Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Archaeology
- Near Flagstaff, Arizona
- 2.7 mi from Route 66
- National Register of Historic Places
Walnut Canyon National Monument protects cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua people southeast of Flagstaff, AZ, close to Interstate 40 and the old road. A loop trail of just under a mile drops into the canyon and passes 25 rooms tucked into its walls, lived in between roughly 1100 and 1250 AD. A national monument since 1915, it offers a short, memorable hike into Native history along this stretch of Route 66.
What is Walnut Canyon National Monument?
Walnut Canyon's rim sits at about 6,690 feet, with the floor some 350 feet below. The Sinagua, a people who lived here before Europeans arrived, built rooms into its walls. The Hopi name for the place is Wupatupqa.
The main trail is a loop of about 0.9 miles. It descends 185 feet below the rim and leads past 25 of the cliff rooms, close enough to see how they were built into the rock. The Sinagua also left sites at Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle, two other national monuments in the region, so this is one piece of a larger story.
History of Walnut Canyon National Monument
The Sinagua made their homes in Walnut Canyon for roughly a century and a half, between about 1100 and 1250 AD. The site was set aside as a national monument on November 30, 1915. Today the National Park Service manages it as one of the Flagstaff Area National Monuments, and it is also on the National Register.
Visiting Walnut Canyon National Monument: tips
The monument is about 10 miles southeast of downtown Flagstaff, near Interstate 40. It has parking and restrooms on site, is listed as wheelchair accessible and is marked as good for kids. Keep in mind that the loop trail climbs 185 feet back up to the rim, so take your time at this elevation and carry water. Allow one to two hours.
Anderson Mesa Station is about 5 miles away, the Winona Site about 6 miles and Elden Pueblo about 6.5 miles.
Practical info
- Address
- Arizona
- Phone
- +1 928-526-3367
- Website
- nps.gov/waca
- Hours
- Daily 9–5
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
On the map
Full mapWalnut Canyon National Monument with the 6 closest stops. Tap a marker for details.
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Stops near Walnut Canyon National Monument
All of Arizona5.1 mi from Walnut Canyon National Monument
.jpg/500px-Winona_Trading_Post_(NBY_435121).jpg)
5.9 mi from Walnut Canyon National Monument
6.2 mi from Walnut Canyon National Monument
6.5 mi from Walnut Canyon National Monument
.jpg/500px-Mt_Elden_Lookout_Tower_and_Radio_Facilities_(4226895206).jpg)
7.5 mi from Walnut Canyon National Monument
8.2 mi from Walnut Canyon National Monument
Questions about Walnut Canyon National Monument
Who built the cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon?
The Sinagua, a pre-Columbian people who lived in the canyon between roughly 1100 and 1250 AD.
How long is the trail at Walnut Canyon?
The loop trail is about 0.9 miles long and drops 185 feet below the rim, leading past 25 cliff dwelling rooms.
Where is Walnut Canyon National Monument?
About 10 miles southeast of downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, close to Interstate 40.
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