Trip to Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monument Parks in Arizona
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Introduction
Arizona is known for its impressive natural parks. The most famous of all is, of course, the Grand Canyon, followed by Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon. But there are several other parks in the state that are less famous, much less crowded, and very recommended.
Such are "Sunset Crater Volcano" and "Wupatki National Monument" in Arizona.
Remains of structures - Wupatki Pueblo:
The parks are adjacent to each other but completely different in essence and appearance. They combine dramatic nature with ancient culture. The parks belong to the American National Park Service and are included in the annual pass for national parks and monuments. Here you won't stand in traffic jams at the park entrance, you won't have trouble finding parking at the various viewpoints or trailheads, unlike parks located on the average tourist's worn path.
Sunset Crater Volcano:
The first park, Sunset Crater Volcano, is a relatively young volcano, 340 meters high, created from an eruption less than a thousand years ago. There you can view the volcano and the black lava fields on easy hiking trails, some of which are even accessible. The site also features diverse vegetation taking root in the hard rocks.
In the second park, Wupatki National Monument, there are remains of structures of ancient inhabitants from about 800 years ago scattered across several sites in the park. The structures are made of various stones, some red, some black, and some whitish.
Nalakihu Pueblo
Arrival
These two parks are adjacent to each other and are located about a half-hour drive north of Flagstaff, about an hour north of Sedona, and about two and a half hours north of Phoenix.
You can head out for a day trip to these two parks if staying in Flagstaff or Sedona. Additionally, these parks integrate well into a travel route between these destinations and the Grand Canyon or Page / Lake Powell.
From Flagstaff, drive about half an hour north on Highway 89 until the right turn onto Road 395, which leads to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Continuing on this road, you reach the second park called Wupatki National Monument, which contains remains of ancient indigenous homes.
Recommended places to stay near the parks:
- Recommended places to stay in Flagstaff
- Recommended places to stay in Sedona
Park - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
It is worth visiting the Sunset Crater Volcano Visitor Center to receive recommendations for hiking trails and a map.
Address: Sunset Crater Volcano Visitor Center, 6082 Forest Service 545 Rd, Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking trails in the park: At the beginning of the park is a short and easy hiking trail called A’a. The trail passes through a "lava lake" in a dramatic landscape reminiscent of the landscapes of the Big Island in Hawaii. The duration of the trip is about a fifteen-minute walk.
The second most popular trail is called the Lava Flow Trail, the first part of which is accessible, made of concrete, and the second part is not accessible and takes about an hour's walk. On this trail, you see the surrounding volcanic landscape; the dominant color is black, with lava paths, the edge of a lava tube, and plenty of characteristic vegetation growing and emerging from the rocks. The Sunset Volcano is considered a relatively "young" mountain, created, as mentioned, in a volcanic eruption that occurred just under a thousand years ago.
Park - Wupatki National Monument
From the previous park, continue to the second park along the continuation of Road 395. On the way, it is recommended to stop at two beautiful viewpoints overlooking the surrounding dramatic landscapes. It is worth starting the visit to "Wupatki" park at the Visitor Center located near the most popular, beautiful, and large pueblo in the park: the pueblo's name is the same as the park: Wupatki Pueblo, which is partially restored. The dominant color around is red.
Address: Visitor Center Wupatki Ruins, 25137 Loop Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, United States
A short hiking trail of about 800 meters leads from the visitor center to the pueblo and the ancient circular structures that served as meeting places for the natives many hundreds of years ago.
In the distant structure, there is a blowhole in the ground leading to underground caves from which cool air emerges. The air exits or enters there depending on the pressure differences between the outside and the inside of the caves.
Less than a kilometer from this pueblo, a very short drive leads to another pueblo called Wukoki Pueblo. This ancient home is a tower about three stories high, offering a beautiful view of the surroundings and a short hiking trail around the structure.
Wukoki Pueblo
Continue to the site where another structure once stood, though today only few remains are left. The color of the earth and the remains of the structure tends toward black. What is special about this spot is a hiking trail named Doney Mountain Trail, 700 meters long each way, which climbs moderately to a beautiful viewpoint from the top of the mountain. Highly recommended!
Address: Doney Mountain Trail, Unnamed Road, Flagstaff, AZ
The view from the top of Doney Mountain:
Remains of structures on top of Doney Mountain:
Continue further on Road 395 and reach another pueblo called Nalakihu Pueblo.
Address: Nalakihu Pueblo, Co Rd 395, Flagstaff, AZ
This is a pueblo made of limestone, including several adjacent rooms in a row, and next to them is a fortress on a hill called Citadel Pueblo, which can be climbed for a view of the surrounding desert landscape, which is very different from the previous landscapes. Nearby is another similar pueblo, also made of limestone.
Nalakihu Pueblo
You should dedicate at least 5 hours to the trip in both parks (not including the drive to them from Flagstaff).
The total length of the entire route from Flagstaff through all the points mentioned and back to Flagstaff is 140 km.