The Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve is an archaeological site and a nature preserve open to the public year-round, located in northeast
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Coconino County, Arizona, Coconino County in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2019, the city's estimated population was 75,038. Flagstaff's combined metropolitan area has ...
.
The preserve is used for educating the community about ecology, geology and archaeology along with general outdoor recreation.
History
Picture Canyon was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 10, 2008. The 478-acre preserve was purchased October 30, 2012 at a public auction on the steps of Coconino County Courthouse from the State Land Department by the City of Flagstaff for $4.8 million after several community groups rehabilitated the area and rallied decades for its protection. An agreement was made with the Wildcat Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant, located immediately south of the preserve, to provide a constant water source for the riparian habitat and wildlife. Reclaimed water is discharged into a pond which feeds the
Rio de Flag
The Rio de Flag, which has historically been known as the River de Flag and San Francisco river, is a river in Arizona that runs through Flagstaff, Arizona, Flagstaff, originating from the San Francisco Peaks before draining into the Little Colora ...
through a rugged geological canyon composed of basalt rock. Thousands of years ago, between 700 and 1300 AD, this area was home to the natives known as the Northern
Sinagua
The Sinagua were a pre-Columbian culture that occupied a large area in central Arizona from the Little Colorado River, near Flagstaff, to the Verde River, near Sedona, including the Verde Valley, area around San Francisco Mountain, and signifi ...
(people without water). Picture Canyon is named for the large density of
petroglyphs
A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions ...
created by the Sinagua located along the river. Hundreds of panels were created depicting archers, geometric shapes, and local animals like birds and turtles.
Trails and Natural Features
There are three trails within the preserve:
* ''Tom Moody Trail'' is a 2.8-mile outer loop within the preserve. An outdoor classroom with educational panels is located near the start of the trail. The southeast section of the trail initially runs parallel with the Rio De Flag and along the canyon walls where a visitor can view the waterfall within the preserve. Continuing northeast, after crossing the Rio De Flag Bridge, will bring a visitor to a waterbird petroglyph site.
* ''Don Weaver Trail'' is a 0.7-mile section connecting with the Tom Moody Trail to create a smaller loop and brings a visitor to the opposite side of the canyon walls for another view of the waterfall.
* ''Arizona Trail'' is a 1.5-mile section of the larger 800+ mile trail that spans from Mexico to Utah, and bisects the Tom Moody Trail.
Gallery
File:Picture Canyon Tom Moody Trail.jpg, Tom Moody Trail
File:Picture Canyon Rio De Flag.jpg, Don Weaver Trail
File:Picture Canyon Waterfall.jpg, Waterfall - view from Tom Moody Trail
File:Picture Canyon Rio De Flag Meadow.jpg, Meadow at the Rio De Flag bridge.
References
External links
{{Commons category
Friends of the Rio De Flag-Picture Canyon AcquisitionHike Arizona-Picture Canyon, FlagstaffAZCentral-Hike Picture Canyon, Flagstaff
Tourist attractions in Flagstaff, Arizona
Parks in Coconino County, Arizona
2012 establishments in Arizona