Citadel Trail,
Wupatki National Monument
The Citadel Trail is a short trail that leads to the Citadel Ruin — a large stone Puebloan structure built on the ridge of a hill. Many historians believe that this monument was once a fortress, due to its location and the clear views that stretch as far as the Painted Desert and San Francisco Peaks. Although the trail to the Citadel is paved, it is rough, rocky and uneven in places.
Elevation
The Citadel Trail has a maximum elevation of 5,465 ft., a minimum elevation of 5,409 ft. and an elevation range of 56 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 0.1 mi | 5,409 ft | 5,465 ft | 56 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 3 min | 4.7 | 56 ft | 0 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 3 min | 0.0 | 0 ft | 56 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Citadel Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Campbell Francis Wash, AZ
- North Topo Map: Gray Mountain, AZ
- Northeast Topo Map: Wupatki NE, AZ
- West Topo Map: East of S P Mountain, AZ
- Topo Map: Wupatki SW, AZ
- East Topo Map: Wupatki SE, AZ
- Southwest Topo Map: O'Leary Peak, AZ
- South Topo Map: Strawberry Crater, AZ
- Southeast Topo Map: Roden Crater, AZ
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Citadel Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Citadel Trail?
The length of the trail is 0.1 miles (0.2 km) or 293 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Citadel Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 3 minutes in one direction and in 3 minutes in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.