Sunset Crater National Monument

One of my favorite places to take visitors! The terrain hasn’t changed much in over 1000 years. Cool to explore! Highly recommend!

Sunset Crater is really a worthwhile stop, and I feel that my opinion of it may be colored by the fact that I have visited Lassen Volcanic, a far larger and more impressive volcano park. That said, of all the NPS sites we visited on this trip, Sunset Crater was my least favorite. It is beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but it also lies in close proximity to more impressive sites.
I should mention also that the price is much more than what past Unilocalers have stated: currently $ 20 for the seven-​day pass to Sunset and Wupatki. I heard much complaining about this in the visitor center, although it didn’t matter much to us, as we are annual pass holders.
If you’ve never experienced a lava flow before, then this is a must-​stop. The Lava Flow and Bonito trails take you right out onto the lava, and it is a spectacular site. These hikes are easily accessible right off the loop road. It is a disappointment, though, not to be able to hike on the volcano itself, though the road does take you right to the foot of the mountain. Once you have explored the small visitor’s center and hiked the lava flow, that’s pretty much it! There’s not a whole lot else to it.
If you have time to visit all three of the Flagstaff area monuments, then I would heartily recommend a trip to Sunset Crater. If, though, you only have time for one or two, then I would say this is the one to skip.
JUNIOR RANGERS: The workbook here is small but will take some time exploring the Visitor’s Center to complete. Also, it requires that you hike one of the lava trails and answer questions, so you might want to print it up in advance so that you can do the hike BEFORE going to the visitor’s center, and not have to drive out there and back. They will also let you complete the book on your way to Wupatki and take your oath there. Badge is a basic pin, and a Flagstaff Area Jr. Ranger patch is for sale.

Sunset Crater is a must see.
When it comes to road trips, I am a meticulous planner. For months I researched my cross country tip planning every little detail. But as Scottish Poet Robert Burns wrote in 1785: «But Mousie, thou art no thy lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best-​laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley,»
Unlike the next verse of Burn’s poem, the failure of my original plan didn’t lead to grief and pain, but instead led me to this amazing national monument that affected me significantly.
This may be the point in your review where you’re asking yourself what in the hell am I talking about, but if you bear with me, I will explain myself. I never expected I would see the Sunset Crater National Monument. What led me to this area was the prospect of an off-​road trail that just so happened to be across the road from the entrance to this park. For unknown reasons the off-​road trail was closed, so rather than waste such a long drive, I steered the Jeep to Sunset Crater. Looking back I thank my lucky stars that I ended up here.
After stopping at the visitor center, we stopped at the lava flows. As a lifelong resident of Louisiana, my only experience with lava had been when I splashed roux on my arm and it burned through my flesh like molten rock. Unlike the roux experience, this lava flow was truly life changing.
Words cannot accurately express just how awe inspiring the flow was. We were the only people for miles around and there we were walking the one mile trail through a nearly thousand year old lava flow. The evidence of just how violent that eruption was could be seen wherever we looked. Along the trail were trees that had been uprooted and burned. I could almost not believe what I was seeing. Next to the trail were large chunks of rock that had come from the side of a mountain that looked as if mother nature had peeled it open, dug at the solid rock core, and tossed giant boulders away from the mountain. Standing in that lava flow I was nearly overcome by emotion. It was that moving.
After the lava flow we drove along the road leading to the Wupakti National Monument. While the view wasn’t as moving as the lava flow itself, it ranks as some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever witnessed first hand.
If you’re in the area, or if you’re planning a road trip, I strongly encourage you to include this on your list of must see places.

This place is a good place for adventure, there is a campsite next to it (Bonito Campground) and for 20 minute drive there is the (Wupatki Nat’l Monument). Good for trail walking, bike riding and there is a Visitors Center to learn about the Volcanoes. Love it and we come as much as we can to enjoy Nature. Come and bring you family and friends…

Very cool. The walking area gives a good view of the lava flows. About 20 minutes past the crater are some cool pueblos. The scenery is very beautiful, lush green trees on the mounds of black ash from the volcano eruptions. As you get closer to the pueblos the vegitation changes and some red rock becomes visible. Just a beautiful place, glad it’s been preserved.

What a nice little excursion from Flagstaff! Just a half hour drive from town you get to the loop which includes Sunset National Monument and Wupatki National Monument. In the Sunset Crater National Monument there is a nice 1 mile walk/​hike where you can walk on the volcano. Really cool! Also, the loop drive itself is really beautiful! Absolutely worth the $ 5/​person fee!!!

