Three miles northeast of downtown Winslow, in the high desert grassland where the Little Colorado River bends through the landscape, the ground holds centuries of human history just below — and sometimes at — the surface. Homolovi State Park is one of those places where the scale of what you're walking through takes time to fully register.

Meaning "Place of the Little Hills" in the Hopi language, Homolovi State Park preserves the remains of ancestral Hopi villages from AD 1200–1400. Excavations have revealed pottery shards, stone tools, and pueblo outlines, offering insight into the cultural journey of the Hopi people. Established in 1993, the park serves as both an archaeological preserve and a place of quiet reflection.

The People — Hisat'sinom and the Hopi

In the high grassland of 14th century northern Arizona, an ancient people found a home along the Little Colorado River. These people, the Hisat'sinom — known to archaeologists as the Anasazi — paused in their migrations to till the rich floodplain and sandy slopes before continuing north to join people already living on the mesas, people who are today known as the Hopi.

The Hopi people of today still consider Homolovi, as well as other pre-Columbian sites in the Southwest, to be part of their homeland. They continue to make pilgrimages to these sites, renewing the ties of the people with the land. The Hopi tell us that the broken pottery and stones are now part of the land and are the trail the Bahana will follow when he returns.

That framing changes how you look at the pottery shards scattered across the ground. They are not litter from the past. They are markers — left deliberately as part of the land, part of the ongoing story of a people who never stopped returning to this place.

Today, Hopi tribal members consider Homolovi a sacred ancestral site and make pilgrimages to renew their ties to this land.

The Archaeological Sites

The park preserves the archaeological sites of several ancestral Puebloan villages dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. Visitors can walk among the partially excavated ruins of Homolovi I and Homolovi II — the largest of the park's sites with over 1,200 rooms. Only two of the seven Homolovi ruins are open to the public — careful management of visitor access balances education with preservation.

Pottery shards are scattered throughout the sites and petroglyphs adorn the walls and stones. A network of trails, including a wheelchair-accessible trail at Homolovi II, allows visitors to wander through the ancient villages.

Homolovi State Park now serves as a center of research for the late migration period of the Hopi from the 1200s to the late 1300s. While archaeologists study the sites and confer with the Hopi to unravel the history of Homolovi, Arizona State Parks provides the opportunity for visitors to visit the sites and use park facilities.

Our Visit — April 3, 2018

We visited with Luca and my sister's family — a family trip that brought two generations to the same desert floor where the Hisat'sinom once farmed and built and eventually moved on. We hiked the trails, walked among the ruins, and examined the pottery shards scattered across the ground. The scale of Homolovi II in particular — the outlines of over 1,200 rooms visible in the excavated foundations — is one of those things that doesn't fully sink in until you're standing at the edge of it looking across.

The pottery shards are everywhere and they are remarkable. Fragments of painted vessels, plain utility ware, corrugated pieces — each one a small connection to a specific person who made it, used it, and left it here in one form or another. The park asks visitors not to move or collect them. The Hopi ask the same. They are where they are meant to be.

The Visitor Center Museum

The visitor center features exhibits of artifacts, traditional Hopi pottery, carvings, and artwork, providing an introduction to the history and culture of the area. The centerpiece of the visitor center is a collection of pottery, stone tools, and other artifacts recovered from the park's archaeological sites — providing tangible connections to the people who lived here centuries ago.

We visited the museum before hiking the ruins — the right order. The interpretive panels on Hopi trail systems alone are worth the stop. Foot trails in the ancient Southwest were not recreational — they connected people to salt, turquoise, sacred places, and each other across vast distances. Understanding that before walking the trails at Homolovi changes what the landscape means.

Nearby — Winslow and Route 66

Homolowi sits just three miles from downtown Winslow — itself a worthwhile stop. The historic stretch of Route 66 passes through town. La Posada Hotel, a 1929 Santa Fe Railroad stop, has been restored to its former splendor with a trading post and art gallery showcasing the largest known Navajo rug in existence. The Standin' on the Corner site in the heart of town commemorates the Eagles song — a genuinely fun Route 66 stop. One hour north on Second Mesa, the Hopi Cultural Center dives deep into the ancestral and modern Hopi story. Artwork can be purchased directly from artisans set up outside the cultural center or in the gift shop.

More Information

• Camping: reservations required — no self-pay camping; same-day reservations by visiting the visitor center in person or calling (928) 289-4106 by 4:45 PM

• Camping fee: approximately $20–$25/night

• Wheelchair-accessible trail at Homolovi II

• Do not move or collect pottery shards — culturally and legally protected

• Only Homolovi I and Homolovi II open to public — five additional sites closed

• Wildlife pullouts throughout the park — high desert grassland species including pronghorn antelope, hawks, and various reptiles

• Covered picnic tables available throughout the park

Contact Homolovi State Park HC 63 Box 5, Winslow, AZ 86047 (928) 289-4106 azstateparks.com/homolovi

Hours (2026) 8:00 AM–5:00 PM daily Visitor Center: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

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