For over 100 years, these ruins have been called the Tonto Cliff Dwellings. We don’t know who named them, and there is no way of knowing when they were first seen by Europeans. Cowboys, settlers, and the cavalry were probably aware of the ruins by the 1870’s, although no known documentation exists from this period.
Tonto National Monument was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, one of the first National Monuments to be proclaimed under the new Antiquities Act of 1906. Since then, these pristine ruins have been both protected and open to the public to enjoy. Tonto National Monument presents a unique opportunity to walk through the original rooms which once housed a thriving community.
A paved trail to the Lower Ruin is self-guided (one-mile round trip) however the vertical climb is 350 feet! It was a hardy climb for this 75 year old! Guided tours to the Upper Ruin are available November through April (three miles round trip) and require reservations. The Cliff Dwellings are located on Arizona 188, about 30 miles north from Globe and overlooks Roosevelt Lake.