Walnut Canyon National Monument ⓘ

This entire region that includes the Flagstaff Area National Monuments have been home to Native people since time immemorial.

The Flagstaff Area National Monuments (Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater Volcano, and Wupatki) are places of immeasurable importance to Native people in the Southwest. Wupatki shares boundaries with the Navajo Nation, and a total of thirteen federally recognized tribes are traditionally associated with the Monuments. Park staff have been working with tribal people for many years and are creating ever-better collaborative tribal partnerships. We gratefully acknowledge the Native peoples on whose ancestral homelands we gather, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities who continue to make their home here today.

As we celebrate Native heritage, please take a moment to ponder and appreciate the diverse cultural stories these lands hold. This history, played out on lands to include the Flagstaff Area National Monuments, has been dramatic and difficult - but learning from the past can help us all in the future.

Walnut Canyon has a long human history. Artifacts show that Archaic peoples, who traveled throughout the Southwest thousands of years ago, occupied the canyon at times. Later came the first permanent inhabitants, who flourished in the region from about C.E. 600 until 1400. Archeologists labeled this prehistoric culture Sinagua, from the old Spanish name for the region, Sierra de Sin Agua , or “mountains without water.”

Scattered families farmed the canyon rims for centuries, growing small gardens of corn, squash, and beans. During the 1100s, many moved into limestone alcoves below the canyon rim, where they constructed the cliff dwellings we see today. The Walnut Canyon community thrived for another 150 years before the people moved on.

Others have visited the canyon since the Ancients departed. With the construction of the railroad nearby in the 1880s, Walnut Canyon became a popular destination; scores of “pot-hunters” streamed into the canyon. Armed with shovels and dynamite, these souvenir-seekers upturned ancient floors, toppled enduring walls, and desecrated graves.

The theft and destruction alarmed local citizens and led to establishment of Walnut Canyon National Monument in 1915. Remnants of the canyon’s past were protected first by the US Forest Service, then (since 1934) by the National Park Service.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) played a major role in the late 1930s, stabilizing walls, conducting guided tours to better protect the cliff dwellings, and constructing many of the buildings and trails we use today.

Now, for more than 100,000 people every year, Walnut Canyon National Monument offers the opportunity to admire and learn from the past. With continued protection, and cooperation from visitors, this intimate canyon will educate and inspire for years to come. Its future is in our hands.

In the pine forests near Flagstaff, Arizona, a steep canyon severs the rolling plateau. Twenty miles long, 400 feet deep and ¼-mile wide, it was carved by Walnut Creek over a period of 60 million years. Within its winding walls are natural riches – an abundant mix of plants and animals drawn there by water and varied topography. It seems a timeless place. Walls of buff sandstone form the canyon’s inner gorge; the rock contours reveal their origins in the wind-scoured dunes of an ancient desert. The limestone ledges of the upper canyon contain delicate marine fossils, remnants of a later sea. Much later, the people of this canyon built their sturdy homes in shallow alcoves along these ledges. For a brief time, from about 1100 to 1250, the canyon echoed with the rhythmic beat of a stone axe, the voice of an aged storyteller, children laughing on the rocky slopes. Masonry walls hint of this past, of a time when 100 or more people made their homes and livings here. These people well understood the gifts of the natural world. Deer, bighorn sheep, other wild game, and wild plants supplemented the corn, beans, and squash grown in fields on the canyon rim. Water flowed intermittently on the canyon floor, providing the lifeblood of the community. Shaded pools in the bottom held precious water between rains. In spring, silty snowmelt rumbled through the narrow passage. Today the canyon resonates with birdsong. Jays yammer, solitaires peep, and canyon wrens whistle their musical songs. There have been changes, but the canyon remains. So does the diversity of plants and animals that sustained a human community. As a national monument, Walnut Canyon now serves as sanctuary for a larger community. Six miles of the canyon’s length are protected within the monument’s 3600 acres. For thousands of people every year, Walnut Canyon offers the perfect opportunity to admire nature and to learn from the past. With continued protection, and cooperation from visitors, this intimate canyon will educate and inspire for years to come.

