Agua Fria National Monument in Arizona, USA - map and visitor information

Agua Fria National Monument protects mesas, river canyons, and archaeological sites north of Phoenix, Arizona. The Bureau of Land Management manages this monument, where visits usually involve dirt roads and undeveloped walking routes. Choose your destination and vehicle carefully, and bring your own drinking water.

Highlights

• Follow Badger Springs Wash toward the river and a protected petroglyph panel.
• Visit Pueblo La Plata’s stone-wall remains on a mesa above the canyon.
• Explore the contrast between grassland mesas and river corridors without disturbing cultural sites.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety information

Summer temperatures can exceed 110°F. Bring sufficient water, use sun protection, and choose cooler conditions for exposed walking. Avoid washes during storms because of flash flooding. Watch for rattlesnakes and rough footing. Cell service is unreliable, so prepare your route and communication plan before leaving paved roads.

Visit responsibly

Leave artifacts and rock art untouched, and do not climb walls or structures. Keep motor vehicles on numbered, designated roads; driving in washes is prohibited. Control pets and remove waste; Badger Springs and Pueblo La Plata specifically require leashes.

Reservations and permits

Dispersed camping has a 14-day stay limit. Organized events and visiting groups of 25 or more need permit arrangements. Contact the Hassayampa Field Office about the activity and current restrictions before planning a large group or special use.

Maps, location, and access

Use the BLM visitor page and map resources to select an access point. I-17 serves Badger Springs Road at exit 256, Bloody Basin Road at exit 259, and the Cordes Lakes area near exit 262. For Badger Springs, travel about 0.8 miles east on the dirt road to the gravel lot. A nearby interstate exit does not mean the onward route is paved.

Nearby parks

• Montezuma Castle National Monument is reached farther north from I-17 exit 289 near Camp Verde. Its paved approach makes it a straightforward additional road stop.
• Tuzigoot National Monument is reached from I-17 exit 287 via Highway 260 toward Cottonwood, then 89A and Tuzigoot Road. Allow for the drive away from the interstate.

Things to do

• Badger Springs: Follow the short nonmotorized wash route toward the Agua Fria River. The trailhead description explains its sandy, rocky, and sometimes muddy conditions.
• Pueblo La Plata: The official site directions use Bloody Basin Road for about 8.3 miles, then a dirt turnoff for about one mile. A short walk continues to the site; do not mistake its length for easy vehicle access.
• Birding and photography: Explore river-corridor habitat and mesa views from permitted routes. Avoid approaching wildlife or entering fragile structures for a photograph.

Facilities and accessibility

Bring all drinking water. BLM lists accessible vault toilets at Badger Springs Trailhead and Silver Creek along Bloody Basin Road. Pueblo La Plata has no toilet or water. Both the Badger wash route and the Pueblo trail have uneven natural surfaces and are not generally considered wheelchair accessible. Confirm specific needs before choosing a site; an accessible toilet does not make the surrounding trail accessible.

About this national monument

History

The monument was established on January 11, 2000. Its cultural landscape contains hundreds of recorded archaeological sites. Archaeologists use the term Perry Mesa Tradition for communities that occupied these mesas between about 1250 and 1450. Later history includes Yavapai people, ranching, and disputes over water; the monument preserves more than a single period of settlement.

Wildlife and habitat

The Agua Fria River corridor supports habitat within the surrounding mesa and grassland landscape. BLM identifies mule deer, javelina, and coyotes along the Badger Springs route, alongside birdwatching opportunities. Seasonal water and animal movement affect what visitors see.

Contact

For monument questions, call 602-867-5400 or email [email protected]. The Hassayampa Field Office is the managing office; confirm office arrangements separately from your trailhead destination.