Honanki Heritage Site ruins tour: 700-year-old cliff dwelling near Ennis

Stand inside a 700-year-old cliff dwelling and decode the rock art that still covers its walls

A guided tour of the Honanki Heritage Site near Ennis takes you by Jeep through red rock canyons to a 700-year-old Sinaguan cliff dwelling, where a professional guide interprets the rock art, customs and legends of the site's ancient inhabitants. The tour runs three hours with about 45 minutes of walking through the ruins, including small stair steps. Children from age 2 are welcome. The guide speaks English and leads you through the symbolism and possible meanings carved into the stone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore ancient ruins and canyon views

• Travel through spectacular canyons
• Enjoy views of red rock formations
• Stand amid ancient canyon walls
• Learn about Sinagua cliff dwelling history
• Explore 700-year-old Honanki Heritage Site
• Listen to guide explain rock art symbolism
• Walk 45 minutes through ruins with stairs

The experience

You travel through spectacular canyon lands in a Jeep Wrangler, passing towering red rock formations on the way to the Honanki Heritage Site. The drive itself frames what you're about to see: the landscape that shaped the people who built here. Once you arrive, your guide walks you through the cliff dwelling, pointing out the rock art and explaining what the Sinagua people left behind: their customs, myths, and the symbols they carved into the stone. The guide offers interpretation of what these markings might have meant, turning the walls into a readable record of how people lived 700 years ago.

The walking portion covers about three-quarters of a mile over 45 minutes, with small stair steps built into the site itself. You move at a pace that lets you stand among the ancient walls and take in the details: the intriguing rock art displayed within the ruins, the layout of the rooms, the way the structure fits into the canyon. This is not a rushed stop. You have time to absorb what you're looking at and ask your guide questions as they arise. Wear sturdy hiking boots or tennis shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. The canyon offers little shade and the stone holds the heat.

Multiple departure times run throughout the day (8am, 10am, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm), so you can fit the tour around your schedule. The professional guide and local taxes are included in the price. Public transportation options are available near the site if you need them.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• travel by Jeep Wrangler through red rock canyons.
• full access to the Honanki Heritage Site cliff dwelling.
• interpretation of the rock art and Sinaguan customs and legends.
• local taxes.

Options for this experience

6 options

8am TourGuide in English · 08:00

1:00pm TourGuide in English · 13:00

10:00am TourGuide in English · 10:00

See 3 more options

5pm TourGuide in English · Available from 1 Dec · 17:00

4pm TourGuide in English · Available from 1 Dec · 16:00

3pm TourGuide in English · 15:00

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (2 to 12 years)

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Pink Jeep Tours Sedona

Is this one for you?Book an early departure if you want to explore the ruins before the afternoon heat builds in the canyon. The 8am or 10am tours give you cooler conditions for the 45-minute walk through the site. The later slots work well if you're arriving in Ennis mid-day or prefer to start your afternoon with the tour.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Honanki Heritage Site and who built it?

The Honanki Heritage Site is a 700-year-old cliff dwelling built by the Sinagua people, an ancient culture that inhabited the canyon lands near Ennis. The site contains rock art and the remains of rooms carved into and built against the canyon wall, and your guide explains the customs, myths and possible meanings of the symbols and structures you see there.

How much walking is involved in this tour and what kind of terrain will I cover?

The tour includes about 45 minutes of walking through the ruins site, covering roughly three-quarters of a mile. The path has small stair steps, and you'll move through the cliff dwelling itself. Sturdy hiking boots or tennis shoes are essential, and the terrain is rocky canyon ground with minimal shade.

What time options are available for the Honanki Heritage Site tour?

Six departure times run daily: 8am, 10am, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm. Each tour lasts three hours total, including the drive through the canyons and the time spent walking through the ruins.

What does the tour include and what should I bring?

The tour includes a professional guide who speaks English and local taxes. You'll travel by Jeep through the canyons and walk through the ruins with full interpretation of the rock art and ancient culture. Bring comfortable outdoor clothing, sturdy hiking boots or tennis shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Food and drinks are not included.