Walnut Canyon National Monument was established on November 30, 1915, to preserve cliff dwellings built about 800 years ago. The park now protects a variety of archaeological and natural resources on nearly 3,600 acres.
This park has done a good job of "recycling" buildings from the Civilian Conservation Corps era. The original Walnut Canyon Visitor Center was built from local stone by the CCC in 1940. It's still there, as part of the expanded building in use today. A stone restroom constructed by the CCC that same year was renovated in 2006 and put back into use.
The entrance road, trails, and visitor center are open all year, except December 25, although snow in the winter months can sometimes limit use of park trails. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May – October, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. November-April. Keep in mind that the area (like most of Arizona) does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
The visitor center showcases artifacts ranging from hunting points, metate grinding stones, and even items affected by the nearby eruptions from Sunset Crater.
During inclement weather, the visitor center lobby features expansive views of the canyon and distant mountains, but the best way to enjoy this park is via one or both of two trails.
