Round Trip Distance: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 6660 - 7105 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 1 hr. 45 mins.
Trailhead: Old Caves Crater
Fee: none
Attractions: lava caves, pueblo, pottery
The Old Caves Pueblo is located in Flagstaff, Arizona on land that is managed by the Coconino National Forest Service. Found at the site near the summit of the 400 foot cinder cone volcano are a number of lava caves upon which were built back in the 14th Century a 70-80 room terraced pueblo. All that remains now are the caves, with the fallen walls of the ruins, and a large amount of pottery scattered among them.
The trailhead is located off of US Highway 89 on the Silver Saddle Road. For turn-by-turn directions you can enter Old Caves Crater Trailhead into your driving app.
The trail starts out as a pleasant stroll through tall widely space stands of ponderosa pines as it heads away from the parking area.
As the trail begins making its moderate climb up the west side of the cone of the now dormant volcano it makes use of a few switchbacks to ease the way.
Near the 1 mile point from the parking area the trail reaches a ridge where there is an overlook. Going to the left at this point the trail continues up to the summit of the cinder cone. To the right leads to the caves and ruins.
The caves are found in the south facing side of the mountain. Be careful walking around as there are several deep open fissures that are hidden by some of the piles of rubble.
The caves are of varying sizes and most of them are filled with the rubble from the collapsed walls of the pueblo that were at one time erected over their openings. The rubble makes a few of the caves look too small to have been of much use but when it was cleared away it would have been very different. Add to that the space from a room of the pueblo built either on top or in front of the cave and you end up with something quite roomy.
The ruins, caves, and fissures that are terraced along the side of the hill should have had an impressive appearance back in the day when they were inhabited. The kiosk at the trailhead mentions that the nearest water was about 2 miles away at Eldon Spring.
A large amount of pottery can be found scattered about the ruins.
You are allowed to take photos of the pottery, you may even pick it up and handle it, but it is illegal to take any of it with you.
