What a hidden gem and not busy at all! A huge site to see and experience as a family So worth it to spend the time and do the loop Started from the sunset crater side, and went through to the Wupatki ruins Having a national Park pass is definitely a benefit and we paid for the year, but paid for it self in three excursions!! read more

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I spent a few hours here admiring the views and hiking the Lava Flow Trail (the park's signature trail) and the Lenox Crater Trail. There's no trail that actually goes up Sunset Crater, as it would heavily erode the crater and then it would be no more! There's a placard that shows a photo of the crater before it was closed to visitors - there were so many scars from trails criss-crossing the sides, marring the crater. So, it had to be closed. You can still get your dose of enjoyment by hiking Lenox Crater Trail. Both trails were well marked and enjoyable - the Lava Flow Trail is partially paved. The visitor center is teeming with information about the geology of the area, and how plant succession is shaping the area, even though the crater erupted a thousand years ago. If you're visiting here, I would highly recommend stopping by at Walnut Canyon and Wupatki for an awesome day. read more

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Fun stop for a short walk to explore this area. Nice lookouts. $25 parking. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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Quite an easy trail to see lava field, we took the Lava Flow Trail and were amazed by the views of lava field and the landscape surrounding it. Three stars because you can't hike to the crater and walk around the rim of the crater. read more

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Did you know there's a volcano in Flagstaff, Az? Amazing. It eruped about 1,000 years ago. The indigenous people felt small earthquakes and took heed of it which faired well for them, they were right, it blew. They had moved far enough away to be safe but still witness the volcanic eruption. To this day you can walk on the black ash of the eruption. read more

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Part of our America the Beautiful Pass, we were able to avoid paying the $25 entry- we stopped at the visitor's center to obtain a map for exploring the various trails- We decided to opt into walking the Lava Flow trail, then into the Leonox Crater loop- The views were outstanding, a different beauty of AZ, compared to the red rocks we had been hiking earlier in the week- the forest's destruction, the slow regrowth over the years- it was fascinating to see & learn about via signage along the trails- They were all easy walks, incline along the Leonox Crater, but nothing vigorous- Overall worth the visit read more

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January's great weather allowed us to explore Sunset Crater. Stop at the visitor center first. Lean about history of the land and people. Pick up a map with hiking trails through the lava fields. You cannot hike to the top of the crater. read more

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This was super cool! There are lots of nice hikes both longer ones and more accessible ones. The rangers and staff are super friendly and helpful. My friend and I noted how unique the experience was walking through the lava rock fields and seeing the beautiful vistas. Definitely worth a stop to check out! read more

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

Wonderful place to visit if you are in the Flagstaff area! Had no idea there was ever a volcano in Arizona. read more

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Mountains - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

I was driving through Flagstaff and made a stop here at Sunset Crater National Monument. It is one of three national monuments in the area. Sunset Crater is a great stop if you want to see lingering effects of volcanic activity in Northern Arizona. Years back, lava flowed from this volcano and produced a layer of ash and lapilli in the area. The crater itself is black in color with a red rim and stands 1,120 feet. Today the Sunset Crater Volcano is extinct. I enjoy hiking whenever I visit national parks and monuments and wanted to do some hiking here despite the snow. You can't hike up to the crater anymore because of erosion caused by hikers over the years. But you can hike the one-mile self-guided loop trail around the base of the crater. I ended up doing that and enjoyed my time looking at lichen on the rocks and the plant life in the area. There is a nice visitor center at the entrance. The Tunnel Fire burned over this entire area in 2022. The Monument reopened about a year later but the Lenox Crater Trail still remains closed. Lava's Edge Trail is a hike along the jagged edge of the Bonito Lava Flow. After you are done exploring Sunset Crater, head up the road and check out Wupatki National Monument where you can see several ancient Native American dwellings. read more

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Worth a stop to take pic of sunset crater and the visitor center has ton of info about volcanoes in the area. Also don't forget to get your little one their Jr ranger booklet. There were trails to hike but we were unable to due to time constraints and my mom who can't walk too far. read more

All of my years coming to Flagstaff and this my my first time at Sunset Crater. What a site to see in person. From vast pine trees to trails carved around the volcanic rock. It was beautiful to see the bits of red where new trees are seeding. There are so many trails to check out and the ride through is beautiful. We passed an area to camp inside as well.While short I did love the A'a Trail. It really gives you an idea how fast the flow was. Bring good shoes and the lava rock is pretty jagged. The sand is a bit hard to walk through. Hiking shoes preferably, but can be done in vans like me in some area. Just use caution. read more

