Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Here, past meets present. Pueblos and cliff dwellings are so well preserved that it's hard to believe their builders moved on 700 years ago. Amid lava and cinders, one can imagine a landscape still hot to the touch. Welcome to the Flagstaff Area National Monuments!

There is something for everyone: prehistoric cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon, the mountain scenery and geology of Sunset Crater Volcano, and the painted desert landscape and masonry pueblos of Wupatki National Monument.

Ancient Indians undoubtedly witnessed the eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano in A.D.1064-1065 which blanketed the region with black cinder. Today the volcano's rim of red cinders and the lava flows near the cone seem to have cooled and hardened to a jagged surface only yesterday. Squeeze-ups and hornitos are just two of the fascinating volcanic features you'll encounter while exploring the park. To protect this fragile resource, Sunset Crater Volcano is closed to climbing and hiking. However, other cinder cones in the area may be climbed.

Sunset Crater Volcano is often confused with another nearby attraction, Meteor Crater. At Sunset Crater Volcano you will see a cinder cone rising 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. Meteor Crater, located 35 miles east of Flagstaff on I-40, is an impact crater measuring over 500 feet deep and 1 mile across.

Flagstaff Area National Monuments - SUCR
6400 N. Hwy 89
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
928-526-0502 - Visitor Information
928-526-1157 - Visitor Information, HQ

By Plane
Nearest airport is located in Flagstaff, AZ.

By Car
From Flagstaff, take U.S 89 noeth for 12 miles (19km), turn right on the Sunset Crater - Wupatki Loop road and continue 2 miles (3km) to the visitor center.

By Plane
For additional information on transportation services contact the Flagstaff Visitor Center at 1-800-842-7293

Getting Around
Lava Flow Trail is a 1-mile (1.6km) loop trail with a 1/4 mile (500m) cutoff. It is a self-guided trail exploring a variety of volcanic formations.

Use extreme caution hiking on lava - it is sharp, brittle, and unstable.

The Lenox Crater Trail provides an opportunity to climb a cinder cone. This steep trail is 1-mile (1.6km) round trip and requires about 30 minutes up and 15 minutes down!

Be prepared for abrupt weather changes in any season. Expect windy conditions most of the year. Spring is usually mild, but heavy snowfall can occur. Summer days are warm with temperatures in the 80s. Afternoon thunderstorms are likely July to September. In winter, snow and freezing temperatures alternate with mild weather.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Camping
• Educational Programs
• Hiking

Recommended Activities
Hike one of the two trails or stop and take in a program given by park rangers. Allow at least 1 hour to stop at the Visitor Center and hike the Lava FLow Trail. To hike the Lenex Crater cinder cone allow an additional 45 minutes.

Lava Flow Trail is a 1-mile (1.6km) loop trail with a 1/4 mile (500m) cutoff. It is a self-guided trail exploring a variety of volcanic formations.

Use extreme caution hiking on lava - it is sharp, brittle, and unstable.

The Lenox Crater Trail provides an opportunity to climb a cinder cone. This steep trail is 1-mile (1.6km) round trip and requires about 30 minutes up and 15 minutes down!