Sunset Crater Volcano National MonumentAbout Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument preserves a young cinder cone and associated lava flows from an eruption that occurred around the 11th century, within the San Francisco volcanic field of northern Arizona. The monument protects volcanic landforms, lava-scarred landscapes and archaeological sites affected by the eruption.
Marked trails and interpretive panels lead visitors across pumice fields, cinder slopes and hardened lava, giving access to viewpoints of the crater and the surrounding Painted Desert and volcanic plain. The landscape contrasts with the nearby forested slopes of the San Francisco Peaks.
The eruption changed local ecosystems and human land use patterns in the centuries that followed; the monument was created to protect the geological features and to provide public interpretation of volcanic processes and regional prehistory.
Sunset Crater lies northeast of Flagstaff, Arizona, within a high-elevation volcanic and forested landscape and adjacent to Wupatki National Monument and parts of Coconino National Forest.
- Volcanic origin: The volcanic cone and surrounding lava flows were created during an eruption in the roughly 11th century and are part of the larger San Francisco volcanic field.
Nearby Attractions to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Best Time to Visit Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Best in late spring or early autumn to avoid both winter snow and summer monsoon storms.
Weather & Climate near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 30°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -10° - 7° | -6° | 42 mm | - | - | 3.0 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -8° - 9° | -3° | 43 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -6° - 12° | 0° | 48 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | -3° - 17° | 4° | 23 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 1° - 22° | 12° | 18 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 6° - 28° | 17° | 10 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 9° - 30° | 20° | 59 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 9° - 28° | 18° | 64 mm | - | - | 3.0 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 5° - 25° | 15° | 44 mm | - | - | 3.1 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | -1° - 19° | 8° | 35 mm | - | - | 3.1 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | -6° - 13° | 1° | 35 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -10° - 7° | -5° | 34 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is north of Flagstaff in northern Arizona and is reached by paved roads from Flagstaff and surrounding communities. Drive from Flagstaff into the Coconino National Forest following route signage to the monument and use the park’s visitor parking and trailheads; check the National Park Service for seasonal road or trail closures before you go.
Tips for Visiting Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- Combine Sunset Crater with nearby Wupatki National Monument in the same day-the two sites are adjacent and together give a fuller picture of the volcanic landscape and ancestral Pueblo settlements.
- Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid summer heat on the lava trails; the short boardwalk and interpretive trails are exposed and far more pleasant outside peak midday temperatures.