• View of Cliff Dwellings from the Island Trail

    Walnut Canyon

    National Monument Arizona

Island Trail

Visitors at cliff dwelling on Island Trail

NPS photo by Dallas Larsen

An Island Trail cliff dwelling

It has been more than 700 years since Walnut Canyon echoed with the words and sounds of a vital pueblo community. The Island Trail leads you back in time, and welcomes you into the world of the people archeologists call Sinagua. You'll see 25 cliff dwelling rooms along the trail; more are visible across the canyon. Spectacular canyon scenery and plantlife.

Please stay on the established trail, don't climb on walls, and do not remove or disturb any features.

Entry to the Island Trail closes 1 hour before the monument closes.

In Winter  the Island Trail may be closed temporarily for snow removal. Please call for current information if there are storms in the area. 928-526-3367

 

Distance 1 mile round-trip
Time

1 hour round-trip

Difficulty Strenuous, especially for those not acclimated to 7,000' elevation. The trail descends 185 vertical feet into the canyon, and returns the same way.
Accessibility The trail is paved, but not accessible to wheelchairs, due to steep canyon terrain and many stairs.
 

 

Did You Know?

photo of Willa Cather

Willa Cather (1873-1947) is best known for her novels My Antonia  and Death Comes for the Archbishop. She also wrote Song of the Lark, set at what is now Walnut Canyon National Monument.