In 1915, Walnut Canyon was designated a National Monument which it was hoped would give it some protection from pot hunters and looters who had been digging in the cliff dwellings since 1880 when train tracks built close by made it accessible. Walnut Canyon contains upwards of 300 individual cliff dwelling homes, built under limestone ledges, that were in use from about 1100 to 1250A.D. The inhabitants were the Sinagua, a contemporary of the more widely known Ananazi who built Mesa Verde. The word Sinagua comes from the Spanish "sin agua", meaning without water. It is not the name of a tribe or clan of people. In fact, we have no idea how these people thought of themselves and their neighbors, or what they called themselves. The area was first populated by a few farmers that grew things like squash, corn and beans around 1000 A.D. Then is about 1100 A.D. after nearby Sunset Crater quite erupting, there was a rapid increase in population -- partly because Walnut Creek had water in it and partly because of the nature of this canyon. One wall is exposed to heavy sunlight, the other is much darker. This creates two separate eco-systems, one desert, and one dry mountain. As a result there was a rich variety of plants and animals to feed the population.
The ruins here at Walnut Canyon are extremely well preserved even though it has been roughly 700 years since they were occupied. Pottery, toys, arrows, material and other things have been found. One interesting note, when archeologists come across something they can’t figure a use for, they have resorted to talking with some of the elders in the Hopi or Navajo communities. Many of the items were well known to these men, which leads investigators to hypothesize that the Sinagua may be the ancestors of these two tribes.
We were there in winter and the site was not crowded, which I like. The ranger said that at other times the opposite is true. The Actual site has two trails. One is led by a ranger and goes into the back country. (See the website for more details.) The other, the Island Trail, is the one we took. It descends 185 feet, 240 steps, into the canyon providing access to 25 cliff dwelling rooms. The trail, a somewhat strenuous 9/10 of a mile round trip, is one of the best ways to experience the park. Climbing back up can tax heart and lungs if they are weakened, so take it easy (there are benches along the way and bring water! The elevation is 6690 ft. The entrance fee is $5.00 for adults. Persons under age 17 are no charge. The website is http://www.nps.gov/waca/index.htm and the phone number is (928) 526-3367.