Walnut Canyon National Monument

"This was a nice little stop to see the cliff houses from around 800 years ago. There is a fee to enter but free with the national parks pass. Your first stop will be the visitors center as thats where the trail down to the cliff houses begins, its out the back door. So stop in, look around, then head on downstairs to the trail which was 1.6 miles for me and took 45 minutes to walk. There are over 700 stairs steps in total so you'll get your exercise in, but so worth seeing these houses up close. There are many directly on the trail, and many off in the distance to view. Overall I spent 1.5 hours at the monument."

"Absolute gem of a national monument. It's right if the highway and you can hike both trails in less than two hours. Great way to break up a long drive on I-40. There are so many cliff dwellings to see in a beautiful canyon. Absolutely worth the stop if you're into Puebloan ruins or beautiful canyons."

"I guess I saved the best for last during my Flagstaff trip. You can almost hear the sound of children's laughter. And the voices in the communities here. What a majestic place hike the island trail to really experience the ruins keep in mind you're at elevation and you have to go up and down about 700 plus steps. If you can't make it enjoy my photos."

"Many visitors skip Walnut Canyon National Monument on their way to the better-known parks, but do yourself a favor and don’t be one of them. This is a small site with an incredible sense of history and scenery packed into a short visit. If you stop by, make sure to take the Island Trail, the loop that brings you down into the canyon and around the cliff dwellings. It takes roughly 45 minutes, give or take, and every minute is worth it. You’ll walk down about 180–200 steps—enough to get your attention, but once you reach the main loop, it levels out and becomes a beautiful walk with views in every direction. Just remember that Walnut Canyon sits at a high elevation, over 6,600 feet, so if you’re coming from sea level, take it easy. The air is thinner than you might expect, and before you know it, your heart will be working overtime. But the reward is huge: stunning canyon walls, remarkably preserved Sinagua cliff dwellings, and a quiet, peaceful landscape that feels far removed from the busier parks. It’s one of those places where a relatively short hike gives you a deep sense of the people who lived there centuries ago. Don’t rush it, enjoy the views, catch your breath when you need to, and take in the history around you."