6400 North Hwy 89, Ste 3, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Phone: 520-526-0502 or 520-526-1157
Fax: 520-714-0565
Open All Year
Overview. In the shadow of the lofty San Francisco Peaks, sacred to the Hopi as the home of the kachina, lies Sunset Crater Volcano. Dormant for a mere 700 years, Sunset Crater Volcano is the youngest volcano in the San Francisco Volcanic Field. This field lies north of Flagstaff, AZ, and began erupting 10 million years ago. The Sinagua lived here until the earth opened and fountains of lava ash began spewing forth during the winter of A.D. 1064-65. Sunset Crater Volcano remained active for over one hundred years, leaving the thousand-foot cone we see today. Explorer and surveyor John Wesley Powell, impressed by the vivid sunset hues caused by iron- and sulfur-rich cinders near the cone's summit, referred to it as "Sunset" in 1885. Before the eruptions ended, the displaced Sinagua settled with other groups to the north of Sunset Crater Volcano. The remains of their cooperative effort can be seen at Wupatki National Monument, linked to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument by a 35-mile loop road through the scenic desert landscape. What to see and do. A stop by the visitor center will introduce you to the geologic forces that shaped Sunset Crater Volcano and the entire San Francisco Volcanic Field that surrounds it. A video presentation explains the mechanics of a volcanic eruption, and a seismograph monitors earth movements worldwide. Check the posted park schedule for information about talks and other park activities planned for your visit. The one-mile-long Lava Flow Trail winds around the Bonito Lava Flow, past bizarre volcanic formations such as lava bubbles, fumaroles, lava tubes, and squeeze-ups, and introduces you to both jagged 'a'a and smooth, ropey pahoehoe lava. Hiking on Sunset Crater Volcano itself is not allowed; its steep, cindery slopes are slippery and easily damaged. If you want to hike up a cinder cone, take the short, steep trail up the side of Lenox Crater. The trail rises 280 feet to the rim of the crater, and will take you a minimum of 30 minutes to complete. There is no camping in the national monument. A small U.S. Forest Service campground is located near the visitor center. Call 520-526-0866 for camping information. Flagstaff, only 15 miles south, provides lodging, dining, and other services. Sunset Crater Volcano and the ruins at Wupatki are well worth visiting as you make your way from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon. The visitor centers for both monuments are open year-round, from 9 AM to 5 PM, with extended hours possible during the summer months. Both centers are closed on Christmas. Pets: Leashed pets are only permitted in parking areas. Fees: A nominal entrance fee is charged.
| Activities and Services |
 |
| • |
Geological Sites |
|
| • |
Gift Shop |
|
| • |
Guided Tours |
|
| • |
Hiking/Nature Trails |
|
| • |
Museum/Exhibits |
|
| • |
Picnic Sites |
|
| • |
Programs/Talks |
|
| • |
Self-guided Tours |
|
| • |
Visitor Center |
|
| • |
Wildflower Viewing |
|
| • |
Wildlife Viewing |
|
Search All National Parks
Please call ahead to confirm details. We do our best to give you current information, but facts can change. Please let us know if you find something's changed.
|
