Walnut Canyon and Friends

Last Saturday long-time friends James and Janet came to Flagstaff from Phoenix to celebrate their First Wedding Anniversary.  They included us on their Things To Do While In Flagstaff list.  They'd not been to Walnut Canyon National Monument, and we always find it enjoyable to be tourists at our local landmarks.  A visit was agreed upon.  Here's an Internet overview:

Walnut Canyon National Monument

 

Walnut Canyon National Monument was established in 1915 to preserve numerous Prehistoric archaeological sites which are spectacularly located in cliffs and along the rim of Walnut Canyon. The focus of the proclamation was protection from looting and vandalism of the cliff dwelling structures located under the canyon's limestone ledges.
Evidence of human use at Walnut Canyon can be traced back over 2,000 years. Based on ceramic analysis and tree ring dates, most Sinagua sites in the area date from 1100-1225 AD. The progression of cultural change and adaptation of the Sinagua is clearly evident at Walnut Canyon.

We chose to walk the Island Trail. There are 240 steps into the canyon.....

 

 

 

down...

 

 

down.....

 

down....

 

down...

 

Whew!  James arrived!

 

 

 

Ron and Janet enjoy the scenery

 

 

The cliff dwellings are accessible

 

 

and inaccessible--the dwellings below are about the middle of the picture on the right.

 

 

 

It's both fascinating and unimaginable to try to put youself in the place of the people who lived here so long ago.

 

 

 

What goes down must come up....

 

 

and they gave us fair warning.

 

 

After this adventure, we enjoyed a delicious lunch and conversation at the Wildflower Bread Company.

 

 

It was an enjoyable day with friends.