Just minutes southeast of Flagstaff lies a lovely little trail that shows a different take on Walnut Canyon. Petrified sand dunes, canyon gorges, and caves—what a combination.

Dave and I began the hike via Canyon Vista Trail (elevation 6,832 ft), which is an offshoot of a campground bearing the same name. An Arizona Trail sign created a historical vibe for the day. You know—as in what it must have been like hundreds of years ago. Our 7 am start paid off handsomely, as we passed only one camper and a couple of resident dog walkers. 

Within minutes we came upon a pristine view of Walnut canyon, with the San Francisco Peaks in the distance. Along the rim, a cacophony of crows kept any measurable amount of solitude at bay. 

The trail descended into the woods and narrowed as we ventured through enormous Ponderosa pines and native maple trees.

After passing a small stand of aspen, Dave and I entered the gorge. The floor of the canyon was quite open and green. We followed along ancient Jeep tracks through the grassy knoll towards Fischer Point. This section bore signs of horses and mountain bikes, followed by trail options leading to Flagstaff and beyond. 

Fisher Point was pretty impressive. Cliffs, reminiscent of the Michelin man, towered overhead. Rather than climb to the top of the point, Dave and I took a side trip further into Walnut canyon. 

We came upon a deep cave (which was at least 20 degrees cooler) and took a moment to look around. One would need a flashlight to do the cave justice. Frankly, it creeped me out a bit.

Not too far beyond the cave, the unofficial trail officially ended. This time, the decision to turn around was a no-brainer. A total of four hours of driving and four hours of hiking was so worth it. Let’s call it an escape valve.

Here’s to the first of many hikes in Arizona’s high country.