Where Fire Meets Sandstone - Sunset Crater & Wupatki
Your Guide to Two Northern Arizona Wonders
Sunset Crater and Wupatki in northern Arizona aren’t widely known, but they’re absolutely worth a visit. Although these so-called “twin” national monuments are geographically connected by a 34-mile scenic loop drive and often visited together, they seem worlds apart standing in stark contrast to one another. Sunset Crater is the aftermath of a destructive, relatively young eruption (at least in geological years) that painted the landscape black with lava fields, cinder cones, and rock formations that appear unwordly. Interestingly enough, this is also what gave rise to Wupatki - a symbol of civilization and prosperity. Here, visitors can stroll through 900-year old pueblo stuctures and ancient ruins of what was once a major cultural and trade center that flourished in the area.
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Why Visit Sunset Crater & Wupatki
Rising from the high desert just north of Flagstaff, the twin National Monuments of Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki tell a powerful story of fire and survival - a story shaped by resilence.
In 1085 AD, a volcanic eruption transformed the landscape, blanketing the region in lava and ash, forever altering the lives of the people who called it home. But it wasn’t what you might expect. The ash actually improved farming allowing them to flourish. Rainwater trapped in cinder ash reduced evaporation providing much needed moisture in the dry desert air. It also enriched the soil with nutrients and extended the growing season because the dark cinder absorbed heat protecting crops from frost. Today, visitors can expect to find dramatic landscapes, a deep cultural history, ruins to explore, and fewer crowds than other Arizona monuments and parks making them well worth a visit.
Visitors can also easily see everything in just one day making it a perfect day trip from nearby Sedona, Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Monument Valley. You only need about 5 hours to do and see eveything - hike across hardened lava fields, drive the 34 mile scenic drive, and explore 900-year-old stone pueblos.
Where Are Sunset Crater & Wupatki?
Sunset Crater and Wupatki are in northern Arizona near Flagstaff. They’re so close to each other that they’re both easy to see in a single visit.
From Flagstaff, take US-89 North to Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop Road. Make a right and follow the road straight to Sunset Crater. The road then continues past Sunset Crater into a 34-mile scenic loop that takes visitors to Wupatki eventually ending back at US-89, just a little further north.
Pro Tip:
There are two entrances to these national monuments. If you’re traveling from Flagstaff and want to only visit Wupatki or want to see it first, take US-89 further north, past the Sunset Crater turnoff, to the sepearate entrance road for Wupatki National Monument. You can then explore the scenic loop “backward” from there.
Distance from Arizona Cities & Other Major Attractions
Flagstaff: 15 miles to Sunset Crater entrance/30 miles to Wupatki entrance (30-45 mins.)
Sedona: 55-65 miles (1-1/2 to 2 hours)
South Rim of the Grand Canyon: 90 miles (1-1/2 to 2 hours)
Phoenix: (Via I-17 to Flagstaff): 150 miles (2-1/2 to 3 hours)
Horseshoe Bend/Antelope Canyon: 125 miles (2 to 2-1/2 hours)
Monument Valley: 175 miles (3 to 3-1/2 hours)
Visiting Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
At Sunset Crater, you can truly experience the raw power of nature, completely frozen in time. The landscape here is dominated by cinder cones, lava fields, and rugged trails that feel otherworldly.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument covers over 3,000 acres of land including Sunset Crater, the youngest in a string of volcanoes related to the nearby San Francisco Peaks. Eruptions here changed the landscape forever tearing open the ground and leaving behind incredibly unique geological formations and lava tubes that you can hike through. The last eruption is believed to have been as recent as 1085, relatively recent in geological years.
Things to Do at Sunset Crater
Visiting Sunset Crater is a place where visitors can walk through dramatic lava fields and marvel at the towering cinder cone created by the powerful eruption of 1085 AD
Hiking at Sunset Crater
Lava Flow Trail (1 mile loop, easy)
A scenic and popular hike that allows visitors to walk through jagged black lava fields with incredible views of Sunset Crater.
Lenox Crater Trail (1.6 miles roundtrip, moderate)
This hike includes a moderate climb with rewarding panoramic views from the top of Sunset Crater, cinder fields, and the surrounding peaks.
A’a Trail (0.2 mile loop, easy but uneven)
Walk through rough “a’a” lava which is sharp, chunky rock. It’s a quick easy hike but you will need sturdy shoes.
