Pipe Spring is a National Monument enriched with Native Indian, Mormon pioneer and early explorer history. It is located in the Great Basin Desert of the Colorado Plateau.
It is because of the vitalizing water of Pipe Spring that plant life, animals and people have been able to survive in the wry desert region for all these years. Pipe Spring makes an ideal getaway for an hour or two while travelling on the Arizona roads.
Getting there
Pipe Spring National Monument can be reached by car, public transportation and air. There are bus and shuttle services operating from Las Vegas to St. George, Utah. The nearest airports are McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada which is at a distance of three and a half hours from Pipe Spring; and The Salt Lake International Airport which may take six hours from Pipe Spring.
History of Pipe Spring National Monument
Pipe Spring was discovered and named by Jacob Hamlin in 1858, who was then heading a missionary expedition. In the 1860’s James Whitmore led the Mormon Pioneers from Utah who brought cattle into the area and set up a cattle ranching operation.
The succeeding year Brigham Young for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bought both the fort and the ranch. It was in 1923 that Pipe Spring was purchased and established into a National Monument. Today the monument stands as a ‘memorial of western pioneer life’.
Things to do at Pipe Spring
There is plenty to see and learn at Pipe Spring National Monument whether you have less than an hour, an hour or more!
Pipe spring and the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians have jointly built a museum to preserve their history and heritage. Visitors can now learn about the history of the Paiute Indians, modern day Paiute Indian culture and uncover the truth about the Mormon settlers. A five minute introductory video is shown at the museum. The Museum and Visitor Center is open daily to the public.
Visitors can take a guided tour of Winsor Castle, which is an ancient fort at Pipe Spring in just an hour! Enjoy the twenty-five minutes walk in and around the fort led by a park ranger.
If you feel adventurous enough, you can explore the monument grounds on your own. Cowboy and historic preservations are displayed in the East and West Cabins. During the summertime, visitors can venture into the garden and orchard where pioneer and American Indian crops can be found. The Orchard mostly grows historic kinds of apple, peach, plum, apricot, crab- apple trees and grapes. Visitor’s can also visit the stables to see the horses and long-horn cattle.
Visitor’s can take a long one and a half mile walk along the ridge trail and get breathe taking views of the Arizona Strip.
Lodging at Pipe Spring
There are not many places to stay at Pipe Spring but there some motels near by. If you want to camp out, the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians run a campground about 1/ 4 miles north of the monument. There are also other campgrounds at Fredonia, Arizona and at Kanab in Utah.
Restaurants at Pipe Spring
Pipe Spring Monument does not have any restaurants or cafes. However, it has a small picnic spot on the monument grounds. The nearest restaurants and grocery stores can be found at Fredonia, Arizona.
Pipe Spring Tours
During summers all guided tours, walks and demonstrations at Pipe Spring take place daily during the morning hours.
Pipe Spring offers group tours (commercial and non-commercial) which costs $5.00 per person. For group reservations, call 928-643-7105.
Entry Fee & Passes
Pipe Spring National Monument charges $5.00 for seven days ($1.50 per person/ tribal use fee included). Entry for children aged 15 & below is free.
Bearers of the America the Beautiful- Interagency Annual pass ($80), senior pass ($10) or Access pass (free), plus three companions get free entry. The passes are available at Pipe Springs or at any other Federal recreation site that charges an entrance fee.
Educational Field Trips to the Monument are usually not charged entrance frees if they are sponsored by accredited educational institution.
Hours of operation
Pipe Spring is open during the summer and winter months. Please note that it runs on Mountain Standard Time throughout the year.
Summer (June – August):
- Monument grounds, Museum/ Visitor Center open from 7am to 5pm.
- Winsor Castle Tours operate from 8 am to 4:30pm.
Winter (September to May):
- Monument grounds, Museum/Visitor Center open from 8am to 5pm.
- Winsor Castle Tours operate from 9am to 5pm.
Pipe Spring National Monument is closed during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
Contact details:
Pipe Spring National Monument
HC 65, Box 5, Fredonia, AZ 86022.
Telephone (Visitor Info): (928) 643-7105
Fax: (928) 643-7583
