Sunset Crater is a cinder cone ringed by black lava fields, half an hour north of Flagstaff. The Lava Flow Trail loops around its base, and the loop road continues to the pueblos at Wupatki on the same $25 pass.
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TrailsSunset Crater Volcano · Photo: Mikesanchez1109 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Credits
Sunset Crater is the youngest volcano around Flagstaff. Its eruptions began around 1085, buried the homes of the people farming here and left the black lava flows and cinder fields you walk across today. The cinder cone itself is off limits; these trails take you across the lava around it.
Lava Flow Trail
Length1 mile loopWhat to expectAround the base of the volcano. The first 0.25 mile is a paved, accessible loop; dogs only on the paved partA'a Trail
Length0.25 mile round tripWhat to expectA short walk onto the rough a'a lavaBonito Vista Trail
Length0.3 mile round tripWhat to expectA short walk to a viewpointLava's Edge Trail
Length3.4 miles round tripWhat to expectThe longest trail, along the edge of a lava flow. Dogs only on the Forest Service section (2 miles round trip)Lenox Crater Trail
Length1.6 miles round tripWhat to expectClosed because of fire damageThe vehicle pass covers Sunset Crater and Wupatki for a week, so do both on one day or come back. If you're also going to Walnut Canyon, the $45 annual pass covers all three.
Head north on US-89 and turn onto the loop road. Sunset Crater comes first; Wupatki's pueblos are further along the 35-mile road.
This full-day tour from Flagstaff covers all three, with the entry fees included.
Canyon Ministries
One day covers the Grand Canyon, Wupatki's ancient pueblos and Sunset Crater Volcano, and entry fees to all three are included.
The operator runs it as a Christian tour.
From $189 on Viator
Check Prices & AvailabilitySunset Crater is about 18 miles from downtown on US-89, so the east side of town is the quickest start.
Little America FlagstaffEast Flagstaff and Route 66 9.8/10 on Expedia · 4,179 reviewsFree parkingPets: dogs and catsBreakfast extraCheck prices
Elden Trails Bed and BreakfastEast Flagstaff and Route 66 9.4/10 on Expedia · 124 reviewsFree parkingPets: 1 dog, up to 35 lbBreakfast includedCheck prices
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La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Flagstaff East I-40East Flagstaff and Route 66 8.6/10 on Expedia · 2,437 reviewsFree parkingPets: dogs and cats, up to 2, up to 75 lb eachBreakfast includedCheck pricesAbout 18 miles from downtown to the visitor center, roughly half an hour by car.
Around the year 1085. The eruptions displaced the people living in the area and buried their homes; their descendants still tell stories of it.
A cinder cone, which the Park Service calls a classic example of the type. Its lava filled two valleys around it up to a hundred feet deep.
In 1928 a film company planned to blast the cone with explosives for a landslide scene. Local people pushed to protect it, and President Herbert Hoover made it a national monument on May 26, 1930.
Not up the cone itself: off-trail hiking isn't allowed. The 1-mile Lava Flow Trail loops around its base.
Yes. The $25 vehicle pass covers both monuments for 7 days. Walnut Canyon has its own fee.
The roads and trails are open around the clock, but they can close for a while in winter weather. The visitor center is open daily from 9 am to 4:30 pm except on three holidays.
