Lava Flow Trail - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Our visit to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument continued with another short walk on the second trail from the parking area described here. The Lava Flow Trail consists of an accessible loop of about 1/3 mile and a network of trails forming loops off of the concrete trail. This network can extend the hike to about one mile.

Small red cinder cone

Lichen on lava

Bridge over lava gully

Lava gully

Cinder field and Sunset Crater Volcano

Cinder path

An older, more eroded cinder cone

Stairs to the base of the a'a lava flow

Plant life slowly moves into the lava field

Sunset Crater Volcano from the a'a lava field

San Francisco Peaks

Ponderosa pine

The trail climbs up the lava flow

Looking back down the trail

Continuing the climb

Sunset Crater Volcano

Viewing platform

A large fault in the lava from the viewing platform

Cinder field, forest and the San Francisco Peaks

View from a bench near the lava gully

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.