National Park Service · Arizona
A young cinder cone north of Flagstaff that last erupted around 1085 CE, ringed by black lava flows and an easy interpretive trail, paired with nearby Wupatki on one scenic loop.
Field briefing
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle and conveniently also covers nearby Wupatki National Monument on the same 34-mile scenic loop, so most people pair the two. The signature walk is the flat, partly accessible one-mile Lava Flow Trail. You cannot climb Sunset Crater itself, which has been closed to protect the fragile cinders since 1973, so the cone is admired from the trails around its base.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
0F
Cool and breezy at 7,000 feet, with possible late snow on the cinder slopes.
Pack Layers, sturdy shoes for loose cinders, and sun protection at altitude.
Warm days, cool nights, and afternoon monsoon storms in July and August.
Pack Sun protection, water, a rain shell for storms, and footwear for the lava trail.
Crisp, clear days with strong light on the black lava and golden aspens nearby.
Pack Warm layer, water, and a camera for low-angle light on the cinder cone.
Cold and often snowy, which can close the trails and the scenic loop road.
Pack Insulation, traction, and a check on road and trail conditions before you go.
Lava Flow Trail
The signature one-mile loop through the Bonito Lava Flow at the base of the cone, past squeeze-ups, spatter, and a collapsed lava tube. The upper section is accessible.
Lenox Crater Trail
A steeper climb up a neighboring cinder cone on loose volcanic gravel, with views over the lava field and the San Francisco Peaks.
Sunset Crater to Wupatki scenic loop
A 34-mile drive that links the volcano with the ancestral Puebloan pueblos at Wupatki, covered by the same entrance fee.
Put the timed or highest-demand stop first, then keep the rest of the day close and low-friction. For one day in Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, time Lava Flow Trail first, then keep Lenox Crater Trail and Sunset Crater to Wupatki scenic loop close enough that the visit still feels relaxed.
Turn Sunset Crater Volcano's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument packing list
0 of 15 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
15 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Sunset Crater Volcano asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
There is no camping or lodging inside the monument. Bonito Campground, run by the U.S. Forest Service directly across from the visitor center, is the closest camping, with about 44 sites in the ponderosa pines, open roughly May through October with reservable and first-come sites. For hotels, food, and fuel, Flagstaff is about 30 minutes south with the broadest options.
Camping reservations
Sunset Crater has no campground of its own, but the Forest Service runs Bonito Campground right across the road. The monument is a straightforward day-use stop with no reservations or permits required to visit.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Bonito Campground has both reservable and first-come sites and is typically open May through October. Reservable sites are booked on Recreation.gov.
Where to book or verify
Recreation.gov page for the Forest Service campground across from the visitor center.
Official NPS page with trails, the scenic loop, and visitor center information.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Car strategy
The monument sits about 12 miles north of Flagstaff off US 89, at the start of the Sunset Crater to Wupatki scenic loop road.
Car strategy
A car is the practical way to visit, and most people combine it with Wupatki in a half to full day from Flagstaff.
Car strategy
The loop road can close in winter snow, so check conditions in the colder months.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
The entrance fee is $25 per private vehicle, valid for 7 days, and the same fee also covers nearby Wupatki National Monument on the shared scenic loop. America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
No. Climbing the cinder cone itself has been prohibited since 1973 to protect the fragile slopes from erosion. You can walk the Lava Flow Trail around its base and climb the neighboring Lenox Crater instead for views over the lava field.
Not inside the monument, but Bonito Campground, run by the Forest Service directly across from the visitor center, is the closest option. It has about 44 sites in the pines, a mix of reservable and first-come, typically open May through October.
Yes. The two monuments share one 34-mile scenic loop road and one entrance fee, so most visitors pair them. Sunset Crater covers the volcanic story and Wupatki the ancestral Puebloan pueblos, making a natural half to full day from Flagstaff.