Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Arizona

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument protects a volcanic cinder cone in Arizona. The site is located north of Flagstaff, and is the youngest of the San Francisco volcanic field, an area of volcanoes in northern Arizona.

Sunset Crater has a 340-meter-high (1,120-ft) cone. According to paleomagnetic dating, the first eruption took place between AD 1080 and 1150. It created the Bonito and Kana-a lava flows that extended for 1.6 miles (2.5 km) and 6 miles (9.6 km) respectively.

Lava flow trail at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Arizona
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunset_Crater_Volcano_NM-27527-1.jpg
Author: Ken Thomas


Since its last eruption, which forced the indigenous Sinagua Native Americans to abandon their settlement, the volcano area has revegetated.

The Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument was established on 26 May, 1930. Its creation by President Herbert Hoover was in part the result of public outcry over plans by a Hollywood film company to detonate explosives within the crater, to simulate an actual eruption.

Visiting Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Arizona

Take US Highway 89 north from Flagstaff for 12 miles (19 km) until you reach the Loop Road. Turn right and follow the Loop Road till you arrive at the national monument. The visitor center is open daily except on Christmas Day. Opening hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Mountain Standard Time November to April and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Mountain Standard Time May to October. Entrance fee is $5.00 per person, valid for 7 days.

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