Agua Fria National Monument (Badger Springs)

About

Agua Fria National Monument covers about 70,900 acres of mesas and canyons roughly 40 miles north of Phoenix. It protects Pueblo la Plata and other ancient stone pueblos, plus plenty of rock art. General visits are free, and the monument is open around the clock all year. From I-17 exit 256, a dirt road runs about 0.8 miles to the Badger Springs Trailhead, and a short walk down the wash brings you to a petroglyph panel at the Agua Fria River. The trailhead has a vault toilet but no drinking water, and cell service is spotty. Expect rocky, uneven ground, and the wash can be wet or muddy since the river usually flows into early summer.