The park is not offering cliff dwelling tours at this time due to park closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ranger Bill says, "stay safe out there and we will see you in the canyon soon!"
NPS Photo
*Please note that all visitors must be accompanied by NPS staff when visiting Betatakin for visitor safety reasons and to protect irreplaceable archaeological and cultural resources. The park does not allow unsupervised visits to Betatakin. Visitors may visit Betatakin by joining scheduled NPS guided hikes. NPS guided hikes are not offered at this time due to park closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Betatakin Cliff Dwelling Tours
Betatakin is CLOSED to all visitors indefinitely due to park closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is uncertain at this time, when Betatakin tours will be available again.
Caution: If you have hip, knee, heart, respiratory problems or any recent surgery, please do not attempt any of the guided hikes.
The Betatakin cliff dwelling tour stops at this vantage point due to rockfall hazard.
NPS Photo
When available, two (2) free daily guided tours are offered at 8:15am and 10:00am MDT (Mountain Daylight Time) from mid-May to mid-September. At this time, the Betatakin tours are not offered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tours may be cancelled due to lack of staff availability and/or hazardous weather conditions. Call the park a few days before your planned visit to verify that a tour is offered.
The hikes use one of two steep trails (a 3 mile roundtrip or a 5 mile roundtrip) depending on which tour you join (see below for tour times and descriptions) and are very strenous. Tours often have a duration of 3-5 hours.
The park observes Daylight Savings Time so our area is ONE HOUR AHEAD of the state of Arizona including Page, Grand Canyon, and Phoenix.
Do not underestimate this hike. We have had people join tours who could not hike all the way to the bottom or had difficulty hiking back out of the canyon. You are putting yourself at risk in an area that is remote and is located an hour drive from the nearest medical facility. If you have any concerns, please contact NPS staff.
Due to rockfall hazard in the alcove, THE BETATAKIN TOURS DO NOT ENTER THE VILLAGE. Rangers give program from a safe distance beneath the village.
A view of the canyon from Tsegi Point Trail
NPS Photo
8:15 AM Betatakin Tour
The early morning hike uses the Tsegi Point Trail which is a strenuous 5-mile round-trip trail. Tours usually take 4 to 5 hours.
The trailhead begins at an elevation of 7,300 ft. The hike has an altitude loss and gain of 700 feet (218 meters). The trail is not shaded well so exposure to the heat and sun is unavoidable.
Visitors are required to drive their vehicle to the trailhead.
All Betatakin Guided Tours are CLOSED due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided Cliff Dwelling Tours are not offered at this time due to the indefinite closure of the park.
The Aspen Trail is a switchback with stairs that are steep and strenuous. There are 927 steps from the bottom of the canyon to the visitor center and vice versa.
NPS Photo
10:00AM Betatakin Tour
This tour uses the Aspen Trail which is a steep 3 mile roundtrip trail. Tours often take 3-4 hours.
The trailhead begins at an elevation of 7,300 feet behind the visitor center. The hike has an altitude loss of 700 feet (218 meters) from the visitor center to the bottom of the canyon.
Please be aware that this hike requires hiking a steep 927 step staircase where hand rails are not present at all times. People who are afraid of heights and are not avid hikers/in good physical health/have issues with joints such as knees are not recommended to join tour. Please supervise all young children joining tour.
A guided group inside the alcove near the Betatakin Cliff Dwelling. This is the location where the Betatakin hike ends so please note that groups do not enter the village area.
