Walnut Canyon National Monument

National Monument · AZ · nps.gov page

Walnut Canyon's cliff dwellings are illuminated by the afternoon sun. — The dynamic landscape of Walnut Canyon was home to a thriving Native American community roughly 900 years ago.Photo: NPS Photo

Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. Today the park preserves this landscape, and the ancestral homes in and around the canyon.

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Photos

sunlight illuminates stone walls in a canyon cliff dwelling — Walnut Canyon National Monument protects a series of ancient cliff dwellings built between 1125 and 1250 CE.Photo: NPS Photo / Marge Ullmann

a common raven landing on a barren juniper branch — At the rim of Walnut Canyon, visitors stand at eye level with soaring ravens, eagles, and other birdsPhoto: NPS Photo / Case Griffing

warm sunlight illuminates a cliff dwelling wall beside a snowy trail — The 0.9-mile (1.4 km) Island Trail leads visitors down 240 stairs to explore 25 cliff dwelling rooms.Photo: NPS Photo

a visitor looks out over Walnut Canyon from the trail — More than 125,000 people visit Walnut Canyon each year.Photo: NPS Photo / Case Griffing

a circular overlook at the edge of the canyon rim — The 0.7-mile (1.1 km) Rim Trail reveals expansive views of Walnut Canyon and its cliff dwellings.Photo: NPS Photo / Marge Ullmann

Park information and photos come from the National Park Service. This is not an official NPS site.