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Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments




Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Less than 100 miles south of the Grand Canyon and a short drive north of Flagstaff Arizona are two national monument parks.  While quite different, these parks are joined together by a 35 mile loop.  T Squirrel would have paid a single entry fee to visit both parks, but he's covered with his America the Beautiful National Park season pass.

The first monument is Sunset Crater Volcano.  Created from an eruption sometime between 1085 and 1090 AD, this cinder cone is the youngest of the volcanoes found in the San Francisco volcanic chain.  The summit is at 8,042 feet.  The cinders are primarily made of basalt which piled up in cone form during the eruption.  During eruption the lava flow formed what is now the Bonito and the Kana-a lava flow fields.

The Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument was created by President Herbert Hoover in 1930 to protect this unique feature.  After there were plans to detonate explosives on the cone in order to create an avalanche for the film "Avalanche" in 1928.

While there are no hiking trails up the caldera (it's illegal and you could be fined or arrested), there are various trails around the base, a lava field and on another nearby cinder cone.


Lava's Edge Trail - A moderate 3.4 mile trail at the edge of the Bonito Lava Flow.  You will be up close with cinders, basalt and ponderosa pines.

Lava Flow Trail - An easy 1 mile trail that takes you to the base of Sunset Crater via the Bonito Lava Flow field.

Lenox Crater Trail - A moderately difficult 1.6 mile trail that takes you to the summit of the Lenox Crater.  Please stay on the cinder trail!

Bonito Vista Trail - An easy 0.3 mile trail across cinders to view both other volcanoes and the Bonito Lava Flow.

A'a Trail - An easy 0.2 mile trail through the A'a basaltic lava rock.

Directions: From I-40, take exit 201 towards Page, US-89 N.
              0.3 mi - Turn Left onto Country Club Dr. towards US-89   
              0.5 mi - Turn Right onto US-89 N.   
            12.0 mi - Turn Right onto Forest Service Rd 545
              2.6 mi - Park Entrance is on your Left.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
6082 Sunset Crater Wupatki Loop
Flagstaff, AZ 86004






Wupatki National Monument


After taking the scenic loop drive northward, T Squirrel arrived at Wupatki National Monument.  He entered the visitor center which is open daily  from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Here there are a number of interesting exhibits about the Native American history of the area.  These lands were populated by the Cohonina, Kayenta Anasazi and Sinagua peoples.

Walk through the visitor's center to get to the 0.5 mile trail that leads to the Wupatki Pueblo, a ball court and a geologic blowhole.  T Squirrel was fascinated by the largest pueblo in the National Monument.   Three stories high with at least 100 rooms this dwelling housed many people between 1100 AD and 1250 AD.  The pueblo was constructed using flat, thin blocks of red Moenkopi sandstone.  Most of the rooms have been partially reconstructed.
Maize and squash were grown, helped later on in part by the volcanic ash from the Sunset Crater eruption (fertilizer and it retains rainwater better).  The Wupatki spring was nearby (now dry) and a source of over 500 gallons of water each day.  The population also hunted for meat in the surrounding area.
In addition to the pueblo, the northernmost ball court can be seen a short distance away.  A natural blowhole is also found on the loop.
In addition to the Wupatki Pueblo, there are many other pueblos and ruins just off the main road including the Citidel, Nalakihua, Lomaki and Wukoki pueblos.  Other than the short trails that lead to these pueblos, there is no hiking at this monument.




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