Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Nestled in the high desert of Flagstaff, Arizona, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is a captivating destination where ancient volcanic eruptions transformed the landscape, creating dramatic black lava fields, colorful cinder cones, and panoramic views of surrounding peaks. Pull over to explore the unique trails and scenic views while learning about the area’s natural and cultural history at this national monument.

Sunset Crater was formed around 1085 AD, when a series of volcanic eruptions altered the landscape, leaving behind a nearly 1,000-foot tall cinder cone that dominates the horizon. The fiery eruption covered the surrounding area in ash and cinders, giving rise to the rugged terrain that remains today. The monument preserves this geological wonder, allowing visitors to walk on ancient lava flows, see jagged rock formations up close, and learn how the landscape continues to shape the region’s culture and ecology.

The unique volcanic landscape provides endless photography opportunities, including unusual lava formations and cinder cones. Watch for local wildlife, such as birds, lizards, elk, deer, coyotes, bobcats, and small mammals, especially in the early morning or late afternoon.

While the trail up to the vent was closed in the 1970s to protect it from damage from hikers, several other easy to moderate trails allow visitors to spend time admiring and appreciating the landscape. Here’s everything to see at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Stops and Trails at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Visitor Center

Begin your journey into the park at the visitor center, where you’ll find exhibits about the volcano’s eruption, the area’s geology, and its cultural significance to the Native American tribes. Pick up maps, get information from rangers, and learn about the volcanic activity that shaped the landscape.

Lava Flow Trail

The Lava Flow Trail is a must-do when visiting Sunset Crater. This one-mile loop takes you through a remarkable lava field where you can walk amid hardened rivers of black lava and see the cinder cone up close. The trail features interpretive signs that explain the formation of the lava flows and the cinder cones, giving you a deeper understanding of the volcanic activity that shaped this landscape.

• Distance: 1 mi (1.6 km) loop
• Time: 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy.

Bonito Vista Trail

The Bonito Vista Trail is an easy trail that offers a quick yet impactful glimpse of the volcanic landscape. This paved, 0.3-mile path provides fantastic views of the Bonito Lava Flow, the Sunset Crater Volcano, and the expansive cinder fields around it.

• Distance: 0.3 mi (0.5 km) round-trip
• Time: 20 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy, Accessible

Lenox Crater Trail

For those seeking a bit more adventure, the Lenox Crater Trail is a moderate-to-strenuous hike that leads to the top of Lenox Crater, a smaller cinder cone formed by the same eruptions that created Sunset Crater. This 1.6-mile round-trip trail rewards hikers with panoramic views of the San Francisco Peaks, Sunset Crater, and surrounding volcanic landscape.

• Distance: 1.6 mi (2.6 km) round-trip
• Time: 1.5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

A’a Trail

Named after the rough and jagged A’a lava, this 0.2-mile trail provides an up-close view of volcanic rock that looks like it was freshly erupted. This short but informative trail offers interpretive signs that describe the different types of lava found in the area, giving visitors a close look at the sharp, chunky formations that add an otherworldly feel to the landscape.

• Distance: 0.25 mi (0.3 km) round-trip
• Time: 15 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

Lava’s Edge Trail

Take a long hike under ponderosa pines, over loose cinders, and through rough basalt along the jagged edge of the Bonito Lava Flow.

• Distance: 3.4 mi (5.5 km) round-trip
• Time: 2.5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Your entrance fee to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument includes admission to nearby Wupatki National Monument. Travel between them on the Sunset Crater-Wupatki Scenic Loop Drive, a 35-mile loop that takes you from the volcanic landscape of Sunset Crater to the red sandstone ruins of Wupatki National Monument. The drive offers scenic viewpoints, trailheads, and pullouts for exploring both sites.

The Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is open every day. The visitor center is open daily from 9:00am to 4:30pm, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The roads and trails are open 24/7, with occasional closures for fire season or winter weather. Entrance fees are $20.00 per passenger vehicle, $15.00 per motorcycle, or $10.00 per cyclist or pedestrian. The fee includes entrance to Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument for 7 days.

Photos of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Flagstaff, Arizona

Plan Your Arizona Road Trip

Planning an Arizona road trip to see Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and all the best roadside attractions in Arizona? Plan your road trip with these road trip resources, road trip planning articles, and Route 66 road trip planners.

Roadside Attractions Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument