Journey through time

Welcome to Walnut Canyon National Monument, located east of Flagstaff, Arizona, where hiking meets history. Step down (240 steps to be exact) into the world of the people archeologists call Sinagua ("without water") who lived in the canyon more than 750 years ago. Follow in their footsteps through a winding gorge where slopes of cactus, yucca, and juniper give rise to shady forests of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. the canyon, named for its many walnut trees, is an exploration of the past that gives visitors a glimpse into the lives of an ancient people.

Walnut Canyon is 400 feet deep, a quarter of a mile wide, and twenty miles long. Overhanging ledges, carved by Walnut Creek, form rock terraces with shallow alcoves where these people built unique dwellings. Using the protective ledges of the canyon cliffs as roofs, ancient masons constructed front and side walls which they plastered inside and out. The simplicity of design masks the skill required to erect a straight, smooth wall that could withstand eight centuries of weather. Most of the cliff dwellings were built facing south and east for solar heating.

From 1100 to 1250 A.D., this pueblo community of 100 or more villagers grew crops of corn, beans, and squash high on the canyon rim. To reach their fields, they followed natural breaks in the canyon walls. Water was a scarce and precious resource, so they built check dams in washes to catch runoff from intermittent rains and snowmelt. They supplemented crops by hunting deer, rabbits, and other wild game.

Today, visitors can take the Island Trail to enter some of the remaining 25 cliff dwelling rooms and explore the canyon environment. It's a strenuous, one-mile trip along a trail that descends 185 vertical feet into the canyon. The hike back up can be taxing 9240 stairs at an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet), but it's a great way to experience the park. for an easier, above-the-rim experience, the .7 mile, self-guided Rim trail provides a view of the many canyon dwellings plus a close-up look at two rim-top structures. Both trails are paved. Start at the visitor center for helpful information and a first look into the canyon.

For more details, call 928-526-3367 or go to www.nps.gov/waca.