Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is the slightly clumsy name given to an area northeast of Flagstaff containing the results of much igneous activity - several colorful cinder cones formed by extinct volcanoes, and large expanses of lava and ash. The dominant peak is Sunset Crater; as with the other cones it has distinctive dusky red-brown patches formed by oxidised iron and sulphur - this caused John Wesley Powell, who was the first modern-day explorer of the area in 1887, to name the mountain 'Sunset Peak'. The contrasting colors of the cinders provide the most striking aspect of the Monument but the buckled and twisted lava fields are also very dramatic.
Approach: The monument is reached by a side road off US 89 16 miles north of
Flagstaff; this road also passes through the
Wupatki National Monument before rejoining US 89 15 miles further north. Payment is $4 for private cars, made at the visitor center near the entrance - the fee gives access to both Monuments. There are interesting exhibits about vulcanism, and a seismograph which continually monitors earthquake activity around the world. The road at this point passes pine woodland with flower-filled meadows and distant volcanic hills.
Sunset Crater Map:
 PDF format map of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, from the National Park Service (64 kb).
Sunset Crater: Soon after the center the road passes one of three main expanses of lava in the area - the Bonita Lava Flow. There are some trails through the jagged black landscape but it is generally difficult to make progress due to the extremely sharp, uneven and brittle lava. Sunset Crater itself is a mile further; it is no longer possible to climb the 1,000 foot cone since the trail to the summit was closed in 1974 to prevent excessive erosion, but there is a very good loop path around the lava formations at the foot of the volcano.
Nature Trail: The path passes features such as an ice cave - this contains permanent ice all year and so has refreshingly cool air emerging, but the trips that used to be offered into the cave are currently suspended. There are also small canyons formed by the collapse of lava tubes, where molten magma continued to flow beneath a solidified crust, and several spatter cones - these are small subsidiary lava vents. The vegetation is sparse - mainly scattered pine trees, many of which are dead due to an unstable root base and lack of water; the area is generally quite desolate and looks as if the eruption occurred very recently although it actually happened in 1065, with some lesser activity over the following 200 years.
Lenox Crater: Other nearby cones have the same distinctive rusty color, and some can be climbed for example Lenox Crater, west of Sunset Crater - there is a steep half mile path through pine trees to the rim of the crater on top, from which many other cinder cones can be seen towards the south. The park road continues east,beyond the official Monument boundary and past other volcanic areas - land which is part
of the Coconino National Forest and so camping is allowed free of charge.
Strawberry Crater: The elevation of the land around Sunset Crater is high - the tallest peak is 8,916 feet - but after about 10 miles the road descends 2,000 feet towards the Wupatki National Monument, at the edge of the Painted Desert; before the drop there is a viewpoint from which it is possible to see many miles towards the relatively flat and barren land in the northeast of Arizona; also, the largest lava flow in the area may be seen, around Strawberry Crater to the north. There is a road leading to this crater but high clearance vehicles are required. Shortly west of the Desert view, there are a few side roads to the right that lead to ideal camping sites, right amongst the black ash landscape and close to several cinder cones.
Hotels: The nearest town with hotels close to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is Flagstaff.
Satellite Photo/Map: View above Sunset Crater:
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