subjects including animals, geometric figures and abstract symbols. There are thousands of these petroglyphs within the national monument site which is between 2,150 ft (660 m) to 4,600 ft (1,400 m) above sea level.

In addition to the artifacts, Agua Fria National Monument also protects the desert and semi-desert ecosystem which is home to a variety of reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Among the wildlife in this area include mountain lions, black bears, elk, white-tail deer, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, Javelina, Desert tortoise, Garter snake and Leopard frog.

Visiting Agua Fria National Monument, Arizona

Take Interstate 17 and exit at either Exit 256 (Badger Springs Exit) or Exit 259 (Bloody Basin Road Exit). There is no admission fee for visiting this national monument.

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