This national monument near Flagstaff, AZ has interesting hikes. It doesn’t require expertise to hike down into the canyon, but a little bit of tenacity and some good walking shoes.

Rim Trail

Walk along the canyon rim through a forest. The hike has 2 canyon overlooks with scenic views of the canyon and cliff dwellings below. The path also has a partially rebuilt pit house and pueblo.

Island Trail

The Island Trail

This trail takes hikers down the bottom of the canyon where there are 25 cliff dwellings along the trail. You can wander through the structures built by the Sinagua in the coolness of shade. There are also other swellings across the canyon in the distance.

The trip back up may seem daunting, but there are several benches along the way for rest and enjoyment of the scenery.

Details

Open – 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM MST. The Visitor Center, park trails and viewpoints of the canyon are not accessible outside of the hours of operation. Access to the Island Trail closes at 4:00 PM, and access to the Rim Trail closes at 4:30 PM. The park entrance road, trails, and the visitor center are open year round, except on December 25.

Fee – Individual $15.00 – 7 Days
Fee is per person, good for 7 days at Walnut Canyon National Monument. Free entrance for children under 16. Major credit cards are accepted for all fees.

All fees, discounts, and other details are here