National park · United States
Pipe Spring National Monument
Stop for 1.5–2 h on the AZ 389 drive between Hurricane and Fredonia: $10 per person (2026 estimate), Winsor Castle by ranger tour on the hour and half hour, Ridge Trail 0.8 km (0.5 mi). Skip if you are racing to the Grand Canyon North Rim.Stop for 1.5–2 h on the AZ 389 drive between Hurricane and Fredonia: $10 per person (2026 estimate), Winsor Castle by ranger tour on the hour and half hour, Ridge Trail 0.5 mi (0.8 km). Skip if you are racing to the Grand Canyon North Rim.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
approximate
Established
1923
Best months
Apr–May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
- About 16 hectares (40 acres) of grounds, buildings and orchard; the Kaibab Paiute reservation surrounds the monument.
- Established
- 1923
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Pipe Spring is a spring in the Arizona Strip, the dry plateau between the Grand Canyon's North Rim and the Utah line. Water made it a Paiute camp, then a Mormon tithing ranch from 1870, and the stone fort called Winsor Castle still stands over the pool. The monument is small: a visitor centre and cultural museum shared with the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, the fort, cabins, garden, orchard and corrals, all within a short walk. Most travellers see it as a two-hour break on the drive between Zion and the North Rim; it is also a reasonable base for the Kaibab Plateau and the Vermilion Cliffs.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1923.
Size and age
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²) · national park since 1923
About 16 hectares (40 acres) of grounds, buildings and orchard; the Kaibab Paiute reservation surrounds the monument.
Why go
- A spring with thousands of years of use, and the stone fort built over it in 1870.
- A joint NPS and Kaibab Paiute museum that tells both sides of the water story.
- A genuine 1.5–2 hour break on a long, empty highway, with shade, water and toilets.
- Ranger tours of Winsor Castle run all year, on the hour and half hour.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanHighs near 9 °C (48 °F); occasional snow, icy pathsHighs near 48 °F (9 °C); occasional snow, icy paths
- FebCold, some snow; quiet
- MarMild days, cold mornings
- AprWarm and dry; orchard in bloom
- MayWarm, dry, long days
- JunHot; start early, carry water
- JulMid-30s °C; afternoon storms
- AugHottest and wettest; flash-flood risk
- SepCooling; storms taper
- OctClear and mild; best walking
- NovCool, dry, few visitors
- DecCold; short days, some snow
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert birds and lizards around the spring and orchardMar–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Historic orchard and garden in fruit and cropJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Horses and longhorn cattle at the corralsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Hurricane, Utah
UT 59 east from Hurricane, which becomes AZ 389 at the state line; the monument is on the north side of the road.
1 h
From Fredonia, Arizona
AZ 389 west for 24 km (15 miles).AZ 389 west for 15 miles (24 km).
20 min
From Kanab, Utah
US 89A south to Fredonia, then AZ 389 west.
40 min
From St. George, Utah
I-15 to Hurricane, then UT 59/AZ 389 east.
1.5 h
From Grand Canyon North Rim
AZ 67 north to Jacob Lake, US 89A west to Fredonia, then AZ 389 west.
2 h
From Las Vegas
I-15 north to St. George, then as above; the nearest big airport.
3.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor centre and cultural museum | Information desk, bookstore, exhibit hall on Paiute and Mormon settler life, 25-minute film. | Open with entrance ticket; step-free. |
| Winsor Castle and grounds | The 1870 stone fort over the spring, east and west cabins with exhibits, garden, orchard, corrals with horses and longhorn cattle. | Fort by ranger tour only; grounds on your own. |
| Ridge Trail | A 0.8 km (0.5 mi) path above the monument with views over the Arizona Strip.A 0.5 mi (0.8 km) path above the monument with views over the Arizona Strip. | Open; short and mostly level. |
| Kaibab Paiute land around the monument | Reservation land, a gas and convenience store, and a campground. | Respect posted boundaries; the store and campground are open to travellers. |
Sketch map
- 1Visitor centre and museum · Headquarters≈36.863, -112.738Map ↗
- 2Winsor Castle · Gate≈36.863, -112.738Approximate; the fort stands just behind the visitor centre.Map ↗
- 3Ridge Trail · Trail≈36.864, -112.736Approximate start of the 0.8 km (0.5 mi) path.Approximate start of the 0.5 mi (0.8 km) path.Map ↗
- 4Kaibab Paiute campground and store · Sleep≈36.866, -112.737Approximate; about 400 m north of the monument.Map ↗
- 5Fredonia, Arizona · Town≈36.946, -112.527Map ↗
- 6Kanab, Utah · Town≈37.047, -112.526Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Monument coordinates from the official NPS listing; fort, trail and campground positions are approximate, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance, per person (age 16 and over) | US$10 | person | 2026 estimate; under 16 free. Covers the grounds, museum and ranger tours. |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US$80 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; admits the pass holder and companions at NPS sites for a year. |
| Winsor Castle ranger tour | Free | person | Included with entrance; tours on the hour and half hour. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Entrance permit or guide
Winsor Castle tour permit or guide
Commercial filming or drone use permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$10
- US$80
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on NPS — Pipe Spring fees and passes before you go.
