sunset-crater-volcano | AZ | Find park

a cinder cone volcano and ponderosa pine trees

Sunset Crater Volcano is named for the color of the rusty red cinders near its peak.

a jagged field of lava beneath a cinder cone volcano

Three trails allow visitors to explore the Bonito Lava Flow.

a massive volcano rising behind a smaller, tree-covered volcano in the foreground

Sunset Crater Volcano is the most recent eruption in the San Francisco volcanic field. Visitors can climb Lenox Crater, foreground, for excellent views of the field, including the San Francisco Peaks.

a small ponderosa pine tree in a field of rolling cinder hills

Geologists and biologists study the area surrounding Sunset Crater Volcano to better understand how landscapes recover after an eruption.

tall pine trees grow beneath the Sunset Crater Volcano cinder cone

On warm days, the bark of ponderosa pine trees smells like vanilla or butterscotch.

A reddish cinder cone volcano standing above a meadow of dry grass

One of the best views of Sunset Crater Volcano is from Bonito Park on the entrance road

A snow-covered cinder cone and lava flow under a clear blue sky

A dusting of snow adds depth and color to the stark landscape of the lava flow

Physical Address:

6082 Sunset Crater Road

Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Mailing Address:

6400 U.S. 89

Flagstaff, AZ 86004

contact-details

Phone Number: 928-526-0502 Voice

Email Address: flag_information@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle: $25.00

This pass covers the pass holder and up to 15 passengers of a single, private (non-commercial) vehicle at both Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments for 1-7 days.

Entrance - Motorcycle: $20.00

Admits the passholder and passenger of one motorcycle to both Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument for 1-7 days.

Entrance - Per Person: $15.00

Admits one individual bicyclist, hiker, or pedestrian visiting the facility without a private vehicle. Good for both Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments for 1-7 days. A pass is not required for individuals 15 or younger.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups: $15.00

The per person fee is charged for non-commercial groups up to the point that it exceeds the cost of the commercial rate for the same size vehicle.

Entrance - Education/Academic Groups: $0.00

Bona fide educational institutions visiting for non-recreational purposes whose visit pertains directly to established curriculum are exempt from paying entry fees. Apply for an educational fee waiver at least 4 weeks in advance by submitting an educational fee waiver. Please see the below link to access the waiver.

Commercial Entrance - Sedan: $28.00

Covers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 1-6 individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purpose by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.

Commercial Entrance - Van: $40.00

Covers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 7-15 individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purpose by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach: $100.00

Covers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 16+ individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. A commercial group consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purpose by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.

Entrance Passes

Annual Entrance - Park: $45.00

Admits the passholder, passenger of one motorcycle, or occupants of a single, non-commercial vehicle at Sunset Crater Volcano, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monuments for 1 year.

The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the people who lived here. A thousand years later, trees and flowers grow among the rocks, and people visit the lava flow to see and remember the most recent volcanic eruption in Arizona.

park designation:National Monument

Directions:

From Flagstaff, travel north on US Highway 89; from Page and the east entrance of the Grand Canyon, travel south on Highway 89. Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments are both on the loop road FR-545, which meets Highway 89 near mile markers 430 (Sunset Crater Volcano) and 444 (Wupatki).

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Park Hours

The Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is open every day. The visitor center is open daily from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The roads and trails are open 24/7, with occasional closures for fire season or winter weather.

Weather Information:

Be prepared for variable and extreme weather conditions. Expect high winds any time of year. Summer temperatures are often above 95ºF (35ºC) and we have afternoon thunderstorms from July through September. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures are common in the winter. Dress in layers, as weather at Sunset Crater Volcano can change quickly at any time of year.