Walnut Creek (Arizona) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walnut Creek |
|
|---|---|
Walnut Canyon
|
|
 Location of the mouth of Walnut Creek in Arizona
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Colorado Plateau Coconino National Forest 7,320 ft (2,230 m) 34°59′19″N 111°28′19″W / 34.98861°N 111.47194°W |
| River mouth | San Francisco Wash Near Winona 6,184 ft (1,885 m) 35°14′41″N 111°25′12″W / 35.24472°N 111.42000°W |
| Length | 34 mi (55 km) |
Walnut Creek is an important stream in Coconino County, Arizona. It is part of the larger Little Colorado River system. This creek flows for about 34 miles (55 kilometers) in a northeast direction. It starts south of Flagstaff and ends near Winona.
Contents
Where Walnut Creek Begins and Flows
Walnut Creek starts in a small valley. This valley is located near Mormon Mountain, inside the Coconino National Forest. The creek then flows northwest. It runs along the south side of Anderson Mesa.
Lakes and Water Supply
Along its path, Walnut Creek forms two reservoirs. These are called Upper and Lower Lake Mary. They were created by dams built in the early 1900s. These dams helped supply water to the city of Flagstaff.
Before the dams, Walnut Creek was one of the few reliable streams in this dry area. It flowed steadily each spring. This was due to melting snow from the Colorado Plateau. After the Upper Lake Mary Dam was built in 1941, the creek below the Lower Lake Mary Dam often dried up. This happened because more water was being taken for use. Now, the creek usually flows only during heavy monsoon rains or very large snowmelts.
Walnut Canyon and Ancient Homes
At a place called Fisher Point, the creek makes a sharp turn to the east. Here, it carves out the narrow and winding Walnut Canyon. This canyon is a limestone gorge. It can be as deep as 600 feet (180 meters).
About 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of Flagstaff, the creek flows through Walnut Canyon National Monument. This area is famous for its cliff dwellings. These ancient homes were built by the Sinagua people. They lived here between 1100 and 1250 A.D.
Journey to San Francisco Wash
Near the end of Walnut Canyon, the creek gets close to Winona. It then goes under Interstate 40. After that, it flows north. Walnut Creek then joins with the Rio de Flag. When these two streams meet, they form what is called San Francisco Wash.
San Francisco Wash continues flowing east. It eventually empties into Padre Canyon Wash. Padre Canyon Wash then flows into Diablo Wash. Finally, Diablo Wash joins the Little Colorado River near Leupp, Arizona. Sometimes, San Francisco Wash is considered the lower part of Walnut Creek. If you include this part, the total length of Walnut Creek would be about 55 miles (89 kilometers).
