USGS/CVO Logo, click to link to National USGS Website
 Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington
Visit A Volcano

Sunset Crater, Arizona
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument


Sunset Crater Volcano


Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Ancient Indians undoubtedly witnessed the eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano in A.D. 1065 which blanketed the region with black cinder. Today the volcano's rim of red cinders and the lava flows near the cone seem to have cooled and hardened to a jagged surface only yesterday. Squeeze-ups and hornitos are just two of the fascinating volcanic features you'll encounter while exploring the park. To protect this fragile resource, Sunset Crater Volcano is closed to climbing and hiking. However, other cinder cones in the area may be climbed.

Sunset Crater Volcano is often confused with another nearby attraction, Meteor Crater. At Sunset Crater Volcano you will see a cinder cone rising 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. Meteor Crater, located 35 miles east of Flagstaff on I-40, is an impact crater measuring over 500 feet deep and 1 mile across.

From Flagstaff, take U.S. 89 north for 12 miles (19 kilometers), turn right on the Sunset Crater - Wupatki Loop Road and continue 2 miles (3 kilometers) to the visitor center. Arizona does not observe daylight savings. You are on Mountain Standard Time. Leave Flagstaff with a full tank of gas and food as there are no services at the monuments.

Excerpts courtesy of: U.S. National Park Service - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Website, 1998


For More National Monument Information

Click on logo to link to Sunset Crater National Monument Website

Link to: Sunset Crater National Monument Website

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Route 3 Box 149
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004
(520) 526-0502



"Climb A Volcano"

To protect this fragile resource, Sunset Crater Volcano is closed to climbing and hiking. However, other cinder cones in the area may be climbed.

Excerpts courtesy of: U.S. National Park Service - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Website, 1998



To Get There

From Flagstaff, take U.S. 89 north for 12 miles (19 kilometers), turn right on the Sunset Crater - Wupatki Loop Road and continue 2 miles (3 kilometers) to the visitor center. Arizona does not observe daylight savings. You are on Mountain Standard Time. Leave Flagstaff with a full tank of gas and food as there are no services at the monuments.

Excerpts courtesy of: U.S. National Park Service - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Website, 1998



Location Map
Map, click to enlarge
[Map,17K,InlineGIF]

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Vicinity
-- Modified from: U.S. National Park Service


For More Information
Click button for Arizona Volcanoes Menu Arizona Volcanoes Menu

Return to:
[Visit A Volcano Menu] ...
[Sunset Crater Menu]
[Arizona Volcanoes and Volcanics Menu]



CVO HomePage Volcanoes of the World Menu Mount St. Helens Menu Living With Volcanoes Menu Publications and Reports Menu Volcano Monitoring Menu Servers and Useful Sites Menu Volcano Hazards Menu Research and Projects Menu Educational Outreach Menu Hazards, Features, and Terminology Menu Maps and Graphics Menu CVO Photo Archives Menu Conversion Tables CVO Index - Search Our Site ButtonBar

URL for CVO HomePage is: <http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/home.html>
URL for this page is: <http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Arizona/VisitVolcano/framework.html>
If you have questions or comments please contact: <GS-CVO-WEB@usgs.gov>
12/05/07, Lyn Topinka