Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument has an interesting history: the drive to protect the site took form after 1920s Hollywood moviemakers tried to use this ancient cinder cone as a movie prop.
Plan Around Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
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Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Details
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument has an interesting history: the drive to protect the site took form after 1920s Hollywood moviemakers tried to use this ancient cinder cone as a movie prop, with plans to detonate a large cache of explosives in order to simulate a volcanic eruption. Sunset Crater owes its name to early explorer John Wesley Powell, who compared the reddish rocks at the summit to the light at sunset. The crater was born during a period of volcanic activity about 900 years ago, and visitors can get a good overview of the San Francisco volcanic field on the Lava Flow Trail. No trail leads to the summit of Sunset Crate, though there is a loop trail at its base. To see into the crater, drive to the Cinder Hills Overlook, or hike the Lenox Crater Trail to summit a smaller cinder cone nearby.
Difficulty
Open
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Nearby Parks Around Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Compare nearby parks around Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument while the map context is still fresh.
9.5 mi away
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Humphreys Peak
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McMillan Mesa
This natural area has over 300-acres of wilderness for you to explore.
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Wupatki National Monument
The Native American pueblos built by the ancestral Hisatsinom people in north-central Arizona are the jewels of the Wupatki National Monument.
