AQUA FRIA national monument &
PUEBLO LA PLATA prehistoric ruins

Pueblo La Plata, ruins, Aqua Fria National Monument

Location: east of I-17, between Black Canyon City and Cordes Junction
Address: no postal address
Distance: about 40 miles north of Phoenix via I-17.
Opening hours: open year-round
Fees: no
Direction from Phoenix: Drive I-17 North towards Flagstaff, use Exit 256 (Badger Springs) or Exit 259 (Bloody Basin Road) and go east.
Direction from Flagstaff: Drive I-17 South towards Phoenix, use Exit 259 (Bloody Basin Road) or Exit 256 (Badger Springs) and go east.

Aqua Fria National Monument. It is one of the newest of the 18 National Monuments in Arizona (designated January 2000). The 71,000 acres landscape includes Perry Mesa, Black Mesa, and the Aqua Fria river canyon. You can enjoy wildlife and visit prehistoric sites. At least 450 prehistoric sites were inhabited here between 1250 AD and 1450 AD and housed several thousand people in this semi-desert area.
The monument got its name from the Aqua Fria River (aqua fria = cold water).

The visit. There are 2 different main access points into the Aqua Fria National Monument:
- Badger Springs, I-17 Exit 256
- Bloody Basin Road, I-17 Exit 259
Either exit brings you right away onto a dirt road. The BLM recommends a 4WD vehicle for access. Please note that driving in the National Monument is only allowed on roads (no off-road travel allowed). There are no facilities in the monument.
See also the map of the Aqua Fria National Monument provided by the BLM website.

Badger Springs, information kiosk

Use the Badger Springs access if you don't have much time but would like to enjoy a less than 1 mile hike (one way) to the Aqua Fria River.
Just off I-17 you will get first to the 'information kiosk' (info & map). From there drive the dirt road east to the Badger Springs Trailhead and park your vehicle. Hike down and follow the Badger Springs Wash to the Aqua Fria River (less than 1 mile one way).

If you are up to dirt road driving, have more time, would like to visit one of the most interesting prehistoric sites in this area or would like to cross the Aqua Fria National Monument from west to east then use the Bloody Basin Road.
At the I-17 Exit 259 turn east. Soon the dirt road goes first south and turns then east. After about 4 miles the Bloody Basin Road heads down to the Aqua Fria River. There you can see the private (!) Horseshoe Ranch on your left. Cross the river bed on a concrete paved section.
Note: At the river bed you will see the sign 'Don't cross when flooded'. Be aware that even distant rain can fill the river bed in a hurry. Driving back may be impossible for several hours.
From there the dirt road heads up a hill before you drive down again and cross the wash of the Silver Creek and then up again onto a plateau.

Aqua Fria River bed at Bloody Basin Road, near the Horseshoe Ranch (private land)

Burnt bushes and trees, signs of a wildland fire near the Silver Creek wash

About 2-2.5 miles after the Silver Creek crossing there is a dirt road to your left (no sign). This very rough 4WD road (about 1.2 miles, only 4WD with high clearance!) brings you close to the Pueblo La Plata ruins. The last stretch you will have to hike.

Pueblo La Plata sign

The only sign there is just before you enter the ruins site.

PUEBLO LA PLATA

These prehistoric place is a main site of the now 450 known ruins in the Aqua Fria National Monument and shows the remains of a several rooms settlement.

Located on a soft hill and a few hundred feet south of the steep walls of the Silver Creek Canyon the ruins provide a great look into the past.
Remaining walls give a good idea about the layout of the pueblo and you can still see colorful pieces of pottery there.

Observe, enjoy and photograph prehistoric archaeological sites but leave all artifacts as found. Defacing archaeological sites is vandalism and is punishable by law.
On the picture below you can see some pottery pieces placed on a stone from someone who visited the site before I did. Please, don't do that!

pottery pieces (enlargeable)

Pueblo La Plata, view north (enlargeable)

Pueblo La Plata, Aqua Fria National Monument,
center of the prehistoric site, view south (enlargeable)


Back on the Bloody Basin Road you can drive back the same road you came to I-17 or go left (east) and follow the road for about 2.5 miles to the east entrance/exit of the monument (information kiosk).
Leaving the National Monument on the east side the dirt road goes way further into the Tonto National Forest and over many miles to Cave Creek - but I do recommend to turn around here and to drive back to I-17.



View at the eastern border of the Aqua Fria National Monument


Camping. Info taken from an information kiosk at the National Monument at the time of my visit. Please check there for more info, changes and updates.
- Camp up to 14 days, 1/4 mile from livestock and wildlife watering areas.
- Avoid new impacts - select existing campsites.
- Campfires are allowed unless posted. Use dead and down wood only.
- Make sure you campfire is completely out to prevent wildland fires.
- PLEASE ... pack out ALL trash!

Important. Driving maintained dirt roads in the Aqua Fria National Monument (f.e. Bloody Basin Road) should not be a problem in dry conditions (the BLM recommends 4WD vehicles). In wet conditions it can become a major problem - the partially clay like surface becomes extremely slippery and makes the road impassable.
Make sure that you bring plenty of gas and water. Be prepared for emergencies. Be aware that this is wilderness country where potential hazards exist (poisonous reptiles and insects, flash floods,...).
For more information about the Aqua Fria NM contact the BLM Phoenix Field Office by phone (623) 580-5500 or visit their website.

Nearby attractions:
Please visit the page Trips and Sightseeing in northern Arizona for other interesting parks, monuments and places north of Phoenix.

All information: as of summer 2004

Link to website and information about the Aqua Fria NM (link opens in a new window):
Aqua Fria NM official website @ www.blm.gov

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