In densely-wooded country southeast of Flagstaff, the small seasonal stream Walnut Creek has carved a 600 foot deep canyon into the local Kaibab limestone as it flows east, eventually joining the Little Colorado River en route to the Grand Canyon. The exposed rocks in the canyon walls occur in various layers, of slightly differing hardness, some of which have eroded more rapidly forming shallow caves; during the 12th to 13th centuries they were used by the local Sinagua Indians who constructed many cave-dwellings along the steep well-protected ledges, high above the canyon floor. Today, the appearance of the canyon and ruins is quite reminiscent of the more well known Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.
My classmate Lisa Danley and I experienced walking to the bottom of this deep canyon. It was a great break for the academic workload. I am glad to be standing in one of the oldest cave that serves as shelter to Sinagua Indians.
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