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Day Hike - Palatki & Honanki

Jeff Raible

Updated: Jan 10

Located northwest of Sedona, sister sites Palatki and Honanki were the largest cliff dwellings of the Red Rock country between AD 1150 and 1350. The Sinagua, ancestors of the Hopi, lived here preparing meals, raising their families, and making tools from stone, leather, and wood. Nearby they hunted for deer and rabbit, tended various crops, and gathered edible wild plants. They were first described by Dr. Jesse Walter Fewkes, famous turn-of-the century archaeologist from the Smithsonian Institution, who gave them the Hopi names of Honanki (Badger House) and Palatki (Red House). The Hopi, however, have no specific names for these sites. (from fs.usda.gov)

In addition to the excellently preserved dwelling, there is “Rock Art”, Pictographs and Petroglyphs indicating that the area has been utilized by people as far back as 12,000 B.C.E. Many cultures left their “marks” through the ages for you to experience up close.  (from Recreation.gov)


Karen & I enjoyed a day hike here mid-December 2024. These sites can be visited in less than an hour's drive from Origins B&B. (Note: you must make a reservation to visit Palatki.)


Near Sedona, red rock cliffs tower under a clear blue sky, with green shrubs and trees in the foreground, creating a serene desert landscape.
Cliff towering over Palatki (which lies against the cliffs at the far right of this photo)
Ancient stone dwellings built into a red rock cliff. Rugged terrain and earthy tones create a serene, historical mood.
Some of Palakti's still-standing rooms
Ancient petroglyphs on a reddish-brown rock wall show animals and ladder-like patterns. The carvings contrast against the textured surface.
Close-up of pictographs in The Grotto, near Palatki

Ancient stone ruins on a rocky hillside are sheltered by a large red rock overhang.
Part of Honanki settlement, located about 2 miles (by foot) NE of Palatki
Ancient rock art on a reddish cliff, including a white "shield" symbol above a stone wall left from the ancients' dwelling.
Pictographs on the rocks above rooms built by Sinagua ancestors

Ancient red rock cliff dwelling with a faded pictograph on the wall above. Sunlit orange hues dominate the rugged scenery, with a vibrant clear blue sky contrasting the textured rock walls.
View of Honanki showing the sheltering cliff above


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