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

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This was the beginning of a long loop 2 lane road of learning about volcanoes in Arizona and the native Indians that occupied the land before and after. The eruptions are thought to last more than a year. The ash fallout went for Miles. And yet the Hopi and Zuni survived 1000 years ago. The volcanic activity is equal to Maui or mt. st. Helen's or Pompeii. Devastating. read more

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Beautiful small monument dedicated to the previous existing volcano. Last active around 1200 AD. There is a nice large trail snaking around the lava that's now solid. Recently a forest fire made some parts look more char than usual. There are campgrounds in the park. Cute visitor center with lots of info. Small amounts of gift items though, no t shirts?!? Please expand the gift shop! read more

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

Beautiful area! Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument has plenty of views besides the crater itself. There are a number of easily accessible viewpoints along the road that provide great views of the San Francisco mountains, the centuries-old lava flow, and the general terrain. I would definitely recommend this monument for fans of beautiful views. read more

We were here many years ago and to be honest I forgot most of what we saw in the 90's. We were surprised to learn of the massive forest fire that hit this area last spring. I don't recall reading about it but then again the west has suffered from many fires in recent years. We did a number of small hikes along some newer paths that were all paved and very nice. The signage was very educational. The fires have closed a number of hiking paths so there is not much hiking to be done at this time. It is lucky that all of the fires spared the visitor center. I really liked all of the information on how they used the lava flows to train NASA astronauts for the moon. It was interesting to see how the crater cone has slowly recovered over the last 50 years since they stopped people from climbing it. Overall worth a detour if you are in the area visiting the Grand Canyon. read more

We did the driving loop. It's about 30mins apart driving. $25 entrance fee per car and you can enter through Sunset Crater entrance or Wupatki entrance. The Sunset Crater Volcano opens 24/7 and the Wupatki entrance is from sunrise to sunset. We went to Sunset Crater Volcano first. Visitor center is closed but it's open for restrooms. Bring your passport to get your passport stamps! They have 3 types of stamps that you can stamp yourself. Next we followed the path to the crater parking lot. Another set of restrooms here but it's the built in portable ones and not as clean. We parked and followed the paved path along the Lava Flow Trail. It says 1 mile loop but we didn't do the entire loop and just went out to the overlook and back. Try to tap into the energy and meditate. I felt an overwhelmed of sadness and anxiety here. But on the flip side through all the black charcoal background, there are signs of life and colorful wildflowers growing. Truly an amazing place and full of history. Stayed here for about 15 mins then drove 30 mins along the loop to Wupatki, stayed there for 15 mins then took the loop back and exited where we came from to stay off the busy highway. You must see both and it's handicap accessible with the paved and dirt walkway for both. There are no food eateries, gas stations, or hang out spots. The nice restrooms are at the Visitor Center at both places and the portable ones at both parking lots. read more

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Beautiful and serene. There are a few short trails in this area. We asked a volunteer which trail we should do (if we only had time to do one) and he recommended the Lava Flow Trail. There's a paved area (for wheelchair access) as well as a longer trail. It ends up being a mile or so total. It was an easy and lovely stroll. We were national monument hopping so we decided to skip the next recommended trail (Lenox Crater Trail) in the interest of time. It didn't sound like it was all that different or had anything particularly unique to offer. I'm sure it's also lovely so if you're spending more time here, you should totally check it out. Overall, this is a quick visit so paying the high admission fee ($25) seems less than ideal. I highly recommend buying the annual pass but there might also be a discount if you're visiting all the national monuments in the area. I recommend checking out all the local ones, if you have the time. Both Wupatki and Walnut Canyon are great stops. If I had to choose one, I'd recommend Walnut Canyon (it's beautiful and fascinating). read more

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

We visited on a weekday and had the visitor center and trail nearly to ourselves. The displays in the visitor center were very informative as were the staff. My kids loved the junior ranger activities and learned a lot. This is a great stop if you're staying in Flagstaff. read more

