Entrance Fee
$25.00
/ Entrance - Private Vehicle
Park Hours (Today)
9:00AM - 5:00PM
Walnut Canyon Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Miza AI
Plan your Walnut Canyon trip
About the Park
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. Today the park preserves this landscape, and the ancestral homes in and around the canyon.
Ready to explore Walnut Canyon National Monument?
Take the stress out of planning. Our AI will automatically sequence your stops, find the best hotels, and optimize your driving time in seconds.
What to See & Do
Become a Junior Ranger at Walnut Canyon
Join Miguel the Mule Deer in exploring the human history, geology, and wildlife of Walnut Canyon National Monument and earn a Jr. Ranger badge.
Visitor Centers
Walnut Canyon Visitor Center
The Walnut Canyon Visitor Center includes a museum, film, WNPA park store, canyon viewpoint, and restroom facilities. The building features architecture from both the Civilian Conservation Corps and Mission 66 era. Park rangers are present, and Junior Ranger activities are available.
Parking & Access
Getting Here
Walnut Canyon National Monument is located approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) east of Flagstaff. From Interstate 40, take Exit 204, and turn south. The Walnut Canyon Visitor Center is located at the end of this 3-mile (5 km) road.
Official NPS directionsParking Lots
Visitor Center Parking Lot
The Visitor Center parking lot is open from 9am-5pm. This Parking lot is closed with a locked gate after hours, there is no entry/exit outside of these hours. No overnight parking.
Open in MapsGetting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
Walnut Canyon National Monument is located approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) east of Flagstaff. From Interstate 40, take Exit 204, and turn south. The Walnut Canyon Visitor Center is located at the end of this 3-mile (5 km) road.
Park Amenities
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard Fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$25.00This pass covers the pass holder and up to 15 passengers of a single, private (non-commercial) vehicle at Walnut Canyon National Monuments for 1-7 days.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$20.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Admits one individual bicyclist, hiker, or pedestrian visiting the facility without a private vehicle. Good for Walnut Canyon National Monument for 1-7 days. A pass is not required for individuals 15 or younger.
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups
$15.00Non-commercial groups pay the per person fee up until the cost exceeds that of the commercial rate for the same size vehicle.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
$0.00Bona fide educational institutions visiting for non-recreational purposes whose visit pertains directly to established curriculum are exempt from paying entry fees. Apply for an educational fee waiver at least 4 weeks in advance by submitting an educational fee waiver. Please see the below link to access the waiver.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
$28.00Covers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 1-6 individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purpose by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.
Commercial Entrance - Van
$40.00Covers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 7-15 individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purpose by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$100.00Covers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 16+ individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purpose by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.
Annual & Lifetime Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$45.00Admits the passholder, passenger of one motorcycle, or occupants of a single, non-commercial vehicle at Sunset Crater Volcano, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monuments for 1 year.
Operating Hours
Park Hours
Walnut Canyon National Monument is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Access to park's trails and views of the canyon are not accessible outside of operating hours. Access to the Island Trail closes at 4:00 pm. Visitors are encouraged to begin the Rim Trail by 4:30 p.m. to ensure enough time to complete the trail by 5:00 p.m. when the park's gates are closed. *The park is closed on December 25th, and January 1st. During these closures there is no access to park trails or viewpoints.
- Monday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Tuesday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Wednesday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Thursday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Friday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Saturday9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sunday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Photos
sunlight illuminates stone walls in a canyon cliff dwelling
a common raven landing on a barren juniper branch
warm sunlight illuminates a cliff dwelling wall beside a snowy trail
a visitor looks out over Walnut Canyon from the trail
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Build your Walnut Canyon itinerary
Tell Miza your dates, pace, and interests—get a day-by-day plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Best Time
May-September
Trip Length
1 day
Searching for the best hotel deals near Walnut Canyon National Monument...
Planning Walnut Canyon National Monument
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.