Fall migrants often times use Walnut Canyon as a quick respite on their journey south. Restoring fat supplies for their journey, in many cases their time in Northern Arizona is brief. Other winter residents arrive and begin to rebuild their fat stores to prepare for the frigid winter temperatures. Some fall migrants and winter residents that can be observed at Walnut Canyon include:

White-crowned Sparrow – these winter residents are abundant during the fall. The adults are easy to recognize with white and black stripes on their head. Merlin – this small falcon is a rare sighting during the late fall and winter at Walnut Canyon. Look for them hunting flocks of small song birds. Townsend’s Solitaire – during the fall and winter it’s common to hear the Townsend’s Solitaire vocalize its one note call. This Robin sized bird can be identified by the white eye-ring and the white external feathers on its tail.

There are many year-round residents of Walnut Canyon, and a few other species that spend their winters in Northern Arizona. These hardy birds rely on abundant sources of food throughout the winter, and their own adaptations to survive in sub-freezing temperatures. Some winter species that are commonly observed at Walnut Canyon include:

Dark-eyed Junco – large groups of Dark-eyed Juncos overwinter in Walnut Canyon. These primarily ground-feeders can be commonly seen around the parking lot and in the vegetation along the Rim Trail. Juniper Titmouse – with its distinctive crest, and year-round vocalizations, Juniper Titmouse can be commonly found in the Pinion/Juniper forest along the Rim Trail.

Walnut Canyon National Monument is home to the Mexican Spotted Owl, a threatened bird species in North America. By following park rules like staying on designated trails, being mindful of not making loud noises, and not approaching wildlife, we can help be sure that these animals can survive and thrive for generations to come.

An Island Trail cliff dwelling NPS photo by Dallas Larsen It has been more than 700 years since Walnut Canyon echoed with the voices and sounds of a robust pueblo community. Today, the Island Trail leads you back in time, and welcomes you into the world of the Native people archeologists call Sinagua. You'll experience 25 cliff dwelling rooms along the trail; and gaze at others visible across the canyon. Do your part in preserving the park by staying on established trails, not climbing or leaning on dwelling walls, and by not removing or disturbing any features. Entry to the Island Trail closes at 4:00 p.m. This provides ample time for visitors to explore the trail before the park closes at 5:00 p.m.

To ensure your safety on the trail, please bring water, snacks and wear sturdy hiking shoes. During summer months monsoon thundersorms are common in the afternoon. By beginning the trail in the morning, you are more likely to avoid these thunderstorms. In winter the Island Trail may be closed as a result of snowy or icy conditions. Please check the alerts section of the website, or call (928) 526-3367 for up-to-date trail conditions.

Backcountry hiking is not allowed in order to protect fragile archeological and natural features. Hiking is permitted only on designated trails. Distance 1 mile round-trip Time 1 hour round-trip Difficulty Strenuous, especially for those not acclimated to 7,000' elevation. The trail descends 185 vertical feet into the canyon, and returns the same way. Accessibility The trail is paved, but not accessible to wheelchairs, due to steep canyon terrain and many stairs.

Entry to the Island Trail closes at 4:00 p.m. This provides ample time for visitors to explore the trail before the park closes at 5:00 p.m. To ensure your safety on the trail, please bring water, snacks and wear sturdy hiking shoes. During summer months monsoon thundersorms are common in the afternoon. By beginning the trail in the morning, you are more likely to avoid these thunderstorms.

In winter the Island Trail may be closed as a result of snowy or icy conditions. Please check the alerts section of the website, or call (928) 526-3367 for up-to-date trail conditions. Backcountry hiking is not allowed in order to protect fragile archeological and natural features. Hiking is permitted only on designated trails.