Another gem to visit if you're in the Flagstaff area. There is a nice visitors center that gives you an overview. Then there are various trails to hike. We went to a beautifully paved trail. That trail gave us spectacular views of lava fields and valleys. We veered off on a trail that took us down into the lava and then joined up with the main trail again. Beautiful scenery. read more

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Two primary sections. The southern entrance has two to three short trails in the lava overflow area. Dark crusted earth in contrast to the snowy mountains. Note there is NO access to the actual Sun Crater. You can view it at the base from afar at a viewing platform. The northern section is 20 plus miles away. A drive through barren land until you near the second visitor center. The Wupatki trail has one of the largest well preserved villages I have encountered. If you stop by the desk, they give you a map of numbered sections of interest. The other pueblos are not as interesting. A lot of driving if you want to do both and prepare for lots of sun exposure, so start early if attempting both spots. read more

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

Sunset crater is about 25 mins north of downtown Flagstaff and we gave it a go. It's a $25 entrance fee which is good for all the national parks or $80 for 1 year unlimited entrance. If you decide not to do the $80 then you can put your $25 entrance fee towards it within the 7 days which is neat. The trails are clean and lots of little information signs along the trail. You are not able to drive up to the actual crater as there was too much wear and tear on it. It's still a beautiful place to learn about history and see all the lava rock and petrified land. The cinder hills are located here as well so you can take your ATVs or can-am out and camp as well. Beautiful park and we will make it back soon! read more

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I didn't even know that this place existed until recently, so we decided to make the trip up to check it out. In February, the weather was pretty nice which allowed us to get out and walk around. It was a Friday, so it wasn't very crowded either. We spent about 2-3 hours here. As we entered the area, we stopped at the visitors center to use the restrooms and take a look around. Due to COVID, the "museum" section is closed but the store is still open. Only 3 people are allowed inside at one time. Staff are wearing masks and there is plexiglass separating you from behind the register. The restrooms are nice, but only one person is allowed in at a time (unless you are traveling together). There are stalls inside. I believe we did the lavas edge trail, which was a pretty mild hike (if you're like me and hiking isn't your thing, you'll be fine). It was as fun though and provided some nice views. There is also a small loop (Lava Flow trail?) that is paved above the rest of the trail for those who may be unable to do the larger loop. There was a guide at this trail who was able to answer questions and point you in the right direction if you needed anything. We have a National park pass that allows us to get into national monuments as well, so for us the trip was totally worth it. I'm not sure what the price is to enter if you don't have a pass, but others have mentioned that it's $25 per car which may feel a bit steep if you only walk one or two trails. However, they need money to preserve the area so I also can understand. Either way, we enjoyed our trip, although I'm not sure I would need to return again. read more

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Driving from the desert side, we looped into the black sand and rocks with a touch of yellow grasses of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. This 34.5 miles point-to-point trail and scenic drive is surrounded by the Coconino National Forest. * Not only were we amazed of the transition between the two parks but the piles of lava remains is unbelievable! We hiked the easy A'a Trail (a Hawaiian word for "stony rough lava") and the moderate Lava Flow Trail with rough and loose surfaces that loops across the base of Sunset Crater Volcano. These two trails are the best hiking trails to explore if you can only do short hikes at Sunset Crater. They are open year-round with great campsites. Note that the lava rock is sharp and brittle so be careful. * We liked it here; the landscape captures your imagination with its unique and violent geologic history. We spent our sweet time walking the trails, enjoying the scenery - felt like you're in a different planet! * For more outdoor adventures, follow @Bodintures read more

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This place is cool af. You pay $25 admission and get access to both Sunset Crater and Wiupatki National Monuments for seven days. Sunset Crater is a volcano that erupted over 1000 years ago. Walking amongst the ash on the hiking trails was unlike anything I've ever seen before. Most of the hikes are fairly easy but I wouldn't consider them wheelchair or stroller friendly. There is one paved trail that would be appropriate - the lava flow trail. There is parking, as well as bathrooms, as the trailhead. It is a paved 0.3mi loop. There's also an unpaved 1 mi loop as well. The visitor center is nice as well. They have a lot of educational material, snacks, and souvenirs available. read more

This was a stop on our tour (Sedona to the Grand Canyon) and about 15 miles outside Flagstaff. I never knew this existed or that Arizona had volcanic activity and lava fields. It really looks like you are on another planet! I could really imagine "other world" movies being filmed here. The museum part is closed in vivid times. If you want to spend any amount of time here, bring your own drinks & snacks as there is no concession. This is a must see if you are heading to Wupatki National Monument. read more

