Flagstaff is an excellent location as a base for visiting many central Arizona destinations, including Sedona, Walnut canyon ruins, and Wutapki ruins.  Although Sedona, south of Flagstaff, is an overpriced rip-off, the drive is very scenic and browsing is still free!

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Sedona highway Bell & Cathedral rocks Snoopy rock

 

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Chapel of the Holy Cross These red peppers came home  

 

Walnut Canyon National Monument is a short drive east of Flagstaff.  Although there are many Native American cliff dwelling ruins in Arizona, Utah and Colorado, the ones in Walnut Canyon are very numerous and accessible.  The Walnut Canyon dwellings were inhabited by the Sinagua (literally "without water" in Spanish) who lived here from around 700.  The estimated 300 dwellings were built between 1080 and 1250 and abandoned around 1300.  The cliffs provided a ready-built "roof" and, more importantly, an excellent defensive position.

 

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Ruins visible in lower center   Ruins at top left and center

 

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  Ruin visible in center  

 

Wutapki National Monument is another Sinagua ruins site north of Walnut Canyon and about 15 miles northeast of Flagstaff.  In the vicinity is Sunset Crater National Monument, an active volcano which erupted about 1100 and left a 1000 foot cinder cone.

 

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Wukoki ruin Citadel ruin Susie at Sunset Crater lava