Park rules
- Stay out of the pools and spring
- The water supply and ponds are not for swimming, wading or washing.
- Do not climb on the fort or cabins
- Stone walls and historic interiors are fragile; enter the fort only with a ranger tour.
- Leave the orchard and garden produce alone
- Crops are part of the historic scene; buy food in Fredonia or Kanab instead.
- Drones
- Not allowed without NPS permission (check).
- Pets
- Not allowed in the buildings or on the trail; check current NPS rules for the grounds (check).
Where to stay
Near the park
Kaibab Paiute campground
Tribal-run campground about 400 m north of the monument; the closest place to sleep.
Near the park
Fredonia, Arizona
Motels and groceries 24 km (15 miles) east.Motels and groceries 15 miles (24 km) east.
Near the park
Kanab, Utah
The widest choice of motels, restaurants and tours, 40 km (25 miles) northeast.The widest choice of motels, restaurants and tours, 25 miles (40 km) northeast.
Near the park
BLM and Kaibab National Forest land
Dispersed camping on the Arizona Strip and North Kaibab district; no facilities, pack out everything.
Safety
Heat and no shade on the Ridge Trail medium
Summer thunderstorms and flash floods medium
Long empty drives with no services medium
Winter ice and snow low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The visitor centre, museum, restrooms and the walk to the fort are step-free and reachable on paved surfaces.
- The fort interior has a narrow doorway and uneven floors; ask at the desk about access.
- The Ridge Trail is dirt and not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
Visiting lightly
- Buy from the Kaibab Paiute store and campground so the surrounding community benefits from the monument.
- Refill water bottles at the visitor centre rather than buying new ones; this is a desert stop.
- Stay on the trail and do not pick orchard fruit or garden crops.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Pipe Spring National Monument?
US$10 per person aged 16 and over (2026 estimate); under 16 free. The America the Beautiful annual pass (about US$80, 2026 estimate) covers the pass holder and companions. Ranger tours of Winsor Castle are included with entrance.
What are the best hikes in Pipe Spring National Monument?
There is one trail: the Ridge Trail, 0.8 km (0.5 mi) out and back, easy, about 30 minutes, with views over the Arizona Strip. Everything else is a walk between the visitor centre, fort, cabins, garden and corrals. Longer walking means the Kaibab Plateau or the Vermilion Cliffs, both a drive away.
When is the best time to visit Pipe Spring National Monument?
April, May and October: mild, dry and clear. June–August is hot (mid-30s °C) with afternoon storms, so go in the morning. December–February is cold with occasional snow, but the monument stays open and quiet.
How long do you need at Pipe Spring?
About 1.5–2 hours: 30 minutes for the Winsor Castle tour, 30–60 minutes in the museum, and 30 minutes on the Ridge Trail. Add time for the garden, orchard and corrals in summer.
Is Pipe Spring worth stopping for on the way to the Grand Canyon North Rim?
Yes if you are driving AZ 389 between Hurricane and Fredonia — it is directly on the road, with shade, water and restrooms. It is not worth a special detour of more than about an hour each way.
Can you visit Winsor Castle without a tour?
No. The fort interior is entered only on ranger tours, offered on the hour and half hour all year. The grounds, cabins, garden and orchard are open to walk on your own.
Where can you stay near Pipe Spring National Monument?
The Kaibab Paiute campground about 400 m north, motels in Fredonia 15 miles (24 km) east, or the larger choice in Kanab, Utah, 25 miles (40 km) northeast. Dispersed camping is allowed on surrounding BLM and Forest Service land.
Is Pipe Spring National Monument the same as Zion or the Grand Canyon?
No. It is a separate, much smaller NPS unit in the Arizona Strip, managed with the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians. Zion is about 1.5 hours north in Utah; the Grand Canyon North Rim is about 2 hours southeast.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go