EXTRAORDINARY LANDSCAPES. ENDURING STORIES.

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Cliff dwellings around a canyon
Arizona
Scenic header: The dynamic landscape of Walnut Canyon was home to a thriving Native American community roughly 900 years ago. · NPS Photo · Photo credits
TAKE TIME TO DISCOVER

Cliff dwellings around a canyon

Stone rooms tucked into canyon ledges reveal how ancestral communities lived in a dramatic natural setting. Choose between a strenuous descent and gentler rim-area views.

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.
NPS Photo · Photo credits
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.
NPS Photo / Marge Ullmann · Photo credits
BUILD A MEMORABLE VISIT

What to explore

  • 01Island Trail
  • 02Rim Trail
  • 03Visitor-center exhibits

Before you go

The Island Trail has many steps and a significant climb back. Check closures and choose the rim experience when it better suits the group.

Give the place time

Choose a manageable walk, viewpoint or tour, and allow time for interpretation. Gateway areas help orient the visit; they are not exact entrance directions.

Make the details easy

Confirm the specific facilities, walking surfaces and vehicle access your group needs. Tours, transport and special access may require separate arrangements.

Official visitor information ↗Plan your visit →

Check the official source for current access, hours, fees, reservations, permits and alerts. Photos may show earlier conditions. Suggested highlights are visit ideas, not a guarantee that every area is currently open.