Sunset Crater… the youngest volcano in the San Francisco Volcanic Field and a beautiful National Monument. If you want to experience volcanism up close, go here. You can walk on a lava flow and hike up a cinder cone (one of Sunset’s neighbors, Bonito maybe?), trek through the flows around Sunset, and finally drive out on a loop that runs right along the volcano itself. This is an «immersion» experience for sure. I loved it! It doesn’t hurt that Sunset and the SF Volcanic Field were the whole reason for my trip to Arizona in the first place… I’m just a little biased.
For sure, the quick but painful trip up the cinder cone was my favorite part. That elevation and the steep grade uphill is a killer, but the view was worth it! Sunset itself, just a short drive from there, is beautiful as well and the area abounds with new things to learn! If you’re lucky, you’ll meet a ranger or park volunteer who can tell you even more info from firsthand experience. For me, it was interesting to see the effect human activity has had on the crater over the years. It was a good call to close it off to hikers and roads.
This is a must-​see natural wonder in Flagstaff, for anyone who loves nature, history or science. For hikers: start with the mini-​hikes here, then head to SP Crater down the road for a challenging and unregulated lava flow hiking experience. You can’t beat the SF Volcanic Field for amazing cinder cones!

This was a fun hike. It’s easy. It’s different. It’s connected to a bunch of other sites in the park. Just go.

Was surprised interesting place. Walked around mile loop lava flow very surprising to see … should do…35 mile drive loop good… great distant views of painted dessert as drive down mountain. Indian ruins a must see. Little museum there had cool artifacts.

Pleasantly surprised by this nice little sojourn about thirty minutes outside of Flagstaff.
This cinder cone was formed over 900 years ago… Pretty crazy that it was such a short time ago!
There’s a nice 1 mile trail that leads around the outskirts of the lava flow. Take the unpaved trail that leads down to the lava flow, instead of the paved walkway up top. There’s a cool metal staircase that leads all the way down. Lots of photo opportunities. Be sure to bring good walking or hiking shoes. The thin air at this altitude will wear you out if you are out of shape (wink wink).

If you are anywhere near Flagstaff or the big friggin’ hole in the ground, take a side-​trip to this place. You must.
I didn’t do too much investigating before coming here, so I didn’t know exactly what to expect, other than a 35-​mile loop drive to another national monument – Wupatki. As I drove down the road, I started to see this huge, black mass on the other side of the pines. What the f — ? And I started to get pissed because there weren’t any pullouts. Soon enough I arrived at the parking area for the Lenox Crater and pulled over. So that’s what a lava flow looks like! The Bonito Lava Flow, to be precise. One of 2 lava flows that ejaculated from Sunset Crater.
Ever have a ‘holy shit!’ moment? I did here. I walked through a portion of the Bonito Lava Flow that some poor bastard carved through the lava. It was rather short, but toot sweet. I crossed the road and huffed and puffed my ass up the Lenox Crater cinder trail and made it to the top. You cannot hike the Sunset Crater anymore, but you can this one. I had some great views up there, and it’s interesting how life found out how to bypass the cinder and ash that Sunset spewed 1000 years ago. The backdrop of the San Francisco Peaks was incredible. Coming down was much more fun, and it really reminded me of the NW Indiana dunes that I grew up in.
I then hiked the Lava Flow Trail near the base of Sunset Crater. The bus tourists stayed on the paved path, but I descended into the flow itself and discovered some vents and fissures and just marveled at the beauty this unholy bitch spewed into the area. From here I noticed the scars on SC from hikers in the past. Hopefully the Hopi Spirit that lives in the crater will forgive those souls. There is also a wind god somewhere nearby, but he must have been taking a break.
You’d think the Hopi Spirit would have been all like, «Yo, White Boy! You, you paleface shit! Step the hell on out of here!» or some crap like that. But he was cool with me. Yep, this is easily the most spiritual place I have ever been to.
One cool fact I learned is how, even though the eruption displaced the local peeps, some took off north to the Wupatki Basin and created some awesome pueblos. And some of the ash may have actually helped their crops for future generations. So death creates life, in some respects. It did here.
Most of the area here is either lava flow or completely covered in cinder. Another flow heads northeast for miles, and you will see evidence of it as you take the road to Wupatki.
I would start the loop here, because as you near Wupatki you descend into the land with the distant view of the Painted Desert. You also travel through portions of the Navajo Nation, which is fenced off from the paleface population.
I came back here a few days later. That Hopi Spirit was calling me. Could have been the migraine medication talking, though. I camped near the base of SC that night in the national forest that borders the monument. If that wasn’t cooler than shit, than nothing is.
Oh, and Craig Y – you are actually not reviewing SC. You are reviewing Monument Crater. This place is $ 5 and much cooler.
…on towards Wupatki National Monument…

