Walnut Canyon, National Monument, Arizona, is home to a unique set of ancient Sinagua Indian ruins tucked into a scenic canyon 10 miles East of Flagstaff on I-40.
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Ruins along the Island Trail (March)
Our Visit. We visited Walnut Canyon on the way to Petrified Forest NP in March as part of our 8-Park southwest tour.
Our Weather. Beautiful day; about 70 degrees
Overall Impression. Walnut Canyon is a neat experience for anyone willing to hike the 240 stairs down into the canyon. While the ruins aren’t as large as others in the surrounding areas, their strange uniformity in elevation all around the canyon and the beauty of the canyon itself make Walnut Canyon a great place to visit.
Visiting. Plan on spending 1 to 2 hours in Walnut Canyon. While you can keep your hiking level by exploring the Rim Trail, the heart of Walnut Canyon NM is the Island Trail, a loop around the ruins of the central mesa which can be reached only by descending 240 stairs. Once you reach the bottom of the stairs, a narrow path takes you alongside many ruins and offers views of many more ruins on the opposing canyon walls. Once you’re done with your tour of the island, it’s 240 stairs back up to the visitor center. There are no railings on much of this trail, even though the drop-off is relatively steep, so beware if you’re afraid of heights or have small kids. This hike is well worth it, but remember, the hike is at 7,000 feet, so most of you won’t have as much oxygen as you’re used to, so take it easy!
Nearby Towns Flagstaff (Arizona)
Other Nearby Attractions Wupatki NM, Sunset Crater Volcano NM, Petrified Forest NP
Official NPS Website Walnut Canyon NM
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- The majority of the ruins lie at a single elevation within the canyon where a rock outcropping provides shelter (March)
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- Ruins along the Island Trail (March)
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