Find hiking and cliff dwellings in Northern Arizona. Here are the top things to do at Walnut Canyon National Monument and nearby Wupatki.

Arizona offers 15 national parks and monuments, not counting the historic sites and national recreation areas. Visitors worldwide visit icons like the Grand Canyon, though there’s more to see. For those travelers on a road trip across Northern Arizona or visiting the Grand Canyon, we recommend spending some time around Flagstaff and discovering several national park sites, including Walnut Canyon. Here are the top things to do at Walnut Canyon National Monument and nearby Wupatki National Monument. 

Things to Do at Visit Walnut Canyon National Monument

With a convenient location off Interstate 40, Walnut Canyon is an ideal road trip stop. For those wanting to stretch their minds and legs, Walnut Canyon features a 600-foot canyon with cliff dwellings perched on the side of the canyon walls built by the Sinagua people.

Due to its sheltered location and ample wildlife and vegetation, people have moved through Walnut Canyon for thousands of years. Anthropologists have uncovered artifacts left by Archaic peoples. The first permanent residents arrived in 600 CE and stayed until 1400 CE. Archeologists named the people Sinagua after the Spanish word for the area, Sierra de Sin Aqua, or mountains without water.

The Sinagua people farmed the area, planting squash, beans, and corn. In 1100 CE, they moved into the protected cliff area. About 150 years later, they moved on for unknown reasons.

Today, a hiking trail passes the cliff dwellings, and you can enter the rooms. You can explore this site in an hour or two if you’re tight on time.

A scenic look at Walnut Canyon National Monument. Photo courtesy NPS

Stop by the Visitor Center at Walnut Canyon

As the first stop for most visitors, the Visitor Center offers a view of the canyon, park rangers, maps, and Junior Ranger booklets. Find the restrooms and a water-filling station at the Walnut Canyon Visitor Center. 

In addition to information, I recommend watching the interpretive film about the area’s history and its Sinagua people. A walk through the museum also helps explain the story of the ancient people. 

Use the Hiking Trails at Walnut Canyon

One of the best things to do at Walnut Canyon—and the best way to see the ancient cliff dwellings—is to take a hike. I recommend one of these two trails, depending on your timing:

• Island Trail—A .90-mile hiking trail travels around 25 cliff dwellings. This trail features 736 stairs you’ll need to navigate to see the cliff dwellings. Note there is a drop-off without railings.
• Rim Trail—A .75-mile flat and paved hiking trail with views of the canyon.

The hiking trails at Walnut Canyon National Monument are near the cliff dwellings. Photo courtesy NPS

Check Out the Wildlife at Walnut Canyon

Walnut Canyon’s terrain and vegetation feature more animals than neighboring areas. Coyotes, mule deer, jackrabbits, and rock squirrels frequent the area. In total, 69 types of mammals come and go throughout the year at Walnut Canyon, including some large animals like elk, mountain lions, and black bears. 

The birds are abundant at Walnut Canyon, with several types of raptors. In total, you have the chance to spot 121 different species of birds around the canyon.

The hiking trails overlook Walnut Canyon. Photo courtesy Visit Flagstaff

Where to Eat and Sleep near Walnut Canyon

Walnut Canyon is a day-use area and doesn’t offer lodging or camping. The nearest camping, operated by the U.S. Forest Service, is in the Coconino National Forest. The national monument is 12 miles east of Flagstaff, AZ, a regional hub for lodging, dining, and traveler’s services. A picnic area is located near the Visitor Center.

History of Walnut Canyon 

The railroad arrived in the area by the 1880s, bringing people and then pot-hunters as they looked for ancient artifacts to sell. During this time, the area was vandalized as people dynamited the area looking for pottery and other antique artifacts.

Residents were alarmed by the destruction and looked to protect the area. In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson declared it a national monument.

How to Get to Walnut Canyon

Walnut Canyon National Monument is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed on major holidays. It is located about 12 miles from the center of Flagstaff. From Interstate 40, take exit  204, and continue for three miles to the entrance.

Admission is $25 per vehicle for a 7-day pass, or you can use an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80.) If you visit the other NPS sites around Flagstaff, consider the Flagstaff Area National Monuments Annual Pass for $45.

Exploring Nearby Wupatki National Monument

Another area for ancient dwellings, the Wupatki National Monument is located north of Flagstaff. The majority of the pueblos in the monument are made of local sandstone and offer an excellent example of how the ancient people lived about 900 years ago. The largest pueblo, which included more than 105 rooms, is an amazing site. Even better, most pueblos are close to the road and accessed by short hiking trails.

Set against an afternoon shower, the Wupatki National Monument preserves ancient pueblo structures. Photo courtesy NPS

Visitor Center at Wupatki National Monument

The Wupatki National Monument features a Visitor Center with information about the area and maps. You can learn about the ancient cultures of the area. Ranger Talks originate from here, and it’s the starting point for Wupatki Pueblo Trail. 

The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You’ll also find restrooms here. 

See several different pueblo buildings at the Wupatki National Monument. Photo by Catherine Parker

What to See at Wupatki National Monument

After checking in at Visitor Center, head out back to see the largest pueblo at Wupatki. Most were inhabited about 900 years ago when the area was wetter and cooler. For travelers short on time, visit Wupatki Pueblo, the largest freestanding pueblo in Northern Arizona. 

Wupatki Pueblo offers a 105-room structure with unique features like a Hohokam ball court and kivas (community rooms). This pueblo was built about 900 years ago and offers views of the surrounding painted desert. 