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Lava field - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

Absolutely stunningly beautiful views. I recommend going when the trees start turning their Fall colors. There are signs along the trail with interesting stories of how the crater came to be. Honestly, pictures don't even do it justice. You have to see it for yourself. read more

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Never did I ever think I would hike through a volcanic rock, lava flow field! As we were driving through the park I spotted the lava flow & got excited! I wanted to go explore, but there wasn't anyplace to pull over- until there was! Hooray. I hopped out of the car so fast! No time for reading information signs- I was in the trail. I discovered quickly, many of the rocks don't move- aka, lots of trip hazards! Step carefully as you make your way through jagged rocks. There's a path, but there is still set volcanic rock that isn't moving! The nice lady who took our picture turned & tripped! Thankfully, she caught herself- but it was a reminder to all of us in the trail to be careful. Stop walking to look around. The volcano when it erupted covered hundreds of miles with lava from inches deep to 100+ inches deep! Very cool experience & happy to use that National Park Pass again! read more

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Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is a cool stop during any road trip! After checking in at the ranger station (there is a fee unless you have an applicable membership card, like the National Parks Card), you immediately hit the visitors center. It's a must stop to get caught up on your volcanic and regional history. From there, it's straight away to one of the hiking paths. I believe they can all be accessed from the same parking lot. We opted for the longer Lava Flow trail (although it was windy and blustery cold, so we didn't go all the way down the trail). The scenery is beyond what you would expect from a volcanic eruption... and there is plenty of greenery that has grown through the lava in the last 800 years or so. You'll notice the lichen everywhere bringing an air of color to the surroundings. Lichen, after all, are the organism that first appears after a volcanic eruption as it can survive conditions that most other organisms cannot! Many ponderosa pines have also appeared throughout the years! I only knock off one star because you cannot hike to the top of the crater and look down into it. Volcanic rock has a tendency to erode and they closed the paths 50 or so years ago. ****FOUR STARS**** read more

Other worldly! Highly recommend getting out and hiking about a bit. It's so incredibly quiet and peaceful. Despite the lava flow being quite sharp and craggy the path is well marked and easy to follow. There are quite a few as well. Hiking to the crater is no longer available but a self guided trail at the bottom is open. read more

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Went o. A weekend trip to the Flagstaff Cinders and checked out Sunset Crater with our grandson. He really loved it. Very clean park.

As of a few months ago, Sunset Crater was a large black lava flow surrounded by dense pines. It was surprising to know that the volcanic eruption occurred 900 years ago because the lava was so intact it looked like it had solidified yesterday. The lava was hard and sharp. It made me wonder if the Native Americans in the area used the lava stone as tools. If not, then maybe it was because the rock was too hard to form. Thinking back on the view of the lava surrounded by large pine trees, it reminded me of a time capsule camera where one objects stays the same while the vegetation appears to grow rapidly. The lava has not changed in 900 years while large pines have grown around it. I imagine that after the eruption, all of the trees and plants died. Only the areas that were not covered in 5 feet of lava have grown back. Now that the most recent April 2022 fire has killed many of the trees in the area, it will take significant time for them to grow back. In the meantime, the lava will stay the same. read more

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

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I have to be honest, I've seen many craters all pretty much looking the same, and wasn't sure what to expect but my NAU student told me to definitely go visit it while recently in town. I do not for a minute regret it! It was spectacular, and not like any other crater I have seen. It's amazing to think approx 1,000 years ago this volcano erupted, and left so much destruction in its path. That the lava flow, and old magma is still available for us to see. One of the most exciting parts of the trail is a bit of a view into a cavern that was created my the volcano and lava flow. You can tell that the cavern goes far down and all the lichen growing in and around the cavern is pretty amazing. We went during fall so not many of the flowers were in bloom. It's very impressive tho regardless. For me the thing that really makes it amazing, is seeing the destruction and knowing that Earth is capable of such destruction. That although this volcano is not currently active, it could possibly become active one day. There's just no telling. I wish that the erosion to the peak of the cone hasn't damaged by prior hikers and that there was a way to preserve the cinder cone volcano. I'd love to take a trek to the top and see it up close & personal. It'll truly blow your mind visiting this natural wonder of the world! read more

