• Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

    Sunset Crater Volcano

    National Monument Arizona

Lava Flow Trail

Cinder and lava formations, with snow-covered peaks in background

San Francicso Peaks as seen from Lava Flow Trail.

NPS photo by Dallas Larsen

This is a self-guided loop trail. Pick up a trail guide and explore an exciting volcanic landscape at the base of Sunset Crater Volcano.

Note: This trail does not climb the volcano, which is closed to hiking.

Distance 1 mile round-trip
Time

30 minutes round-trip
Difficulty Easy to moderate
Accessibility A 1/4-mile section of this trail is paved and fully accessible.

Did You Know?

Aerial view of Sunset Crater Volcano

Legend says that 19th-century explorer John Wesley Powell named Sunset Crater Volcano because its rim of red and yellow cinders suggested the colors of a perpetual sunset.