Picture Canyon Natural & Cultural Preserve

Overview

Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve is a beautiful canyon with great trails, located within city limits at 3920 N El Paso Flagstaff Rd. In addition to significant Northern Sinagua petroglyphs and other cultural resources, an agreement with the nearby Wildcat Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant ensures a year-long water source, providing critical riparian habitat for wildlife and songbirds, as well as Flagstaff's only waterfall!

The City of Flagstaff acquired the 478-acre Preserve from the Arizona State Land Department in 2012 with funding from the 2004 voter-approved Open Space bond and a Growing Smarter Grant from Arizona State Parks. The acquisition of Picture Canyon provides a natural place for members of the Flagstaff community to learn about ecology, geology, and archaeology, while participating in outdoor recreation.

Check out our brochure (PDF), trail map (PDF), and Picture Canyon Self-Guided Tour to learn more about the Preserve's resources and trail system. View images from Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve. There is more information about the history of Picture Canyon (PDF).

Plateau Magazine

In 2014-2015, the Museum of Northern Arizona published its beautiful Plateau magazine featuring Picture Canyon-People, Petroglyphs and Place, including details about the ecology, archaeology, and history of the Preserve (Vol. 8, nos. 1 and 2). Unfortunately, this issue is out of print, but you may be able to purchase it from the Museum bookstore, or online.

Directions

The address is 3920 N El Paso Flagstaff Rd in Flagstaff AZ. From I-40:

Take exit 201 (Hwy 89 N Page, Country Club). If coming from the west, turn left onto Country Club Blvd; if coming from the east, turn right onto Country Club Boulevard
At the intersection with U.S. 180/US 89, turn left
At the next traffic light, turn left onto W Historic Route 66
In 1.8 miles, turn left onto El Paso Flagstaff Road
You will see a sign for the Wildcat Water Treatment Plant. Stay on this road, which curves to the right around the water treatment plant property. Parking is at the end of the road on the right.

From Walnut Canyon, take Walnut Canyon Road/Old Route 66 west, back towards Flagstaff. In 5.8 miles, turn right onto El Paso Flagstaff Road.

Recreation

Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve is a great place to hike, mountain bike, horseback ride, photograph the natural environment, watch wildlife, experience fall colors, and discover cultural resources, including petroglyphs.

The Preserve is free and open to the public year round. There is a portable toilet available at the trailhead. Please "pack it in, pack it out!"

Picture Canyon is designated an Arizona Watchable Wildlife Experience Site and a Northern AZ Audubon Site given the number of mammals and birds that call Picture Canyon home. The Arizona Trail also runs through Picture Canyon.

Please follow proper cultural resource etiquette as well as state and federal laws. Do not deface the 1,000-year-old ruins or petroglyphs, or remove artifacts from the Preserve.

To learn more about the plants found in the Preserve, view our plant list (PDF). You can download a geo-referenced map of the trail system to your smart phone.

Trail Information

Trail Name	Distance	Important Information
Don Weaver	0.7 miles	Provides views of the inner canyon and lush riparian area, and includes Pit House ruins and Petroglyph Overlook. Some elevation change required climbing out of the canyon.
Tom Moody Loop	2.8 miles	An outer loop around the entire Preserve, including the main "Water Bird" petroglyph site. Relatively flat trail.
Arizona Trail (within Preserve)	1.5 miles	A segment of the 800+ mile trail that connects Mexico and Utah. Trail is easy to distinguish and there is little change in elevation in this portion.

Upcoming Events

Open Space Working Group meeting Wednesday 11/8/2023 10am at Picture Canyon. We'll hike some of the Tom Moody trail to check out the trail restoration work that's been done. Join us to learn more about Flagstaff's Open Spaces and our current projects!

To stay up to date with events, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/flagstaffPROSE, or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/flagstaffprose/

Lost and Found

If you've lost something at Picture Canyon, we may have found it! Email Sylvia Struss or call 928-213-2328.

Regulations

Hunting, fishing, woodcutting, or motorized vehicles are not allowed within the Preserve. Do not climb on the Canyon walls or swim in the Rio de Flag. "Pack it in, Pack it out." Please, please, PLEASE protect the petroglyphs--do not scratch on the boulders or climb on them...Native American ancestors created them and they are sacred. Thank you!