Palatki Heritage Site - Ancient Cliff Dwelling and Pictographs Sheltered by Colorful Cliffs of Red Canyon  

The Palatki Heritage Site cliff dwelling and rock art site is located near the town of Sedona in north-central Arizona. Currently managed by the U.S. Forest Service under the Red Rock Pass Program, the site is open to the general public for visits seven days a week (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). A small visitor center and bookstore, run by the Arizona Natural History Association, is located a short distance from the parking lot.

There are two trails at Palatki Heritage Site, one trail that takes you to the Sinagua cliff dwellings, and a second that goes to the alcoves that shelter the painted symbols, or pictographs from every native culture to ever occupy the Verde Valley. There are two trails, each one is ¼ mile one way, so the round trip distance is one mile. The trail to the pictographs is fairly easy but the trail to the cliff dwelling includes about 50 uneven rocky steps. Good walking shoes are recommended. These trails are not wheelchair accessible.  Vault toilets and water are available.

Palatki and it’s sister site, Honanki were the largest cliff dwellings of the Red Rock country between A.D.1150 - 1300.  They were first described by Dr. Jesse Walter Fewkes, famous turn-of-the century archaeologist from the Smithsonian Institution, who gave them the Hopi names of Honanki (Bear House) and Palatki (Red House). The Hopi, however, have no specific names for these sites.

Before you visit, please visit our "Archaeological Site Etiquette Guide".

Reservations are recommended: Call Palatki at (928) 282-3854 between 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to make a reservation.  Reservations help the Forest Service manage the number of visitors who are at the site at one time.  Sometimes you may be turned away if there are already too many people at the site.

Hours: Open 7 days a week, 9:30 to 3:00.
If there has been rain or snow recently, it is recommended that you contact Palatki or the Red Rock Ranger District at (928)-282-4119 to learn the condition of the roads to the Site.  If the roads are impassable, Palatki Heritage Site will be closed; signs indicating the closed status will normally be posted at key access points.

Fees: A Red Rock Pass (or equivalent) is required on all vehicles parked at our Cultural Sites. This pass can be purchased at these sites during normal hours of operation.

Pets are not allowed beyond the parking area at this heritage site.

Access:
From Sedona: Take Hwy. 89A through West Sedona and continue past the last traffic light for five miles. Just past mile marker 365, turn right onto Forest Road 525. Go north for 5 miles and when F.R. 525 bears left, continue straight ahead onto Forest Road 795 for two miles. This road will lead directly into the Palatki parking lot.

An alternative way to access Palatki it to travel through west Sedona on Hwy. 89A, turn right onto Dry Creek Rd. There are signs at every intersection that will direct you towards Palatki.  At the end of Dry Creek Rd, turn left onto Boynton Pass Road (FR 152C).  At the next stop sign, turn left again.  In a couple of miles, the pavement will end and you should continue on the rough gravel road for three miles until you reach another T intersection where you should turn right. It is 2 miles to Palatki from this intersection. These roads are generally passable to passenger cars when dry, but it is not regularly maintained by the County and has some rough and rocky stretches. 

From Cottonwood: Take 89A north from Cottonwood. About 1/2 mile north of mile marker 364, turn left onto a dirt road (Forest Road 525 to Forest Road 795; passable for passenger cars when dry), and drive 7 miles to Palatki Heritage Site and the parking lot.

GPS: N34° 54' 58.2474", W-111° 54' 6.228"

For More Information: Contact the Red Rock Heritage Sites, P.O. Box 20429, Sedona AZ 86341, (928) 282-3854.

Click map for Red Rock Recreation Map (.pdf file)

Other Archaeology Sites

Honanki

V bar V Heritage Site

Elden Pueblo