Walnut Canyon National Monument

Trip Start Jun 18, 2008
1
6
17
Trip End Aug 17, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of United States  , Arizona,
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Walnut Canyon is  very near Flagstaff, AZ.  It was six miles from the RV Park.  The Canyon was home to the Sinagua Indians about 800 years ago.  They were cliff dwellers, and built their quarters inside the weather carved sandstone sides of the cliffs.  They grew crops and humted small animals

The Canyon is 20 miles long and 400 feet deep.  There are 5 plantlife zones where you can see Ponderosa and Pinon Pines, lots of cactus and desert plants, and black walnut trees on the canyon floor.   I've got to trust the Rangers on the Walnut trees since I wasn't about to walk 400 feet down, and then back up again.  Well, the Canyon trail was closed because of a rock slide, but I wouldn't have walked it  anyway.  I did take the rim trail which was a 3/4 mile trail along the rim of the Canyon.  The weather was a cool, dry, 82 with a breeze that dried the two drops of sweat that would appear from time to time as a reminder that you are in the desert and walking Cliff Dwelling
Cliff Dwelling
 .

The cliff dwellings are mostly on the south and west sides of the mountain for heating purposes.  From what I saw, they seem to be grouped together, and joined where possible.  I used the 300mm telephoto lens for the close shots - I actually went back to the trailer for this lens, just to show how close the canyon is - and would zoom out to try to get a perspective of the group of dwellings on the cliff's wall.

From what I could see from the opposite side of the canyon, the dwellings did not seem to be as elaborate as the cliff dwellings My Precious and I saw at the French Canyon near Gallup, NM.  Then again the Rangers said that these were really heavily looted by the tourists that came by rail in the late 1800's so who can say
Slideshow Print this entry Flagstaff hotels

Comments

aggiedustoff
aggiedustoff on Jun 25, 2008 at 01:06AM

Canyon shots
Great shots - but I can't believe you'd not take the walk 400 feet down!!!! :-)

Thanks for the post

wbcci1529
wbcci1529 on Jun 25, 2008 at 01:14AM

Re: Canyon shots
It's the 400 feet up that I take issue with! T

hclaughlin
hclaughlin on Jun 25, 2008 at 02:12AM

Good job, Tom!
I'm enjoying your pictures and comments--except the one about not liking cats! I know you are happy to be heading west. Be safe. Helen

gmay
gmay on Jun 25, 2008 at 12:55PM

Hills Have Eyes
Those cliffs look as if they may still be inhabited. Did you ever see the movie 'The Hills Have Eyes'?

That's all I have to say, sleep tight.
Greg

Add Comment