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The last time I was in Flagstaff we went into the lava tube cave which was a very cool experience so I was excited to hear that Sunset Crater also offered some views of volcanic activity from nearly a millennium ago. Sunset Crater is about a 30 minute drive from Flagstaff. The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle and includes admission to Sunset Crater and Wupatki Monument which is about a 30 minute drive further north. You'll pay at the visitor's center where you will also get map of the area, brochure on the area and your receipt. There are several trails you can go on in varying distances. We went on part of the Lenox Crater Trail (1.6 miles) and the Lava Flow Trail (1 mile). For us it was difficult to follow the trail we wanted due to some ambiguity in the signs. In general I think it's easy to stay on path at the Lava Flow Trail but it was hard to figure out if we were actually on the Lenox Crater Trail (One of the reasons we only went on part of it). We still had fun trekking through the lava rocks, taking in all the scenery. Details: -Entrance Fee $25 per vehicle -Fee includes entrance to Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument -Pay at the Visitor's Center -Visitor's Center open every day (Except Christmas) from 9 AM- 5 PM -Fee Free Days available. Go to https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm for more info read more

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I was kind of hesitant at first to pay the $25 entry fee! But was I surprise. We spent hours walking around the crater. It was the most amazing Feet I've ever seen! read more

Sunset Crater is a great place to stop for some geological history and sight seeing. The walking paths are well marked and provide information/education along the way. Some of the trails are currently closed but we were able to walk the larger main trail right at the base of the Crater. We loved it - seeing all of the volcanic lava leftovers in Northern Arizona was so interesting! Recommend for families. read more

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Located about 15 miles north of Flagstaff, there lies a cinder cone volcano amongst a field of hardened lava flows. Upon entrance into the park from Highway 89, you'll see a payment booth and then the Visitor's Center immediately to the right shortly after. In the Center, there's tons of interactive displays as well as information visuals where you can learn about the surrounding area. I believe the entrance fee is $25 per vehicle; we had the America the Beautiful Annual Pass which covered our entrance fee. If you're looking for the entrance sign with the name of the monument, it's actually located towards the end of the park near the Cinder Hills Overlook; it's visible when you're driving west towards the Visitor's Center. There are several easy hiking trails that takes you through the different lava flows. The A'a Trail and the Lava Flow Trail were pretty flat and easy while the Lenox Crater Trail takes you on a slight incline. The rocks created from the lava flow were very interesting looking. Overall, this place was cool to learn and look at all the different lava flows and rock formations. It is also a great place to see stars at night. We went back at night to do just that and the sky was just amazing. read more

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I hike the O'leary Peak Trail and it was AMAZING. Fantastic hike up a volcano. You're going uphill for 5 miles, but it's not especially steep. The trail is a fire road all the way to the observation tower. I hiked it on Feb 6, 2021. The small parking lot was full, but I only passed about 10 people over the whole hike. You definitely don't want to do this trail in street shoes, even though you're on a gravel road most of the way. There was some snow on the trail, but it was mostly hard and easy to walk over. There was also some mud. At the top you'll find a forest service lookout tower. If the tower is closed, you can still climb 3/4 up the nice stairway. Read up on the geology of O'Leary Peak before you hike, and you'll get even more out of the experience. read more

My husband and I really enjoyed visiting Sunset Crater Volcano National Park. Sunset Crater is a cinder cone volcano that is located north of Flagstaff. I learned in the visitors center that it is the youngest volcano on the Colorado Plateau. There are several ideas about when it erupted and for how long. The person that I spoke with said that the date is somewhere between 1040 to 1100 and that it stayed active for a few months. There used to be an open trail leading up to the top of Sunset Crater but it was closed about 46 years ago. They closed it because of the erosion and damage caused by having so many visitors using the trails. This was the first time that I have seen a volcanic area with ash hills and lava flows. I found it intriguing and loved spending hours climbing around the black rocks and walking the trails. read more

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This park was such a pleasant surprise. Who would think there is a line of volcanos in Arizona! Sunset Crater erupted about 900 years ago so, in geologic terms, happened yesterday. Lava flowed over hundreds of square miles, in some places over one hundred feet thick, others just mere inches. While there are no trails on Sunset Crater itself there are many trails, some paved and easy and others more strenuous over the open lava fields. The black lava rock is everywhere and such a different environment. read more

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