Visit the Sunset Crater Visitor Center
Here, visitors can learn about the area’s geology and the 1085 eruption that helped nearby Wupatki Pueblo flourish through educational exhibits on the area’s geology and history.
Visiting Wupatki National Monument
The drive that takes you through Sunset Crater also leads to Wupatki National Monument, an area rich in Native American archaeological sites nestled between the Painted Desert and the Northern Arizona Highlands.
Wupatki is considered sacred land and was once a thriving cultural center. Here visitors can explore multi-room pueblos, experience sweeping desert views, and see a rare ancient ball court all indicative of a community that flourished in the wake of the Sunset Crater eruption.
Things to Do at Wupatki
Wupatki Pueblo & Visitor Center
The Wupatki Pueblo is a 900 year old ancestral Puebloan site with over 100 rooms and unique features like an ancient ball court and incredible blow hole where air flows up and out through the ground. It is the most impressive of the pueblos at Wupatki. The trail to the archaeological ruins is an easy 0.5 mile round trip hike. There is also a Visitor Center here.
Lomaki Pueblo
The Lomaki Pueblo includes three pueblo structures made of local limestone and sandstone. They sit atop a hillside on a projecting layer of sandstone above a box canyon with a panoramic view. It is a moderate to easy 0.5 mile hike to the ruins.
Wukoki Pueblo
Although small, Wukoki is one of the best preserved pre-historic sites within the park and easy to reach. It’s just a short, moderate 0.2 mile roundtrip hike.
Citadel Pueblo
Citadel Pueblo sits on a small cinder hill, its walls built to follow the outline of the hillside and constructed of sandstone and basalt (volcanic rock). It is a quick and easy uphill hike of only 0.2 miles roundtrip to reach the ruins.
Note that this backcountry area of Wupatki is closed to hiking in order to preserve and protect its fragile archaeological sites.
Tips for Visiting Sunset Crater & Wupatki
Here are some useful insider tips for visitors planning to spend the day at Sunset Crater & Wupatki.
Bring plenty of water (more than you think you will need) especially in summer when it can be quite hot especially at Wupatki which has very little shade. There is a water refill station at the Sunset Crater Visitor Center. Be sure to also wear sunscreen.
Wear comfortable walking shoes. The ground is rocky in the lava fields and uneven around the pueblo ruins.
Dress in layers. The monuments are located at high elevation (6,800-8,000 feet at Sunset Crater and 4,900-5,800 feet at Wupatki) with a high desert climate where weather can change dramatically with little to no notice. The weather also varies quite a bit between the two monuments.
Start the scenic loop at the Sunset Crater entrance. Drive it in one direction toward Wupatki, exiting US-89 just a little further north.
Plan on spending at least 3-5 hours.
There are Visitor Centers at each monument worth stopping for. Both offer public restrooms.
There is no food service inside the monuments or anywhere along the scenic drive. Be sure to pack snacks and food. There are picnic benches near the Sunset Crater Visitor Center.
Pets are only allowed in the parking lots.
Visitors are not allowed to climb the ruins.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit Sunset Crater and Wupatki in one day? How much time do you need to visit?
Yes, you can visit both in one day. The two monuments are connected by a 34-mile long scenic drive making it is easy to explore both in a half-day or full-day trip. You should plan on spending at least 3-5 hours divided evenly between the two monuments, more if you plan to do a lot of hiking.
Does it cost to visit Sunset Crater and Wupatki?
Yes. There is a single entrance fee of $25 per vehicle ($20 for motorcycles) that covers both monuments and is valid for 7 days. Visitors presenting an America the Beatiful annual national park pass get in for free.
When is th best time to visit Sunset Crater and Wupatki?
Spring and fall are the best times to visit when temperatures are moderate. Summers can be quite hot and winters are cold, often with icy roads and snow on the ground especially at the higher elveations like Sunset Crater.
Are Sunset Crater and Wupatki open year round?
Yes. Sunset Crater and Wupatki are typically both open year round although ice and snow sometimes lead to temporary road closures. Be sure to check road conditions before visiting.
Are pets allowed at Sunset Crater and Wupatki"?
Pets on leashes are allowed in parking lots. They are not allowed on trails or in the pueblo structures.
Can you hike to the top of Sunset Crater?
No. Visitors are not allowed to hike to the top of Sunset Crater. The trail is permanently closed in order to protect fragile cinders.
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