Wupatki National Monument

 Wupatki National Monument, Flagstaff, AZ

This is a little bit over due post. I know I mentioned before to follow up my Desert Escape post with the places we explored last spring break. However, I always get lost sharing the places we explored because of also my joy sharing the happiness of exploring what is closer to home, San Diego.

 After Page, AZ, on our way to Grand Canyon National Park, we visited two nearby National Monuments, the Wupatki National Monument, and the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

 Oftentimes, I am asked, "was it too hot there?" I actually am not surprised with this question, because my perception also before of the desert is that it is hot, and whenever the soil looks orange, it is hot! Though Wupatki National Monument is one of the warmest and driest places on the Colorado Plateau, but during the winter and early spring, the high desert is actually far from hot, as you can tell from the double layered clothing in the picture above.

" Wupatki National Monument was established to preserve the archeological sites from which we can learn about past and present cultures. Wupatki’s history is a complex story of people interacting with this living, evolving landscape. The dynamic processes of volcanism, tectonics, and erosion have created the geologic formations and abrupt elevation changes that provide, within a short distance, a wide variety of habitats for plants and animals. The effects of elevation are startlingly visible along the scenic loop road connecting Wupatki with Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, 18 miles to the south. A drive along this road is a journey from desert grasslands (at less than 5,000’ elevation) to ponderosa pine forest (near 7,000’). "- source: http://www.nps.gov/wupa/naturescience/index.htm

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

In my next post, if I don't get lost sharing my local San Diego joys again, I hope to be continuing to the nearby Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. 

To learn more about Wupatki National Monument, please visit the park site here. 

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