Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and a walk in the woods

On Tuesday morning, we awoke to a good soaking rain.  It had been over five weeks since it had rained so it was a wonderful respite from the really dry climate of this region.

I love the sound of rain hitting the roof of the motorhome.  It reminds me of the many nights I spent at my grandparent's house.  The house they lived in had a tin roof and the sound of rain hitting it was distinctive and rhythmic.

We did manage to avoid the heavy rain long enough to get a short oxygen deprived run.  The air at 7000 ft is glorious but thin.  Other than that, we had a good lazy Tuesday.

The rain had stopped by Wednesday so Rob and I headed to Walnut Canyon National Monument.  This area was a no dogs allowed stop so the girls had to stay home.

Walnut Canyon National Monument is a United States National Monument located about 10 mi  southeast of downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, near Interstate 40. The canyon rim elevation is 6,690 ft ; the canyon's floor is 350 ft lower. A 0.9 mi (1.4 km) long loop trail descends 185 ft (56 m) into the canyon passing 25 cliff dwelling rooms constructed by the Sinagua, a pre-Columbian cultural group that lived in Walnut Canyon from about 1100 to 1250 CE.

After entering the Visitor's Center, you can make a partial descent into the canyon via the Island Trail.  The trail is well marked and maintained and has over 250 steps.  Basically, if you go down the steps, you must come back up.

The Island Trail walks right alongside the ancient cliffside dwellings.

VIEWS OF THE DWELLINGS FROM THE RIM

A CLOSER LOOK

The canyon walls are dotted with these dwellings and, from a distance, it seems impossible that the inhabitants could live in them.  Upon closer observation, you can see the ledges that allowed for movement.  It is amazing that they created a pseudo "city" along these canyon walls.

The Island Trail also allowed for beautiful canyon views.  

BEAUTY BIG

AND SMALL

BANANA YUCCA

THIS BLOOMING CACTUS WAS SITTING ON A VERY SMALL OUTCROPPING OF ROCK RISING ABOVE THE CANYON.   THE COLOR WAS SO DISTINCTIVE AGAINST THE OTHERWISE LIFELESS ROCK FORMATION

We took a nice easy walk along the Island Trail and then conquered the ascent via the stairs.

Visitors can also walk the Rim Trail.  This trail is flat and offers good views of the canyon and far views of the dwellings.  I think this trail is ADA accessible.

We departed Walnut Canyon and as were driving home, we passed a sign for Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.  This, for us,  meant side trip.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is a U.S. National Monument in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona, created to protect Sunset Crater, a cinder cone within the San Francisco Volcanic Field.

Sunset Crater is the youngest in a string of volcanoes (the San Francisco volcanic field) that is related to the nearby San Francisco Peaks.

The date of the eruptions that formed the 340-meter-high cone (1,120 ft) was initially derived from tree-ring dates, suggesting the eruption began between the growing seasons of A.D. 1064–1065. However, more recent geologic and archaeological evidence places the eruption around A.D. 1085.The largest vent of the eruption, Sunset Crater itself, was the source of the Bonito and Kana-a lava flows that extended about 2.5 kilometers (1.6 mi) NW and 9.6 kilometers (6 mi) NE, respectively. Additional vents along a 10-kilometer-long fissure (6.2 mi) extending SE produced small spatter ramparts and a 6.4-kilometer-long lava flow (4 mi) to the east. The Sunset Crater eruption produced a blanket of ash and lapilli covering an area of more than 2,100 square kilometers (810 sq mi) and forced the temporary abandonment of settlements of the local Sinagua people. The volcano has partially revegetated, with pines and wildflowers. The crater is the namesake for the Sunset Crater Beardtongue (Penstemon clutei). Since the last eruption of the volcano is a recent occurrence, it is considered dormant by volcanologists.

I will say that Rob and I were both surprised that there was a "young" volcano/lava field in northern Arizona. We drove to the parking area and found the trailhead that takes hikers right through the lava field.

THE HILLSIDE IN THE DISTANCE IS ASH COVERED AND LIFELESS

LAVA FLOW, FOREST AND SNOW COVERED MOUNT HUMPHRIES

LAVA

REMNANTS OF AN UPROOTED JUNIPER

Both of these National Monuments are worth the visit.  Our annual National Parks Pass aka Interagency Pass, make these stops affordable.  We paid $80 for our pass and have easily saved $300 on admission fees.  GET YOUR PASS if you plan to visit many parks or monuments.

 The Lava Trail hike is not hard but footing can be difficult at places.  There is a shorter ADA path for those who cannot hike the longer/harder trail.

After our two visits, we made our way back to Lewis and we were greeted by two very indignant dogs.  They had only been alone for four or so hours but we do not often leave them.  

We took a short break and then got the girls harnessed and ready for a walk in the Coconino National Forest. This forest is accessible from the camp.

The weather was cool and a bit cloudy so both girls had a wonderful time.  Penny Lane was nose to the ground and tail up.  Annie Belle needed to be carried some but made a good hike of it.  We saw tons of elk prints but no elk. We did see a few feathered friends.

SMALL UPSIDE DOWN BIRD

THE LOOK HE IS GIVING ME!

BEAUTIFUL

I also could not pass up this lonely little bloom.

 We were out for over two hours and, at this point, we were all well exercised.  We got back to Lewis and cranked up the grill.

We had dinner, showered and suddenly realized how tired we were.  Our Tuesday rest was a good thing because, on Wednesday, we put in a full day of exploring.  

Another great day in this thing we call life.