The Upper Ruins at the Tonto National Monument are only accessible with a ranger. Since we are now "unemployed" we were able to book the tour mid-week and avoid a large crowd.

Our ranger guide was versed in both botany and archeology. She pointed out edible plants along the way, vegetation used by the ancient Salado peoples, and also geological points of interest.

The Upper Ruins have been restored where necessary but mostly they are as they were left.