Walnut Canyon National Monument
Walnut Canyon National Monument (Hopi: Wupatupqa) is a United States National Monument located about 10 mi (16 km) southeast of downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, near Interstate 40. Its operator is the National Park Service. Footfall in 2025 was 153K.
A national monument, 6 mi east of Flagstaff
Visits fell 18% in 2025
The National Park Service counted 153,317 visitors in 2025, down from 187,205 the year before. Visitors ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 16°, with about 90" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Flagstaff is the nearest base
Flagstaff is 6 miles west, with 100 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Aug and Sep
August and September are mild and quieter than average, with highs of 76–81°. When to go ↓
Established in 1915
Walnut Canyon National Monument dates from 1915 and is run by National Park Service. About ↓
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Busy months and weather
This is the year at Walnut Canyon, in visitors and weather.
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Walnut Canyon National Monument (Hopi: Wupatupqa) is a United States National Monument located about 10 mi (16 km) southeast of downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, near Interstate 40. The canyon rim elevation is 6,690 ft (2,040 m); the canyon's floor is 350 ft (110 m) lower. A 0.9 mi (1.4 km) long loop trail descends 185 ft (56 m) into the canyon passing 25 cliff dwelling rooms constructed by the Sinagua, a pre-Columbian cultural group that lived in Walnut Canyon from about 1100 to 1250 AD. Other contemporary habitations of the Sinagua people are preserved in the nearby Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle national monuments.
- Type
- National Monument
- Established
- 1915
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (1966)
- Wikipedia readers
- 10K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/waca
How to visit
- Private Vehicle$25
- Motorcycle$20
- Per Person$15
- Non-commercial Groups$15
Where to stay near Walnut Canyon National Monument
The closest lodging is in Flagstaff (100) and Sedona (84).
Flagstaff
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
77,260 people
6 mi west of Walnut Canyon Visitor Center · 5 mi to the park
Timberline-Fernwood
1,973 people
10 mi north of Walnut Canyon Visitor Center · 10 mi to the park
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | 6 mi west | 10 min | 100 64 hotels · 18 motels · 6 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel · 4 campgrounds · 5 RV parks | 77,260 | $553K | C− |
| Sedona | 27 mi southwest | 40 min | 84 56 hotels · 4 motels · 17 inns & B&Bs · 3 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 9,619 | $787K | — |
| Doney Park | 7 mi north | 10 min | 3 1 lodge or cabins · 2 RV parks | 6,253 | $613K | — |
| Timberline-Fernwood | 10 mi north | 15 min | 4 1 lodge or cabins · 3 campgrounds | 1,973 | $621K | — |
| Kachina Village | 12 mi southwest | 20 min | 4 1 hotel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 3,212 | $414K | — |
| Oak Creek Canyon 54% vacation homes | 21 mi southwest | 30 min | 12 1 inn or B&B · 8 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 356 | $411K | — |
| Munds Park 85% vacation homes | 18 mi southwest | 25 min | 8 2 hotels · 1 motel · 4 lodges & cabins · 1 RV park | 608 | $780K | — |
| Fort Valley 23% vacation homes | 17 mi northwest | 25 min | 7 4 hotels · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 1,761 | $905K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Next door to Walnut Canyon
These lie within 47 miles as the crow flies.
116 mi MountainHumphreys Peak
43 mi National MonumentMontezuma Castle National Monument320K visitors a year
47 mi City parkStandin' on the Corner Park
214 mi National MonumentSunset Crater Volcano National Monument108K visitors a year
323 mi MountainRoden Crater
416 mi Ski areaArizona Snowbowl53 runs · 2,368 ft vertical
529 mi MountainCathedral Rock
622 mi Canyon & gorgeOak Creek CanyonPhoto credits
Humphreys Peak: Bob Blasi; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Montezuma Castle National Monument: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Standin' on the Corner Park: Tpaairman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: National Park Service, Public domain · Roden Crater: Unknown, Public domain · Arizona Snowbowl: Frederick Dennstedt from los angeles, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Cathedral Rock: Terrydarc, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Oak Creek Canyon: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0
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153,317 people came in 2025
Yearly visitors, 2016 through 2025, are below.
Visiting Walnut Canyon: the answers
What town is Walnut Canyon National Monument near?
Flagstaff, AZ, about 6 miles west.
When is the best time to visit Walnut Canyon National Monument?
August and September, with highs of 76–81°. April is the busiest month (about 21,537 visitors).
How many people visit Walnut Canyon National Monument each year?
153,317 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 212,328, set in 2021.
What is the closest airport to Walnut Canyon National Monument?
Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG), about 9 miles away. The nearest big hub is Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), about 123 miles.
Where should I stay near Walnut Canyon National Monument?
Flagstaff (6 mi, 100 places to stay), Sedona (27 mi, 84 places to stay) and Doney Park (7 mi, 3 places to stay).
Tips for visiting, from Flagstaff
Tips will appear here once someone posts in Flagstaff’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.