Last updated: January 28, 2026
Thing to Do
Crack-In-Rock Ranger-Led Hike
NPS
Crack-In-Rock Day Hikes
Day trips to Crack-In-Rock will be offered each year in April and October. The number of participants on each hike is limited to 12 to preserve these fragile resources. Hikes may be conducted with smaller groups depending on staff availability. Spots are filled on a first come first served basis with a waitlist of 5 people per hike.
One hike will be conducted in April, 2026 for hikers that had been signed up for the cancelled October, 2025 hikes. No public registration or lottery will be held for this hike.
Participants will be driven by NPS staff in 4x4 vehicles and then led on a guided hike to the Crack-In-Rock Pueblo and other nearby archeological sites to experience protected petroglyph panels and Ancestral Puebloan structures.
This day hike will be approximately four miles total in desert conditions.The hike is strenuous to include uneven terrain and steep talus slopes, participants will be exposed to outdoor conditions all day.
These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area.
Details
Duration
6-8 Hours
Activity
Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
Registered hikers will meet with Park Staff at the designated meeting point for this Ranger Led Hike.
Pets Allowed
No
Activity Fee
Yes
Normal park entry fees apply (see Fees & Passes - Wupatki National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) but there is no additional cost to attend these experiences.
Location
Wupatki National Monument Visitor Center
Hikers will meet with Park Staff at the location listed on their reservations.
Reservations
Yes
Reservations are required to attend. Please use the online form linked on this page.
Season
Spring
Hikes are held during the months of October and April to take advantage of cooler weather and avoid disturbing wildlife during specific breeding or migration times.
Time of Day
Day
Accessibility Information
The hike is strenuous to include uneven terrain and steep talus slopes, will be approximately four miles total in desert conditions, and participants will be exposed to outdoor conditions all day.