Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument – Flagstaff, Arizona

Sunset Crater National Monument is a small National Monument just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, and features old lava flows and a 1000-foot cinder cone. While you cannot go up to the crater or volcano, you can enjoy the volcanic landscape views and hike trails that traverse old lava flows. Sunset Crater National Monument and Wupakti National Monument share the same 34-mile loop drive right off I-89, so you can easily visit both on your trip. For now, we’ll cover Sunset Crater National Monument.

Overview: Sunset Crater National Monument

Sunset Crater is the smallest volcano among the San Francisco Volcanic Field, and it erupted in 1085. Ancestral Puebloan people were living nearby in pithouses and were able to evacuate the area before the, thanks to a series of intense earthquakes occurring before the eruption.

The eruption covered 64,000 acres in volcanic ash, ruining farmlands and destroying pithouses. They relocated over to the nearby Wupaki and Walnut Canyon areas. During the eruption, the liquid rocks solidified as they cooled in the air and formed cinders as they reached the ground. These cinders piled up, creating and shaping the Sunset Crater cinder cone as we can see it today.

Fees: Sunset Crater National Monument charges $25 per vehicle. You will have access to both Sunset Crater National Monument and Wupatki National Monument. Otherwise, your National Park “America the Beautiful” annual pass is accepted here.

Visitor Services: There are visitor centers for Sunset Crater National Monument and Wupakti National Monument, but there are no other services along the entire 34 mile route.

Operating Season & Hours: Sunset Crater National Monument is open 24/7, but the visitor center is closed Christmas Day and New Years Day. This area is in higher elevation and does see snow during the winter months.

Location – Sunset Crater National Monument

As mentioned before, Sunset Crater National Monument shares the same road as Wupatki National Monument, and your entrance fee will cover both units. It’s a nice drive and will take about a 1/2 day to see both National Monuments. Typically, if you’re arriving from Flagstaff, you’ll visit the lava flows and view the cinder cone of Sunset Crater first, and then drive on to explore Wupatki National Monument.

Sunset Crater National Monument is located about 15 miles north on I-89 of Flagstaff, Arizona. You will see signs for the turnoff for the scenic drive to the park.

Where to stay when visiting Sunset Crater National Monument

Sunset Crater National Monument offers one campground inside the park (Bonito Campground), so if camping is your thing, you might want to stay here. Otherwise, nearby Flagstaff has all kinds of traditional lodging options.

We stayed in Flagstaff at the Country Inn and Suites, which was great.

What to do in Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

There are two things to do here – hike and drive the scenic route.

Here are the main trails in the park – all of the trailheads can be accessed from the main route of the park.

A’a Trail:
This is the short hike we did. It’s only .25 miles round trip and you’ll get an up close look at the sharp black lava rocks that formed as the Bonita Lava flow cooled.

A’a is Hawaiian for “stony rough lava.”

Lenox Crater Trail
A 1.6 mile loop trail with roughly 250ft of elevation gain. This is a dirt trail that takes you to views of the Sunset Crater, Bonito Lava Flow, O’Leary Peak. The overlook at the top will reward you with views of the San Francisco mountains. It’ll take you about 30-40 minutes for this hike.

Lava Flow Trail:
Another easy .8 mile round trip walk next to the lava flow. The trail is mostly paved the entire way (it’s basically a sidewalk) so it wheelchair accessible, but there are a few dirt spots, so you may want to wear sneakers rather than flip flops.

Bonito Vista Trail:
Another wheelchair/stroller-accessible trail. The Bonito Vista trail is only .3 miles and is paved the entire way, offering a great view of the Bonita Lava flow.

Lava’s Edge Trail:
This is the longest trail here, clocking in at 3.4 miles round trip. This trail takes you along the edge of the Bonita Lava flow. Pets are allowed on a portion of this trail (the part that crosses over to the nearby National Forest).

Enjoy the scenic drive:

If you don’t feel up for hiking, that’s fine too – you can still get a good look at the black volcanic rock from the pullouts and get a great view of the Sunset Crater itself. The Cinder Hills Overlook is at the back of the park, roughly 4 miles past the visitors center. Here, you’ll get an excellent view of the Sunset Crater. Additionally, this is where you can get a photo of the park entrance sign!

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument – Final Thoughts:

This is a nice but small National Monument that’s very convenient if you’re in the Flagstaff area. It won’t take you long to visit, even if you stop to hike some of the trails — they’re all so short! However, if you’ve visited other volcanoes or lava fields (like Craters of the Moon National Monument, New Mexico’s Valley of Fire, or Lassen Volcanic National Park) you may walk away disappointed.

Pros:

• Entrance fee also covers Wupatki National Monument
• Lots of accessible hiking trails – everyone can enjoy this place!
• Placards on the hiking trails so you know what you’re looking at.
• Easy to add to your itinerary if you’re visiting the Grand Canyon.

Cons:

• You can’t get close to the Sunset Crater. You can only view it.
• Not as extensive as other volcanic sites, like Craters of the Moon National Monument.

Have you visited Sunset Crater National Monument? Leave your thoughts in the comments!