Overview

Hype:

Walnut Canyon National Monument is located about 10 mi southeast of downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, near Interstate 40. The canyon rim elevation is 6,690 ft; the canyon's floor is 350 ft lower. A 0.9 mi long loop trail descends 185 ft into the canyon passing 25 cliff dwelling rooms constructed by the Sinagua, a pre-Columbian cultural group that lived in Walnut Canyon from about 1100 to 1250 AD. The park has a museum and a small visitor center atop a cliff. Many of the ancient dwellings were built around a U-shaped meander in the canyon, where the creek circles around three sides of a high rocky plateau, almost creating an 'island', and this region now forms the central attraction of the national monument.

Time:

Fees: Park Entrance

Recommended Ages:

0-3
4-11
12-19
20-49
50-69
70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Features:
  • National Monument
  • Structures, Ruins, Dwellings
  • Artifacts
  • Potable Water
  • Rivers and Streams
  • Desert
  • Picnic Tables
  • Restrooms - Flush
  • Road Access is Paved
  • Access Road is 2WD Accessible
  • Interpretive Signs
  • Viewpoint, Overlooks, Vistas
  • Hiking Trails
  • Wildflowers and Vegitation
  • Wildlife and Birding

Links: https://www.nps.gov/waca/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnut_Canyon_National_Monument

Getting There

Navigate to 35.173466, -111.508942.

Maps

Closest City or Region: Arizona

Coordinates: 35.173466, -111.508942

Interactive Guide Map

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Brochure

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April 7, 2022 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Savannah Dye, Madilyn Dye, Cooper Dye, Ondylyn Wagner, Killian Wagner, Calliope Wagner, Matt Laurendeau, Amanda Laurendeau, Alex Laurendeau, Caleb Laurendeau, Rose Laurendeau, Marci Parker, Shawn Parker, Callie Parker, Wade Parker, Aria Parker,

Story

On our trip to Walnut Canyon, we stopped at the visitor center first and picked up Junior Ranger booklets for the kids. the kids worked on their activites in the visitor center for a while, then we hiked the Island Trail, which was really cool. After that, some of our group was tired and went straight to the picnic area and the rest of us hiked the Rim Trail. On the way back to the picnic area, we discovered a fun pueblo ruin that we weren't expecting. We had a nice lunch then headed on our way. The Laurendeau's and Ondy started on their drive home while the Parkers and Dyes went down to Sedona and the surrounding area.

Pictures