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Ancient Indians undoubtedly witnessed the eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano
in A.D. 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.
From Flagstaff, take U. S. 89 north for 12 miles (19 kilometers),
turn right on the Sunset Crater - Wupatki Loop Road and
continue 2 miles (3 kilometers) to the visitor center.
Arizona does not observe daylight savings. You are on
Mountain Standard Time. Leave Flagstaff with a full tank of gas
and food as there are no services at the monuments.
Excerpts courtesy of:
U. S. National Park Service - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Website, 1998
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For More National Monument Information
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Link to:
Sunset Crater National Monument Website
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Route 3 Box 149
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004
(520) 526-0502
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Sunset Crater Menu