Date: June 15, 2017
Contact: Hilary Clark, (928) 467-2241
Roosevelt, AZ - Due to excessive heat warnings for Roosevelt, AZ and surrounding areas, the trail to the Lower Cliff Dwellings will be closed starting Saturday, June 17 and lasting until Wednesday, June 21, 2017. The trail will reopen on Thursday, June 22, at which time we will return to our normal business hours with the Visitor Center open daily from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and the Lower Cliff Dwelling trail open from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (noon). For more information about the excessive heat forecast, please visit the NOAA website at: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=33.667548215000465&lon=-111.1342857409997#.WUMF4k2wf3g
Despite the trail closure, the Visitor Center will remain open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with a replica room to explore, and a museum that houses artifacts, including textiles and pottery over 700 years old. There is a 20 minute movie available that tells the story of the Salado who built the cliff dwellings and opportunities to shop in the Western National Park Association bookstore.
Tonto National Monument protects two cliff dwellings built by the Salado people over 700 years ago. Established as a national monument in 1907 by President Teddy Roosevelt, the cliff dwellings were part of the early archeological preservation movement in America. The Monument is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except for December 25. Directions and additional information are available on the Monument's website, www.nps.gov/tont, or you may call (928) 467-2241.
No camping is available at Tonto National Monument. The nearest camping is available at Windy Hill Campground in Tonto National Forest. For more information on camping visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto/
For more information contact:
(928) 467-2241 and tont_interpretation@nps.gov
or visit:
https://www.nps.gov/tont
https://www.facebook.com/TontoNPS
https://www.instagram.com/TontoNPS
