Walnut Canyon takes you back in time when the Sinagua (without water in Spanish) people lived in cliff dwellings and one-room pit houses in the fields.
We had some time after the race to explore the region after Cocodona 250. We stumbled upon the Walnut Canyon National Monument. For a hefty US$25, we explored the two short trails – Island Trail and the Rim Trail.
The Island Trail descends to the canyon where we where witness to the super cool cliff dwellings. We were warned to take plenty of water for our descent.
The “trail” was less than two miles and the views were amazing.
The brochure explained that the homes were generally situated on cliffs facing south and east to take advantage of the warm sunlight.
Archeologists also believe that it was the women who build the homes. I wondered how many people lived in these dwellings. The history was a little unclear – no doubt whole families, but of what size? Families lived in the cliff dwellings for more than 100 years. By 1250, they had moved southeast to new villages.
On the Rim Trail, there were pit houses where the residents are believed to have farmed corn and other crops.
I love visiting historical monuments and learning about the area when I am travelling. Adds a little more to the experience. To think that hundreds and hundreds of years ago people lived here in these rugged cliffs.
Do you explore historical sites when you travel? Have you been to Walnut Canyon? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.