walnut-canyon | AZ | Find park

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.

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.

a common raven landing on a barren juniper branch

At the rim of Walnut Canyon, visitors stand at eye level with soaring ravens, eagles, and other birds

warm sunlight illuminates a cliff dwelling wall beside a snowy trail

The 0.9-mile (1.4 km) Island Trail leads visitors down 240 stairs to explore 25 cliff dwelling rooms.

a visitor looks out over Walnut Canyon from the trail

More than 125,000 people visit Walnut Canyon each year.

a circular overlook at the edge of the canyon rim

The 0.7-mile (1.1 km) Rim Trail reveals expansive views of Walnut Canyon and its cliff dwellings.

Physical Address:

3 Walnut Canyon Road

Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Mailing Address:

6400 U.S. 89

Flagstaff, AZ 86004

contact-details

Phone Number: 9285263367 Voice

Email Address: flag_information@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle: $25.00

This pass covers the pass holder and up to 15 passengers of a single, private (non-commercial) vehicle at Walnut Canyon National Monuments for 1-7 days.

Entrance - Motorcycle: $20.00

Admits the passholder and passenger of one motorcycle to Walnut Canyon National Monument for 1-7 days.

Entrance - Per Person: $15.00

Admits one individual bicyclist, hiker, or pedestrian visiting the facility without a private vehicle. Good for Walnut Canyon National Monument for 1-7 days. A pass is not required for individuals 15 or younger.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups: $15.00

Non-commercial groups pay the per person fee up until the cost exceeds that of the commercial rate for the same size vehicle.

Entrance - Education/Academic Groups: $0.00

Bona fide educational institutions visiting for non-recreational purposes whose visit pertains directly to established curriculum are exempt from paying entry fees. Apply for an educational fee waiver at least 4 weeks in advance by submitting an educational fee waiver. Please see the below link to access the waiver.

Commercial Entrance - Sedan: $28.00

Covers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 1-6 individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purpose by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.

Commercial Entrance - Van: $40.00

Covers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 7-15 individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purpose by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach: $100.00

Covers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 16+ individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purpose by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.

Entrance Passes

Annual Entrance - Park: $45.00

Admits the passholder, passenger of one motorcycle, or occupants of a single, non-commercial vehicle at Sunset Crater Volcano, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monuments for 1 year.

Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. Today the park preserves this landscape, and the ancestral homes in and around the canyon.

park designation:National Monument

Directions:

Walnut Canyon National Monument is located approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) east of Flagstaff. From Interstate 40, take Exit 204, and turn south. The Walnut Canyon Visitor Center is located at the end of this 3-mile (5 km) road.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Park Hours

Walnut Canyon National Monument is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Access to park's trails and views of the canyon are not accessible outside of operating hours. Access to the Island Trail closes at 4:00 pm. Visitors are encouraged to begin the Rim Trail by 4:30 p.m. to ensure enough time to complete the trail by 5:00 p.m. when the park's gates are closed. *The park is closed on December 24th, December 25th, and January 1st. During these closures there is no access to park trails or viewpoints.

Exceptions:

Closed Christmas Eve - December 24 (December 24, 2024 - December 24, 2024)

Closed Christmas Day - December 25 (December 25, 2024 - December 25, 2024)

Closed New Year's Day - January 1 (January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025)

Closed at 1:00 Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2025 - November 27, 2025)

Weather Information:

Be prepared for variable and extreme weather conditions. You may expect high winds any time of year, summer temperatures above 95ºF (35ºC), afternoon storms July–September, and heavy snow from fall to spring. Dress in layers, as weather at Walnut Canyon can change quickly at any time of year.