Jim Helfers Principles/Navigations: Arizona Trail: Passage 31

The Arizona Trail junction below Fisher Point (2020)

Walnut Canyon Passage

July 13 and 15, 2020

Chris, me. Weather: clear, high 70s to high 80s both days.

We did a portion of this passage in two sections: on July 13, we hiked from Marshall Lake to the trail junction with the Walnut Canyon Trailhead (7.2 miles one way). On July 15, we took the Walnut Canyon Trail to the junction, then hiked out to to about 1 and a half mile farther, below Fisher Point (about 3.2 miles two way total).

Walnut Canyon Trail and AZT junction (2020)

In general, this was by far the most well laid-out and well-maintained section of the Arizona Trail that I have yet hiked. The Ponderosa pine woodlands south of Flagstaff are open and simply enjoyable to walk. The trail had recently been rerouted (?), and the switchbacks were gentle. Only in the drop to Walnut Canyon was there a significant elevation change. The views and wildflowers were superb. However, the reroute seems to have added a significant distance to the trail, at least according to the trail signs, which listed Marshall Lake as 4.2 miles from the junction [see the picture]. (This made for a total of over 14 miles of hiking on July 13).

On our way home, we started at the Canyon Vista Campground trailhead, and hiked the Walnut Canyon Trail to the junction, and a mile or so farther on the Arizona Trail. We seem to thus have hiked about 8 miles of this passage (which is listed at 17.9 miles total to I-40).

(2020)

On both days of hiking, the midday temperatures felt very hot at the altitude; it was good that we had enough water. Wonderful rock formations and wildflowers.

July 12, 2023

Walnut Canyon access road to I-40 terminus of the passage

Chris, me

The San Francisco Peaks, with the Arizona Trail in the right foreground (2023)

On the day we visited Walnut Canyon National Monument, we took a short (approximately 2 1/2 mile) hike out and back to the end of the passage at the Interstate 40 underpass. Because we began early, the temperatures hovered between the high 70s and the mid-80s, and clear. This section is primarily open piñon pine forest, with plenty of views. We did meet one mountain biker who had hiked the trail, and is now transitioning to riding it. He mentioned preparing to ride the sections north of Flagstaff, south of the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, I neglected to get his name.