Bonito Vista Trail - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Continuing along Sunset Crater - Wupatki Loop Road in Sunset Crater Volcano National Monumnet, we stopped at a paved parking area on the south side of the road 3.5 miles from its beginning at US 89. Two interesting and very different trails through the a'a lava begin here. The Bonito Vista Trail is an accessible trail with a 48" wide concrete surface. It is 733 feet long and has two benches at the end. The trail has a short incline near the parking lot, but is otherwise level enough for wheelchair use without assistance. We walked the trail during our May 2015 visit.

Short incline at the start of the trail

Lava flow, forest and Little Elden Mountain (9018' 7.5 miles)

Looking across the parking area at O'Leary Peak (8916') and Darton Dome (8408')

There is no shade on this short trail

The trail provides views of successive waves of lava flows

Sunset Crater Volcano

First bench at the end of the trail

Bridge crosses a lava gully

View of jumbled blocks of lava and Sunset Crater from the bridge

The second bench and the end of the trail

Solidified blocks of lava

The forest has not filled in after nearly one thousand years

The vista from the end of the trail includes O'Leary Peak and Darton Dome

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.