This hike actually requires more driving than walking, but it will reward you with a walk through time and with a visit to the western edge of Sedona’s spectacular Red Rock Country.

Archaeologists believe the Palatki Heritage Site to have been most recently occupied by people of the Sinagua culture, a name derived from the Spanish “sin” (without) “aqua” (water). The people who lived here were members of the southern branch of this culture, also occupying other sites such as Honanki, Montezuma Castle, Tuzigoot, and Clear Creek. They lived in this region between A.D. 1100 and 1300, building above-ground masonry pueblos.

Approximately 30 to 50 people lived at the Palatki Heritage site. Typical of other Sinagua sites in the Verde Valley, the structures here are oval with vestibule entries, generally on the more easterly side. This is one of the two largest pueblos in the Red Rocks region, the other being Honanki. After leaving this site, for reasons not completely understood, these Sinagua clan members probably moved to pueblos in Oak Creek Canyon or along the Verde River.

Modern archaeological theory holds that these people were ancestors of the modern Hopi people, and historians have actually traced a trade route from the Verde Valley to the Hopi Mesas. For that reason this site has a Hopi name, Pa-lat-kwa-pi, meaning “place among the red rocks.”

You can visit two separate pueblos at Palatki, which suggests that two family or kin groups lived here. The circular, shield-like symbol pictured here is a pictograph from the eastern pueblo site, and probably represents a clan group. The western pueblo is the smaller, but is proximate to one of the largest accumulations of pictographs in this region.

The pueblos lie at the base of the spectacular red sandstone cliffs below Bear Mountain and at the boundary of Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness. Road access to the site is suitable for most vehicles in good weather. The trails through the area, less than two miles in extent, are wide, smooth, and climb only a few feet in elevation.

The Red Rock views give context to the ancient dwellings and petroglyphs at Palatki

The shortest route from Prescott is on Hwy. 89A through Jerome. Continue past Jerome to Cottonwood. A couple of miles south of Cottonwood, Hwy. 89A crosses the Verde River and heads for Sedona. After traveling from Prescott for about 54 miles, turn left onto Forest Road 525 (gravel). This junction is 1.8 miles east of the road to Page Springs. At 5.7 miles on 525, you will pass Forest Road 152C, the Boynton Pass road. Then at 5.8 miles there is a junction of Forest Roads 525 and 795; stay to the right on FR 795. The Palatki ruin, administered by the Coconino National Forest, is at the end of this road, 2 miles beyond this last junction.

Pick up a self-guided tour booklet that describes the visitor trail and points of interest, or look for one of several site stewards. They offer in-depth descriptions of this site, although much of what you see, particularly the rock art, will remain mysterious. It is that sense of mystery, in addition to the drama of red-tinged cliffs and canyons that make a visit to this place a soul-enriching experience. Check out the following website for much more info regarding fees and site regulations: www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/palatki-ruins.shtml