Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the people who lived here. A thousand years later, trees and flowers grow among the rocks, and people visit the lava flow to see and remember the most recent volcanic eruption in Arizona.
Alerts
- ClosureNPS ↗Road Closure: Sunset Crater Volcano September 21 through October 26
Beginning September 21, Forest Road 545 will close to all vehicle traffic starting near the intersection with Highway 89A to the Sunset Crater Volcano entrance kiosk for culvert work. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument remains OPEN and accessible via Forest Road 545 through Wupatki National Monument. Plan for extra travel time—the drive between visitor centers is about 19 miles/30 minutes.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWilson Piles Rx
14 mi from the park's reference point
- PrescribedWalker Hill Piles Rx
20 mi from the park's reference point · 725 acres
- PrescribedWalker Hill 2 Piles Rx
20 mi from the park's reference point · 356 acres
- PrescribedNewman Piles Rx
26 mi from the park's reference point
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleThis pass covers the pass holder and up to 15 passengers of a single, private (non-commercial) vehicle at both Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments for 1-7 days. | $25 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers to both Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument. | $20 | |
| Per PersonAdmits one individual bicyclist, hiker, or pedestrian visiting the facility without a private vehicle. Good for both Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments for 1-7 days. A pass is not required for individuals 15 or younger. | $15 | |
| Non-commercial GroupsThe per person fee is charged for non-commercial groups up to the point that it exceeds the cost of the commercial rate for the same size vehicle. | $15 | |
| Education/Academic GroupsBona fide educational institutions visiting for non-recreational purposes whose visit pertains directly to established curriculum are exempt from paying entry fees. Apply for an educational fee waiver at least 4 weeks in advance by submitting an educational fee waiver. | Free | |
| Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity | ||
| SedanCovers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 1-6 individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. | $28 | |
| VanCovers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 7-15 individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. | $40 | |
| Motor CoachCovers occupants of a vehicle with an occupancy of 16+ individuals at Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon for 1 day. A commercial group is defined as a group that is entering for the purpose of providing commercial tour services within the unit. | $100 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkAdmits the passholder, passenger of one motorcycle, or occupants of a single, non-commercial vehicle at Sunset Crater Volcano, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monuments for 1 year. | $45 | |
Hours
| Park Hours | Daily · All Day |
When to go
March draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Sunset Crater Volcano Visitor CenterPassport stamp
The Sunset Crater Volcano Visitor Center includes a museum, WNPA park store, park film, and restroom facilities. The building features architecture from the Mission 66 era. Park rangers are present, passes are available for purchase, and Junior Ranger activities are available.
No campgrounds, no webcams or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Things to do
- Become a Junior Ranger at Sunset Crater Volcano1-2 Hours
Explore Sunset Crater Volcano and learn about geology, wildlife, starry skies and how you can help us protect national parks.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
News
- Road Closure Planned for Sunset Crater Volcano September 21 through October 21 ↗2026-08-24
Forest Road 545 will close to all vehicle traffic starting near the intersection with Highway 89A to the Sunset Crater Volcano entrance kiosk for culvert work.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
On the National Register nearby
- Dean Eldredge MuseumBuilding · Flagstaff · 12 mi
- Walnut Canyon BridgeStructure · Winona · 12.1 mi
- Fern Mountain RanchBuilding · Flagstaff · 12.8 mi
- Homestead, TheBuilding · Flagstaff · 12.8 mi
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Forest Service trails nearby
These trails are outside the park on National Forest land, within 15 miles of Sunset Crater Volcano. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured from the park's reference point to the nearer end of the trail.
Guidebooks for Arizona's national parks and the Southwest
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthCoyote 1× · Gray Fox 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 105 birds, 37 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Cooper's Hawk · Ferruginous Hawk · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Hen Harrier · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Mountain Pygmy Owl · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Coot
Shorebirds & seabirdsKilldeer · Lesser Yellowlegs · Sabine's Gull
Gamebirds & dovesGambel's Quail · Mourning Dove · Wild Turkey
WoodpeckersHairy Woodpecker · Lewis' Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-naped Sapsucker · Williamson's Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsBlack-chinned Hummingbird · Broad-tailed Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Bushtit · American Crow · American Goldfinch · American Robin · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Belted Kingfisher · Black Phoebe · Black-chinned Sparrow · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-throated Sparrow · Bohemian Waxwing · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Creeper · Brown-headed Cowbird · Cassin's Finch · Cassin's Kingbird · Cedar Waxwing · Chipping Sparrow · Clark's Nutcracker · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Starling · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Meadowlark · Evening Grosbeak · Gray Vireo · Green-tailed Towhee · Hepatic Tanager · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Juniper Titmouse · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Lesser Goldfinch · Loggerhead Shrike · Mallard · Mountain Bluebird · Northern Raven · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Plumbeous Vireo · Pygmy Nuthatch · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Rock Wren · Roughleg · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Sage Thrasher · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Steller's Jay · Tecolote occidental · Townsend's Solitaire · Tree Swallow · Violet-green Swallow · Western Bluebird · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Tanager · Western Wood Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · black rosy-finch · gray-crowned rosy-finch · mountain chickadee · spotted towhee · western scrub-jay
Small mammalsAbert's Squirrel · Audubon's Cottontail · Black-tailed Jack Rabbit · Botta's Pocket Gopher · Brush Deermouse · Crawford's Gray Shrew · Deer Mouse · Mexican Woodrat · Piñon Deermouse · Rock Squirrel · Silky Pocket Mouse · Stephen's Woodrat · Western Harvest Mouse · White-tailed Antelope Squirrel · common porcupine
PredatorsAmerican Badger · American Black Bear · Bobcat · Common Gray Fox · Coyote · Long-tailed Weasel · Ringtail · common raccoon
Hoofed mammalsMule Deer · elk
BatsBig Brown Bat · Brazilian Free-tailed Bat · California Myotis · Fringed Myotis · Hoary Bat · Long-eared Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Pallid Bat · Small-footed Myotis · Western Pipistrelle
Also on the checklistCatamount · cliff chimunk
Activities
Activity guides for this park Stargazing in the national parks
Weather & climate
Be prepared for variable and extreme weather conditions. Expect high winds any time of year. Summer temperatures are often above 95ºF (35ºC) and we have afternoon thunderstorms from July through September. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures are common in the winter. Dress in layers, as weather at Sunset Crater Volcano can change quickly at any time of year.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Sunset Crater Volcano?
Entrance is $25 per private vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. This pass covers the pass holder and up to 15 passengers of a single, private (non-commercial) vehicle at both Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments for 1-7 days.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Sunset Crater Volcano?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Sunset Crater Volcano-only annual pass is $45.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Sunset Crater Volcano takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Sunset Crater Volcano free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Sunset Crater Volcano?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Sunset Crater Volcano. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
Is Sunset Crater Volcano open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Sunset Crater Volcano right now?
1 active alert as of October 14, 2026: Road Closure: Sunset Crater Volcano September 21 through October 26.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Sunset Crater Volcano?
108,348 recreation visits in 2025, number 212 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Sunset Crater Volcano?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show T-Mobile 4G LTE. No reported coverage for Verizon and AT&T. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Is Sunset Crater Volcano good for stargazing?
Yes. Sunset Crater Volcano is a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: Dark sky parks
What is the weather like at Sunset Crater Volcano?
Be prepared for variable and extreme weather conditions. Expect high winds any time of year.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
