Visiting Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: what to know
- Tickets
- The monument charges an entry fee per vehicle or per person, which also covers Wupatki National Monument, and the America the Beautiful pass is accepted. Check nps.gov for current rates.
- Time needed
- 2 hours for Sunset Crater, or half a day combined with Wupatki on the loop road.
- Best time
- April to October. Winter can bring snow at this elevation.
- Getting there
- The entrance is about 25 minutes north of Flagstaff on US 89. Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is about 30 minutes away; Phoenix Sky Harbor is about 2.5 hours.
Flagstaff itineraries with Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is on day 3
Day 3 of Flagstaff, Sedona & the Grand Canyon in 4 Days
Walnut Canyon and Sunset Crater
How Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument fits into a day.- 9:00Walnut Canyon National MonumentFlagstaff, Arizona, United States
- 13:00Sunset Crater Volcano National MonumentFlagstaff, Arizona, United States
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Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument FAQs
Can you hike Sunset Crater?
You cannot climb Sunset Crater itself; it has been closed since 1973 to protect it. You can hike nearby Lenox Crater and the Lava Flow Trail.
Does one ticket cover Sunset Crater and Wupatki?
Yes, one entry pass covers both monuments, linked by a 34-mile scenic loop road.
When did Sunset Crater erupt?
It erupted around 1085, making it the youngest volcano in Arizona.
