Volcanoes, Cinder Cones, Lava Flows & More - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Written: May 25 '04 (Updated May 25 '04)
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Pros: hands on look at volcanoes, easily accessible, interesting exhibits in visitor center
Cons: only one cinder cone is accessible...
The Bottom Line: Get a hands on look at volcanoes and their impacts and at the same time enjoy the wonderful scenery of the area
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| jps246's Full Review: Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument |
At Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument you get a chance to wander among the lava flows and gaze at the cinder cones from the youngest volcano on the Colorado Plateau. It was only 900 years ago that Sunset Crater erupted, spewing lava and cinders over the area and forcing the Native Americans to move elsewhere, including south to the Walnut Canyon area.
Park Basics
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is located on the Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop Road, about 14 miles to the east of Flagstaff, Arizona. It is located near several other National Monuments and parks, including Wupataki National Monument (16 miles), Walnut Canyon National Monument (25 miles) and Grand Canyon National Park (100 miles).
Sunset Crater is open year-round and the Visitor Center at the Monument is open daily. The Visitor Center is generally open from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon except for June, July and August when it is open until 6 in the evening and December, January and February when the Visitor Center opens at 9 in the morning and closes at 5 in the evening. The park is closed on Christmas Day (December 25th). The Visitor Center is currently closed though for renovations – it will be reopening to the public in early June 2004. They are in the process of updating the center and installing new exhibits.
For day-use visitors the park, a day-use fee of $5.00 per person is charged. This is good for 7-days and can be used at any of the local National Monuments (Wupatki or Walnut Canyon). There are no fees for children under 16. Annual passes for the Flagstaff area Monuments are also available for $25 and $50 will get you the National Parks Pass – which gives you entry into all National Park Properties (National Parks & Monuments) for a year.
Dogs are not allowed on the trails or in any of the buildings at Sunset Crater – so you should plan accordingly if you are bringing a pet.
What’s there?
Beyond the awe-inspiring scenery of what looks like lava and cinders erupted yesterday, Sunset Crater offers two different trails to hike, interpretive programs given by park rangers, a picnic area and a small campground for those looking to stay overnight.
The Trails
The Lava Flow Trail is about a 1-mile long loop trail that explores the various volcanic formations scattered throughout the monument near Sunset Crater. Along the trail you will get a chance to see lava flows, cinder cones, volcanic cinders close up among other volcanic features. You can also see how nature is slowly reclaiming this volcanic terrain. The trail is accessed by a ¼ of a mile trail from the visitor center. It generally takes about an hour or so to walk this trail and it is well maintained and easy to follow. There is little up and down and it should be accessible to most visitors.
The Lenox Crater Trail is a bit more adventuresome and gives visitors a chance to climb a cinder cone. The trail is steep and is about a mile long (1/2 a mile up and back). Again, it takes about an hour to complete the trail and while it is well maintained and easy to follow, only visitors in good shape, or comfortable hiking steep trails should try it. Make sure you wear comfortable and appropriate shoes for the hike.
The Visitor Center
Currently closed until June 2004 for renovations, the Visitor Center at Sunset Crater is the hub of the park. The center has exhibits on the natural and human history of the Sunset Crater area, along with exhibits on volcanism in general. There is also a bookstore and restrooms in the center.
Rangers are available to answer questions in the Visitor Center and they also conduct interpretive tours and events. The various ranger-led activities are held throughout the months of June, July and August. These activities include special backcountry walks where you can explore different volcanic features and campfire talks in the Campground next to the Visitor Center.
The Campground
Camping is available at Sunset Crater at the Bonito Campground, which is located across from the Visitor Center. It is generally open from late May through mid-October. The maximum size of a vehicle for the campground is 35 feet and there are no hook-ups available in the park. There are restrooms with showers available to the campers.
What to expect?
Due to its high elevation, temperatures at Sunset Crater are generally milder than sites located down lower (such as Wupatki or Walnut Canyon). It still can get hot and cold at the park and visitors should check the weather for the Flagstaff area before going. There is little shade once you get there and no food or beverage services are provided, so make sure you bring plenty of water to drink if you are planning on hiking around.
The views at Sunset Crater are quite impressive. There are higher mountains surrounding the area, which can be snowcapped through late spring-time. The cinder cones in the immediate vicinity of Sunset Crater (which is the largest cinder cone) and run about several hundred feet high.
The two major walks at Sunset Crater for visitors (the Lava Flow and Lenox Crater Trails) are accessible to most visitors – though the climb up into Lenox Crater is steep and should only be attempted by those in good shape with good shoes. The trails are all very well maintained and with maps available at the Visitor Center, hikers can stop at various sites and learn about the volcanic formations and history in those areas.
Beyond the Lenox Crater, the other cinder cones are off limits to visitors. They are fragile structures and would likely be destroyed by foot travel. You can see a scar on Sunset Crater itself from where a trail used to climb to its rim.
The campground is clean and well maintained. You shouldn’t expect many amenities if you stay there, as this is a fairly rustic campground with pretty much maintained sites, but not much of anything else.
How long do I need?
Each hike at Sunset Crater takes about an hour and you should give yourself at least an hour in the visitor center, taking in the exhibits and talking with the rangers. If you are considering a ranger-led hike or activity, you will need extra time – though in general, most visitors who spend 3 or 4 hours in the park will get a good idea of what is there and be able to enjoy the volcanic landscape.
Three Park Tour?
Because admission to Sunset Crater is also good at the two other National Monuments in the area, visitors can plan to hit all three parks in one to two days. Campgrounds are not available at Walnut Canyon or Wupatki National Monuments, but there is one at Sunset Crater and therefore, if you want to make it into a 2-day – hit one of the other parks and then spend a night at Sunset Crater and then travel to the remaining park.
With some quick visiting, it is possible to visit all three parks in a single day. I would suggest starting at Walnut Canyon, the most southerly park, then Sunset Crater and finally Wupatki before looping back around to where you started.
My Thoughts
I understand why you can’t climb up most of the cinder cones, but it still is disappointing to be at the park and staring at these large cinder cones and not be able to scramble up their sides. If you’re interested in being able to wander over some cinder cones, I’d suggest taking a trip to Snow Canyon State Park over in St. George, Utah.
However, Sunset Crater is a great destination for families or people who are interested in volcanoes and the features that they produce that don’t want to have to get down and dirty like they might have to at other locations. The trails are all easy to follow and the interpretive exhibits at the Visitor Center lay out the history of the park in a clear manner not present at many other places.
There may be bigger volcanoes elsewhere but Sunset Crater is a pretty unique place – where lava and cinders look like they erupted yesterday and the visitor can walk through this landscape, exploring on their own or with guided trips.
For more information
The National Park Service maintains a website at http://www.nps.gov/sucr/index.htm where you can learn more details about the park, look at programs available, get some background on the park and more.
Final Thoughts
Well worth a few hours of your time, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is an interesting and exciting window into the fiery nature of our Earth. You’ll get a hands on look at volcanoes and their impacts and at the same time enjoy the wonderful scenery of the area.
Other Flagstaff, Arizona area attractions
Walnut Canyon National Monument / Wupatki National Monument / Meteor Crater
Travel Magazines
Travel & Leisure Magazine / Budget Travel / National Geographic Adventure / Outside Magazine / National Geographic Traveler
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: March-May
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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