Exploring Cactus & Cliff Dwellings at Tonto National Monument | Roosevelt, AZ

Come with me and my parents to marvel at the native Sonoran Desert cactus and plants as we climb the trail at Tonto National Monument to visit the lower cliff dwellings. Tonto National Monument is just under a 2 hour drive from my house, located right next to Theodore Roosevelt Lake. Afterwards, we'll take a short drive to Theodore Roosevelt Dam, because why not?

I absolutely love the National Parks Service in the United States. I got hooked soon after moving to Arizona and driving out to Petrified Forest to see the magic of the desert following a colleague's recommendation. That's when I purchased my National Parks Passport book and started collecting cancellation stamps. I quickly exhausted all the parks within a 4 hour drive of my home and started to look farther away. Every time I visited a city/state for some other purpose, like a wedding, I would carve time out to visit the nearest National Parks, Monuments, and historical sites. I've collected cancellation stamps in Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. Still many, many more parks to visit and stamps to collect!

More about Tonto National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/tont/index.htm
One of the most entertaining Instagram accounts ever:   / nationalparkservice  

0:00 Intro & start of hike
8:28 Exploring the lower cliff dwelling
12:04 Starting the return hike down
15:10 Dead plant vs. chicken debate
15:41 Cactus Patch Trail
18:53 Back at the visitor center
19:24 Visitor center gift shop
20:57 Visitor center museum
24:32 Theodore Roosevelt Dam

Connect with me on Instagram:   / cookiescacti