Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway
Pipe Spring National Monument, AZ

Located on the Arizona Strip (the northern part of Arizona separated from the rest of the state by the Grand Canyon), the water of Pipe Spring has allowed for a concentration of plant and animal life in this dry, desert region. Humans have taken advantage of this water for at least 1,000 years. Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) cultivated crops near the springs. Paiute Indians gathered seed from abundant grasses, hunted animals which frequented the springs, and raised crops in the area.

In 1872, Mormon pioneers built a fort over the main spring and established a cattle ranching operation. Pipe Spring was set aside as a National Monument on May 31, 1932. This area commemorates western pioneer settlement and is representative of American Indian/pioneer interactions on the western frontier. The historic structures are open for tours as are the recreated orchards and garden. During the summer months, when staffing levels allow, demonstrations and ranger talks occur at various times throughout the day. There is also a beautiful, half-mile loop trail which switchbacks up the cliffs behind the structures and offers a wonderful view of the Arizona Strip.