Wupatki National Monument

[AshnJim]

The campground here is Bonito, and it's amazing; we go there every July for the Celtic Festival in Flagstaff, AZ. About 18 miles north, Bonito and Wuptaki National Monument boast spectacular scenery and a drive-around tour of Native American ruins. Wait! you say, raising an eyebrow. Arizona in July? Isn't it too hot?

Nope, because altitude = latitude. At a tad over 8,000 feet, Flagstaff and this campground are quite pleasant. You are likely, however, to be inundated by hummingbirds. ;-)

The campground itself features 44 single unit sites (and one accessible site) with tables, fire rings and cooking grills. (The length limit is 42'.) There are paved roads and spurs; there's a ranger program around campfire in an accessible amphitheater. There's drinking water, and flush-type, barrier-free toilets. There is also a gift shop. Camping is $20/night, and if you have what we call the "geezer pass" (Golden Eagle it used to be, but they've changed it and I don't remember what it's called now), it's half that.

It's a heavily used site, but you can't make reservations. (There's another 'ground - O'Leary - just west, where I think you can reserve a site.) Life among the pine trees (they're Ponderosas) is very relaxing. The squirrels are fun to watch. The lava fields are fun to explore, and the cinders keep the dust down.

I don't have video, but I have posted a couple of photos ... somewhere here.