You Can Easily Visit These 3 National Monuments In Arizona Before Dinner

Looking for something fun to do that won’t take up the whole weekend? If you’re a fan of history, geology, or just traveling, we have the perfect little trip to three national monuments located a pretty short distance from each other: Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater, and Wupatki.

In fact, this trip is more than perfect. It’s also convenient and inexpensive, especially if you’re near the Flagstaff area. Fees to these national monuments will cost a grand total of $28 and you won’t need a full tank of gas (unless your vehicle has terrible gas mileage, in which case you should get a more fuel efficient car).

We’re going to take a look at the history of each monument, some of the sights you’ll see, and how to get to each one. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

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Out first stop is Walnut Canyon, which is located about 12 miles from downtown Flagstaff. Walnut Canyon is known not just for its stunning canyon covered in pines but also ancient cliff dwellings in the canyon walls that date to 1100 AD.

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Other than the visitor’s center, there are two trails here to explore. One is Island Trail which at one mile takes you into a portion of the canyon to see a 700-year-old cliff dwelling. Make sure you’re wearing your hiking shoes and have water with you for this one because it can be a strenuous walk. The other, Rim Trail, is shorter at 0.7 miles but isn’t short on the sights. This one is a breeze to walk and a portion of it is wheelchair accessible.

Details: Walnut Canyon is open daily from 8am to 5pm. The entrance fee is $8.
Location: 3 Walnut Canyon Road, Flagstaff (map)

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Northern Arizona is rich in pretty recent volcanic activity and Sunset Crater is just one fantastic example. The dormant volcano last erupted in the 11th century and is the youngest in the San Francisco volcanic field. The area was designated a national monument in 1930, just two years after a Hollywood company planned to blast explosives while filming a movie at the volcano.

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After checking out the exhibits available at the visitors center, you’ll want to hike the Lava Flow Trail. Just one-mile long, this trail takes you across the delicate lava trail to get a closer view of the volcano. If you have a little extra time and the leg muscles, you’ll want to check out the steep Lenox Crater Trail. This is also a one-mile long trail that will give you a chance to climb an old volcano!

Details: Sunset Crater is open daily from 8am to 5pm (it opens at 9am in winter). $20 will give you access to the monument and the nearby Wupatki National Monument, the next stop.
Location: 6082 Sunset Crater Road, Flagstaff (map)

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Located 19 miles from our previous stop, Wupatki National Monument features a rich collection of ancient Puebloan ruins that date to at least 500 AD.

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There are six old dwellings to check out when you’re here and some guided hiking trails to give you a more personal, up close view of these areas. The most well-known one is short and a fairly easy stroll that will take you to the Wupatki pueblo

Details: Wupatki National Monument is open daily from sunrise to sunset. $20 will give you access to Sunset Crater and this monument.
Location: 25137 N Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop Road, Flagstaff (map)

Want some cool day trip ideas for other areas of the state? Be sure to read one of our older articles that features 8 incredible day trip spots that will interest just about anyone in your family!