A visit to Walnut Canyon National Monument is not an all day event. Within an hour or two you will see all there is to see on this public land.
Walnut Canyon’s highlight for sightseeing are various cliff dwellings along an interpretive trail that spans just short of a mile. For health enthusiasts, you’ll enjoy the bonus of 240 steps that steeply climb 185 feet at the end of the venture. So if you’re on a road trip traversing Arizona’s portion of Interstate 40 during daylight hours in the spring, summer or fall, then plan on stopping by this National Monument for a quick, yet vigorous, exercise opportunity.
How well you manage all these stairs is a testament to your fitness level. However, the site is at nearly 7,000 feet elevation. So expect to huff and puff your way up if not acclimatized to altitude.
Health tip to those who spend too much time on the couch, after you travel down all the steps to the Island Trail you must also come back up them. Hopefully your struggle out will spur an interest to get moving more in the future. Taking this trail is not advisable for those who suffer from a chronic heart, lung or circulatory condition.
