Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Custom Search Here, past meets present. Pueblos and cliff dwellings are so well preserved that it's hard to believe their builders moved on 700 years ago. Amid lava and cinders, one can imagine a landscape still hot to the touch. Welcome to the Flagstaff Area National Monuments! There is something for everyone: prehistoric cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon, the mountain scenery and geology of Sunset Crater Volcano, and the painted desert landscape and masonry pueblos of Wupatki National Monument. Ancient Indians undoubtedly witnessed the eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano in A.D.1064-1065 which blanketed the region with black cinder. Today the volcano's rim of red cinders and the lava flows near the cone seem to have cooled and hardened to a jagged surface only yesterday. Squeeze-ups and hornitos are just two of the fascinating volcanic features you'll encounter while exploring the park. To protect this fragile resource, Sunset Crater Volcano is closed to climbing and hiking. However, other cinder cones in the area may be climbed. Sunset Crater Volcano is often confused with another nearby attraction, Meteor Crater. At Sunset Crater Volcano you will see a cinder cone rising 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. Meteor Crater, located 35 miles east of Flagstaff on I-40, is an impact crater measuring over 500 feet deep and 1 mile across.    CONTACTS Email - FLAG-Sunset Crater_@nps.gov Fax- 928-526-4259 Write to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Route 3 Box 149 Flagstaff, AZ 86002 Phone Visitor Information - 928-526-0502 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The park is open year round. The Visitor Center is open daily except Christmas Day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with extended hours possible during the summer season. REMINDER: ARIZONA IS ON MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME YEAR ROUND Getting There PLANE - Nearest airport is located in Flagstaff, AZ. CAR - From Flagstaff, take U.S 89 noeth for 12 miles (19km), turn right on the Sunset Crater - Wupatki Loop road and continue 2 miles (3km) to the visitor center. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - For additional information on transportation services contact the Flagstaff Visitor Center at 1-800-842-7293 Weather & Climate Be prepared for abrupt weather changes in any season. Expect windy conditions most of the year. Spring is usually mild, but heavy snowfall can occur. Summer days are warm with temperatures in the 80s. Afternoon thunderstorms are likely July to September. In winter, snow and freezing temperatures alternate with mild weather. Accessibility Accessible restrroms are located at the Visitor Center and the Lava Flow Nature Trail. The Visitor Center and portions of the Lava Flow Nature Trail are also accessible. Getting Around Lava Flow Trail is a 1-mile (1.6km) loop trail with a 1/4 mile (500m) cutoff. It is a self-guided trail exploring a variety of volcanic formations. Use extreme caution hiking on lava - it is sharp, brittle, and unstable. The Lenox Crater Trail provides an opportunity to climb a cinder cone. This steep trail is 1-mile (1.6km) round trip and requires about 30 minutes up and 15 minutes down! FEES/PERMITS Entrance Fee COMMERCIAL VEHICLES Varies for One Time Commercial tour fees are charged according to vehicle capacity. PER PERSON Entrance fee good for both Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monument. CAMPING Bonito Campground The campground is located across from the Visitor Center and is generally open from late May through mid-October. Maximum vehicle size is 35 feet, no hook-ups. For futher information call the U.S. Forest Service at 520-526-0866. FACILITIES Visitor Centers SUNST CRATER VOLCANO VISITOR CENTER Open All Year 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Location - From Flagstaff, take U.S. 89 north for 12 miles (19km), turn right on the Sunset Crater - Wupatki Loop Road and continue 2 miles (3km) to the Visitor Center. Closures - Christmas Day Note: Arizona is on Mountain Standard Time year round. Special Programs - Avaiiable generally in June, July and August. Programs subject to change, check at the Visitor Center for program information. Lava Walk: Daily, 45 minutes. Check at Visitor Center for times. Investigate cinder cones, squeeze-ups, and more! Meet at the contact station at the Lava Flow Trail parking area. Evening Program: 1-hour campfire talk at Bonito Campground (during season campground is open). Check at the Visitor Center for times and topics. Exhibits - Located in the Visitor Center Available Facilities - Bookstore, picnic tables, vending machines.     Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.   Campgrounds Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: Greer's Pine Shadows, Flagstaff, 0 miles away Flagstaff KOA Kampground, Flagstaff, 1 miles away J and H RV Park, Flagstaff, 1 miles away Black Barts RV Park, Flagstaff, 4 miles away Lake Mary Country Store and Park, Flagstaff, 7 miles away Kit Carson RV Park, Flagstaff, 8 miles away Woody Mountain Campground, Flagstaff, 9 miles away   Hotels Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: Residence Inn Flagstaff, Flagstaff , 2 miles away Super 8 I-40 Flagstaff Mall, Flagstaff , 2 miles away Days Inn And Suites Flagstaff East, Flagstaff , 2 miles away Hampton Inn Flagstaff, Flagstaff , 2 miles away WyndhamVR Flagstaf, Flagstaff , 2 miles away Howard Johnson Inn - Flagstaff, Flagstaff , 3 miles away Best Western Pony Soldier Inn & Suites, Flagstaff , 3 miles away   Trails Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: Walnut Canyon Loop Trail, Coconino County , 6 miles away, 0.7 hiking miles, 405 feet elevation difference Lava Flow Trail, Coconino County , 8 miles away, 0.6 hiking miles, 71 feet elevation difference A B Young Trail, Coconino County , 20 miles away, 2 hiking miles, 2179 feet elevation difference   Ski Areas Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona , 11 miles away, 2300 foot drop, 4 lifts, 32 runs Williams, Arizona , 43 miles away, 600 foot drop, 2 lifts, 7 runs   Whitewater Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: Whitewater Outfitter - Canyon REO, Coconino County , 4 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Whitewater Outfitter - Rivers & Oceans, Coconino County , 5 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Whitewater Outfitter - Humphrey Summit Ski, Coconino County , 6 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Whitewater Outfitter - Ceiba Adventures, Coconino County , 6 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Oak Creek, Coconino / Yavapai County , 25 miles away, Class -blank- - 35 miles long (Pump Stabove Sedona Cornville to Verde River)   Public Lands Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: Walnut Canyon National Monument, Flagstaff - AZ , 1 miles away Wupatki National Monument, Flagstaff - AZ , 1 miles away Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde - AZ , 43 miles away Slide Rock State Park, Arizona , 21 miles away Red Rock State Park, Arizona , 30 miles away Coconino National Forest, Arizona , 31 miles away   Golf Courses Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: Continental Country Club, Flagstaff , 2 miles away Elden Hills Golf Course, Flagstaff , 2 miles away Continental Golf Course, Flagstaff , 2 miles away Aspen Valley Golf Club, Flagstaff , 3 miles away Pine Canyon, Flagstaff , 7 miles away   Lakes Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Upper Lake Mary, Coconino County , 9 miles away Ashurst Lake, Coconino County , 17 miles away Mormon Lake, Coconino County , 18 miles away