Wukoki Pueblo is another structure from the same period with rooms you can enter. The most striking feature is the remains of a three-story tower. The Wukoki Pueblo offers views of the nearby San Francisco Peaks. It is about 2.5 miles from the Visitor Center along the main road. 

I found entering the space gave me a better understanding of life in another time. Taking design cues from the ancient people, we can see how modern southwestern design still uses some ancient elements in current architecture and interior design. 

The Nalakiu and Citadel Pueblos combine two structures with about 50 rooms from the same era. These pueblos are 4 miles from the Visitor Center. 

The previous pueblos were constructed of sandstone. At the Lomaki and Box Canyon Pueblos, see limestone construction where native rocks were carefully stacked. 

In addition to pueblos, the Hohokam Ball Court is an interesting structure. Photo by Catherine Parker

Hiking Trails at Wupatki

The best way to see the pueblos is on a hike. The hiking trails listed are rated easy and offer some accessible sections. Always pack water in the desert, regardless of the season. 

• Wupatki Pueblo Trail—A half-mile round trip hike rated easy and accessible to the scenic overlook.
• Wukoki Pueblo Trail—A .2-mile trail to another pueblo, and the first section is accessible. 
• Nalakihu and Citadel Pueblos—A .2-mile trail to see pueblos. 
• Lomaki and Box Canyon Pueblos—A half-mile round trip trail that’s easy, though not accessible. 

If you want a guided ranger hike, those are offered in Wupatki National Monument from October until April. 

Scenic Drive at Wupatki National Monument

With a diverse landscape north of Flagstaff, see the painted desert and grasslands along the main route, The Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop Road. Along the drive, spot a few wildflowers, some of the 240 different plant species that grow in the park.

See wildflowers, like the Foxtail Cactus, at the Wupatki National Monument. Photo by L. Carter via NPS

Since the area is in the rain shadow of the San Francisco Peaks and part of the Great Basin Desert, fewer animals call this area home. Though coyotes, pronghorn, rabbits, and squirrels live in the area.  

Where to Eat and Sleep at Wupatki

This is a day-use area, so no lodging or dining is available in the park. Plan and grab snacks in Flagstaff for a picnic. Find picnic tables at the Wupatki Visitor Center and the Lomaki Pueblo Parking area. 

You can walk through some of the Wupatki pueblos during their visit. Photo by Catherine Parker

History of Wupatki

This area was protected in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge and includes 35,000 acres. Home to people for thousands of years, the earliest were hunter-gathers. Since the area is dry, most people passed through the area; however, the pueblos originated in the 1100s. The Sinagua people, or without water, lived in a time of more rain.

They developed the land using volcanic debris from the nearby Sunset Crater Volcano. The area flourished as a crossroads for a while, though, by the 1250s, the people had moved on.

Look out over Sunset Crater during your drive. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived and developed the park as a part of a Great Depression work program. They constructed a Ranger Residence in the Pueblo Revival Style during this time. 

How to Get to Wupatki

To get to the Visitor Center, head north of U.S. Highway 89, take a right turn at the brown sign for the Wupatki National Monument, and drive for 21 miles. The Wupatki National Monument is open from sunrise to sunset. Admission is $25 per vehicle for a 7-day pass, or you can use an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80.) If visiting the other NPS sites around Flagstaff, consider the Flagstaff Area National Monuments Annual Pass for $45. 

Kids at National Park Sites

The Junior Ranger Program is the go-to program for families to learn about national parks. It’s free and takes about two hours to complete. My kids love the park rangers’ badges after completing their booklets.

Pick up a free booklet at the Visitor Center during regular hours. While there, inquire about ranger programs for the entire family. 

Other National Park Sites in Northern Arizona

There are some great national park sites throughout Northern Arizona. Here are a few of my favorites I’ve enjoyed visiting over the years with my family.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

The lava flows at Sunset Crater are captivating. Put this one on your list for the future, but as of this writing, it remains closed due to damage from the Tunnel Fire in Summer 2022. Consult the NPS webpage for further developments.

South Rim of the Grand Canyon

As an icon of the American Southwest, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is a bucket list destination. Though you can never see it all, you can spend a few hours enjoying a sliver of the majesty from the South Rim. Or spend a week or more exploring the many Grand Canyon South Rim areas of interest.

You can see dramatic vistas in Grand Canyon North Rim from the Cape Royal overlook. Photo by kojihirano via iStock by Getty Images

North Rim of the Grand Canyon 

Open seasonally from May until the snows close the area in the fall, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon offers a quieter and cooler Grand Canyon experience. It is a greener landscape with a higher elevation than the South Rim. Find lodging, dining, hiking, and more on the North Rim. 

Petrified Forest National Park

With shards of stone trees, this national park is a favorite with road trippers along Interstate 40. Take a detour and see its painted desert, the historic Painted Desert Inn, and the petrified trees. It is located outside of Holbrook, Arizona.

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Discovering the Best Things to Do at Walnut Canyon National Monument

The story of the Southwest is partly about the glorious desert landscape that unfolds as travelers pass through. However, it is also the story of the Ancient People who lived and cultivated the land for the first time. Their dwellings, pottery, and oral history add to our understanding of this land. I hope you enjoy exploring Walnut Canyon National Monument as much as I do. Check out Wander for more National Parks you can enjoy during your family travels and plenty more to see and do throughout Arizona.

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Best Things to Do at Walnut Canyon National Monument