Uh-​mazing! If you’re in the Flagstaff area, you need to make a point of stopping here. I was expecting some barely-​visible, overgrown crater, but it is in fact a gi-​normous hole in the ground and is quite breath-​taking once you get out along the rim.
My only complaint is that is costs about $ 16 to get in. But the guided tour is informative, and they have a cool museum and lots of stuff on display. Definitely walk out back and down to the observation decks for another perspective on the crater after you’ve taken the guided 30 minute tour. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

We had an afternoon to kill following a conference in Flagstaff. We decided to take the family to Sunset Crater. I was really impressed. We hiked the short Lava Flow trail and it was really cool to see all of the unique formations from the lava. Both of my kids (7 and 4) were able to handle the walk. Although we did not have it, there is a small booklet in the visitor’s center that interprets the the trail. It is only $ 1 and includes information about numbered stops along the trail. It makes for an easy self-​guided tour.
When you combine this with the loop through Wupatki, it makes for a cheap ($ 10 for two adults, children free) yet entertaining afternoon.

Unlike the Grand Canyon, this was the highlight of our road trip through Arizona. It was made all the more amazing, because it was unexpected.
From Highway 89, we took the loop road through Wupatki National Monument and into Sunset Crater. The scenery was stunning through both places. We did not stop at Wupatki, but took the short trail through the lava rocks in Sunset Crater. We were both amazed that the Sunset cinder cone was so new. The lava rocks were amazing. Really recommend stopping here. We would have liked to squeeze in the hike up to the top of one of the cinder cones, but it was too hot and the kids were done.

Pretty cool trail that takes you along the black lava rocks. You cannot hike up and look down into the crater. Park ranger says that trail has been closed since the 30’s.
There is a $ 5 or $ 10 fee that you need to pay at the visitor station, and I suggest you get the Annual Pass for $ 80. The annual pass covers 2 adults, 2 kids and you can enter other sites such as GrandConyon, Walnut Creek, Wupatki Ruins and Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock.

There is no way to accurately describe how beautiful the Sunset Crater National Monument is. I’m glad that we decided to venture out while in Williams, AZ. It wasn’t a planned stop on our road trip to the Grand Canyon, but I’m so glad we stopped. We went early in the morning when they first opened so there wasn’t much road traffic. Williams and that whole area, although it’s a big tourist town, didn’t have super lots of traffic. Everyone was kind of laid back. We went around September and the weather was great. There was a bit of a chance of rain but that made the lighting on the sites within the monument all the more better. As I mentioned, it’s hard to describe it in words, you just have to see it. I don’t even think the fee to get in was that high, but it’s so worth it. Just beautiful. See the pics that are uploaded because they can give you a great impression of the whole experience!

Very cool National Monument. Definitely worth a trip from Phoenix or Flagstaff. The hike to the top of one of the craters is strenuous and short, so just do it. It’s good for you. Great views from the top and interesting topography throughout the park. There are lava rocks everywhere!
Other cool National Monuments in the Flagstaff area:
Walnut Canyon
Wupatki
Other cool National Monuments in the Sedona area:
Montezuma Castle
Tuzigoot
Montezuma Well

Not actually a crater, but a dome. Its really cool to hear the noise that your feet made as you walked through the area. Saw beautiful snow covered mountains, flowers, and views from the walk around the site.
A bit windy and don’t forget the sunscreen!

We were at the vista point for the cinder hills when the sun was starting to set. Although we could no longer see the sun from behind the volcano crater, it was one of the most majestic things I have ever seen.
It was 360 degrees of gorgeousness.
In the distance, to the east, you could see the Painted Desert, which as its name would imply, was like looking a perfectly painted landscape.
You turn in another direction and there are snow-​covered cinder hills looking just as picturesque. The dark, basaltic lava flow, composed of jagged rocks cuts a deep contrast with the white, powdery snow.
And then there’s the volcano crater itself — all shades of pink and purple in the disappearing golden light.
I would love to return in a week, during my winter break from school, to explore some more.
The wonderful ranger at the station on the way in was telling us about how she was from San Francisco and was working during a storm the previous night. «What the frak?!» she exclaimed as she told us about how unused to this much cold she was. She had such a cheery attitude for working on Thanksgiving. I loved her immediately.
Admission is $ 5 (or $ 6?) per person and it’s good for a week.

Great views, short hikes.
I decided to give this national park a shot since we had an extra day in Flagstaff.
I love rocks — so rocks created with super heated magma — sign me up!
The views were amazing, and the cute short hikes were fun!
Definitely worth a drive thru — 35 miles drive. Stop at a couple sites, see what there is to see and enjoy how the area came to be!
Support the national park system!