Bonito Park - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is located about 20 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona off of US 89. The cinder cone volcano is estimated to have erupted about 900 years ago as part of the still active San Francisco volcanic field. We visited in May 2015 during our trip to the Southwest.

One mile after turning off of US 89 onto Sunset Crater - Wupatki Loop Road, the forest opens on the south side of the road is replaced with a large grassy field. Bonito Park is an open meadow at an elevation of 7,000 feet in the Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. A roadside pullout with interpretive signs provided our first glimpse of the 8,039 foot high Sunset Crater Volcano. The morning light leaves the western face of the volcano in shadow, but our stop later in the day showed why it was named Sunset Crater.

Turning to the east, the open meadow also provided views of the San Francisco Peaks. This mountain range ten miles north of Flagstaff is the eroded remnant of a stratovolcano. The San Francisco volcanic field also produced numerous cinder cone volcanoes in the area with Sunset Crater Volcano being the most recent. There are several distinct peaks on the volcano such as Humphreys Peak (12,633'), Agassiz Peak (12,356'), Fremont Peak (11,969') and Aubineau Peak (11,838'). Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona.

Sunset Crater Volcano in the morning light

Snow covered San Francisco Peaks

Bonito Park

Sunset Crater Volcano seems to glow in the late afternoon light

San Francisco Peaks in the afternoon

Afternoon clouds gather over Sunset Crater Volcano

An entry fee of $5 per person (16 and over) is collected at the visitor center and is good for seven consecutive days at all three Flagstaff area National Monuments. Other fee payment options include the Flagstaff Area National Monuments Annual Pass for $25, the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($10 for lifetime), Access Pass (free with documented disability) and Military Annual Pass (free for active duty personnel).

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/sucr/index.htm.