We visited four amazing national monuments on July 11th. All were very unique and within a 50 mi radius of each other; Montezuma Castle and Well, Walnut canyon and Sunset Crater Volcanic park. So glad the park ranger at Shenandoah suggested we buy a park pass. its already paid for itself and we're not yet halfway through the trip!
At Sunset crater you can follow the flow of the lava from the volcano that erupted 1000 years ago. The mountain behind Mark is still covered in ash with a few pines starting to poke through. The aspens appear to grow right out of the rocks.
It actually looks like huge soft piles of manure everywhere, but its actually solid and very sharp edged rock. 
The Ponderosa pines are magnificent! More lava flow below.
This is Walnut Canyon, a place where Ancient people built cliff dwellings. The holes in the canyon walls behind Mark and I are where the Sinagua people lived from about 1100-1250. These cultures tended to continue migrating, never staying in the same place. Whether due to assimilating with other cultures, a significant weather change or astrological sign, or due to sickness or disease, can only be speculated. 
The dead trees in some of these parks are 100's of years old. The Arizona Cyprus actually becomes a conductor after its dead. It holds a lot of moisture and when it gets hit by lightening explodes and mists the surrounding area preventing fires.
Arizona Sycamores- some span 120' at the top.
Montezuma castle and cave dwellings. These people were ingenious, utilizing a natural depression in a cliff wall to create a home that was cool in summer, warm in winter, well above flood levels, and already had three sides and a roof!
breathtaking. absolutely stunning.
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