Palatki Heritage Site
Palatki is the one you have to book. Unlike Honanki and Crane Petroglyph, visits are by pre-selected time slot reserved through Recreation.gov, with tours capped at roughly 12–14 people.
You need both the reservation and a valid Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass.
What you get: Sinagua cliff dwellings and some of the most accessible pictograph panels in the Verde Valley, with rock art spanning thousands of years. The drive in is rough gravel — passable in a normal car if you take it slowly, and allow at least 30 minutes from Sedona.
The facts
- Open right now?
- Open (not in the fire closure order)
- Hours
- Jun–Aug: Wed–Sat 8:30am–noon, last tour 11am. Sep–May: daily 9:30am–3pm (Wed to noon).
- Pass required
- Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful, PLUS a Recreation.gov reservation
- Reservations
- Required — book via Recreation.gov, or call (877) 444-6777
- Road to the site
- Rough gravel; passable to passenger cars driven carefully; may close after heavy rain or snow
Getting there
Booking and timing
Tours run on pre-selected time slots and group sizes are small, so summer weekends book out. Reserve through Recreation.gov; if the site won't let you book, the phone line is (877) 444-6777.
Summer hours are much shorter than the rest of the year — June through August it's Wednesday to Saturday, 8:30am to noon, with the last tour at 11am. That's a deliberate heat measure. From September to May it opens daily 9:30am to 3pm, with Wednesdays ending at noon. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Forest Service directs visitors to Recreation.gov for current tour pricing rather than publishing a figure on its own page, so we're not quoting one here — check at the point of booking.
Allow more driving time than the mileage suggests. The last stretch is unmaintained gravel, and it can close entirely after heavy rain or snow.
What's actually there
Two things, a short walk apart.
The cliff dwellings — Sinagua structures tucked under an overhang, occupied roughly between 1100 and 1300 CE.
The rock art panels — this is the part that surprises people. The pictographs here span a far longer period than the dwellings, with material attributed to cultures going back thousands of years, layered in the same alcoves.
The walk to each is short — well under a mile — but on uneven natural surface. Guides accompany visits, which is the reason for the caps and the booking: this is fragile, irreplaceable material and the small-group structure is what protects it. It also means you get a far better visit than wandering alone would give you.
Please don't touch the rock art. Skin oils degrade pigment permanently. It's the one rule that matters here.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a reservation for Palatki?
Yes. Palatki is the only one of Sedona's three heritage sites that requires one — a pre-selected time slot booked through Recreation.gov. Honanki and Crane Petroglyph are walk-up.
Do I need a Red Rock Pass as well?
Yes. A valid Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass is required in addition to the reservation.
Can I drive a normal car to Palatki?
Generally yes — the access road is rough gravel but passable to passenger cars driven slowly and carefully. It can close after heavy rain or snow.
What are Palatki's hours?
June to August: Wednesday to Saturday, 8:30am to noon, last tour 11am. September to May: daily 9:30am to 3pm, with Wednesdays closing at noon. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
How is Palatki different from Honanki?
Palatki is smaller, requires a reservation, and is known for its layered pictograph panels. Honanki is the largest cliff-dwelling site in the Verde Valley and is walk-up with a self-serve pass machine.
Facts on this page last verified July 28, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.