Walnut Canyon National Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walnut Canyon National Monument |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
|
|
 Walnut Canyon National Monument
Location in Arizona
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Coconino County, Arizona, United States |
| Nearest city | Flagstaff, Arizona |
| Area | 3,529 acres (14.28 km2) |
| Created | November 30, 1915 |
| Visitors | 167,736 (in 2018) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Walnut Canyon National Monument |
|
Walnut Canyon National Monument
|
|
| Nearest city | Flagstaff, Arizona |
| Area | 2,249.5 acres (910.3 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000174 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Walnut Canyon National Monument is a special protected area in the United States. It is located about 10 mi (16 km) southeast of Flagstaff, Arizona. The canyon rim is 6,690 ft (2,040 m) high, and the canyon floor is 350 ft (110 m) lower.
This monument protects ancient cliff dwellings. These homes were built by the Sinagua people. They lived in Walnut Canyon from about 1100 to 1250 AD. You can walk a 0.9 mi (1.4 km) trail that goes down 185 ft (56 m) into the canyon. Along this trail, you will see 25 cliff dwelling rooms. Other places where the Sinagua lived are nearby. These include Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle.
Contents
Exploring the Sinagua People's Past
The Sinagua people lived in a very dry area. Their name, "Sinagua," means "without water" in Spanish. They were very good at saving water. They also knew how to survive during droughts.
Who Were the Sinagua?
The Sinagua were also active traders. Their trading reached far places. They traded with people as far away as the Gulf of Mexico. Some of their trade even went to Central America.
The Mystery of Why They Left
The Sinagua people who lived in Walnut Canyon left around 1250 AD. No one knows for sure why they left. Some think they left because of droughts. Others believe they feared nearby tribes. They left behind more than 80 cliff dwellings.
How the Cliff Dwellings Were Built
The Sinagua built their homes under natural rock ledges. These ledges were deep inside the canyon. Water had slowly worn away the limestone cliffs over millions of years. This created perfect spaces for homes. They built these homes between 1125 and 1250 AD.
The dwellings were small. But they were big enough for families to cook and sleep. Most of these rooms are close to the loop trail. A typical room was about two meters high. It was also six meters long and three meters deep. One family likely lived in each room.
Water and Life in the Canyon
Water in the canyon was very important. It was essential for the Sinagua people 700 years ago. It is still important for plants and animals today. Walnut Canyon has many different plants. There are over 387 plant species here. These include the Prickly Pear cactus. You can also find the Arizona Black Walnut tree. The rich plant life likely helped the Sinagua decide to live here.
Protecting the Ancient Homes
President Woodrow Wilson made Walnut Canyon a national monument. This happened on November 30, 1915. He wanted to protect the old cliff dwellings. The monument was first managed by the USDA Forest Service. It was then moved to the National Park Service in 1933. The monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Visitors can walk on trails to see the dwellings up close.
Understanding Walnut Canyon's Geology
Walnut Canyon is part of the Colorado Plateau. The canyon cuts through different layers of rock. These layers are called Permian Kaibab Limestone, Toroweap Formation, and Coconino Sandstone. The Kaibab Limestone also forms the rim of the Grand Canyon. You can see interesting patterns in the Coconino Sandstone. These patterns are called Crossbedding.
The Canyon's Creator: Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek flows through the canyon. It carved the canyon 600 ft (180 m) deep. The creek flows east and joins the Little Colorado River. This river then flows into the Grand Canyon. The creek also helps many different plants grow here.
Plants of the Canyon
The canyon walls have different types of plants. Shady, north-facing walls have fir and ponderosa pine trees. Sunny, south-facing slopes have agaves and several types of cactus. These include opuntia, echnocereus, and cholla. The bottom of the canyon has several kinds of walnut trees. This is how the canyon got its name!
The Canyon's Rock Layers
The canyon walls have three main rock layers.
- The top part is Kaibab Limestone. This is where the cliff dwellings are found.
- Below that are steep, scrub-covered slopes of the Toroweap Formation.
- The lowest part is the sheer-walled Coconino Sandstone. This layer has unique cross-bedding patterns.
Many layers of the limestone wore away over time. This created natural caves or alcoves. The Sinagua people used these alcoves as their homes. Today, about 3600 acres of land are protected here. This area preserves both ancient history and nature.
Walnut Canyon's Climate
Not all of Arizona is a hot, dry desert. Walnut Canyon is 6,690 ft (2,040 m) above sea level. This means it gets snow in winter. Summers are hot with afternoon thunderstorms. Spring often brings strong, gusty winds. Even with this changing weather, the Sinagua people grew food. They harvested maize (corn), beans, and squash.
| Climate data for Walnut Canyon N.M. (1981–2010 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 45.1 (7.3) |
47.9 (8.8) |
54.6 (12.6) |
61.4 (16.3) |
71.7 (22.1) |
81.5 (27.5) |
85.0 (29.4) |
81.5 (27.5) |
77.2 (25.1) |
66.4 (19.1) |
54.7 (12.6) |
45.3 (7.4) |
64.4 (18.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.2 (−8.2) |
22.4 (−5.3) |
26.6 (−3.0) |
32.7 (0.4) |
41.3 (5.2) |
49.0 (9.4) |
56.7 (13.7) |
54.3 (12.4) |
46.6 (8.1) |
33.9 (1.1) |
26.5 (−3.1) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
35.5 (1.9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.79 (45) |
1.67 (42) |
1.58 (40) |
1.03 (26) |
0.52 (13) |
0.37 (9.4) |
2.43 (62) |
3.32 (84) |
2.04 (52) |
1.18 (30) |
1.36 (35) |
1.53 (39) |
18.82 (477.4) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 14.5 (37) |
13.5 (34) |
9.9 (25) |
5.9 (15) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
4.3 (11) |
9.5 (24) |
58.7 (149) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 6.2 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 11.1 | 12.8 | 7.5 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 75.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch) | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 18.3 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Visiting Walnut Canyon National Monument
The park entrance road, trails, and Visitor Center are open all year. The only day they are closed is December 25. From May to October, the monument is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST. For the rest of the year, it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST. Make sure to enter the park trails at least one hour before closing time.
How to Get There
Walnut Canyon is close to Flagstaff. It is 7 mi (11 km) east of I-40. Take exit 204 and go 3 mi (4.8 km) south. The park has a museum and a small visitor center. These are located high up on a cliff.
What to See at the Monument
Many ancient dwellings are built around a U-shaped bend in the canyon. Here, the creek almost circles a high rocky plateau. This area is the main attraction of the national monument. There are other ruins nearby that are not open to the public. You can also see other Sinagua dwellings at the Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle monuments.
The Old Headquarters building at Walnut Canyon is also a historic site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
