Sunset Crater Volcano NM

Jacob Lake Pit stop

On the way to Flagstaff, we experience some very high winds. So, we decide to duck into the woods just north of Jacob Lake, Arizona and continue south tomorrow.

To stretch our legs, we walk down to the Jacob Lake Inn for one of their incredible freshly baked cookies. We then spend the evening relaxing in the woods and watching the moon rise.

After being in campgrounds all summer, it’s wonderful to be back in the woods, surrounded by nothing but nature. It’s so peaceful!

Lunar Eclipse

Upon waking, the winds are actually worse. So, we decide to stay put and continue south tomorrow. Which also gives us the opportunity to see another rare celestial event.

This September’s harvest moon coincides with a super moon, a blood moon, and a partial lunar eclipse. This phenomenon is rare, and the next one won’t be seen until October 2033.

Bonito Meadow Pullout

Just outside the entrance station to the park is the Bonito Meadow Pullout, which provides our first really good view of Sunset Crater. It’s here we learn that Sunset Crater is the youngest of the volcanoes surrounding us. It erupted less than 1,000 years ago leaving the 1,000-foot-high cinder cone we can see today.

Explorer Wesley Powell named it Sunset Mountain in 1885 while he was exploring the San Francisco Mountains. He wrote, “The contrast in the colors is so great that on viewing the mountain from a distance the red cinders seem to be on fire.”

Visitor Center

Shortly after going through the entrance station, we stop to look around the visitors center, which is surprisingly busy. We later find out that this is opening day after the 2022 Tunnel Fire swept through the area.

Lava Flow Trail

Next, we park the truck at the Lava Flow Trailhead and head out on the trail. There are two loops to this trail. The inner loop is a paved, ADA, interpretive trail and the outer loop is a natural path guiding us through the lava flow, past interesting formations, and up onto the side of the crater.

Squeeze-up

The upright section of lava at the back of this picture is known as a squeeze-up. It was formed when molten lava oozed out of a crack in the solid shell; which also creates the vertical grooves or striations. Squeeze-ups are clay like and are molded into a wedge-shape as they form.

Spatter Cone

According to the information board here… “Spatter cones are formed when lava is forced up through an opening in the cooled surface of a lava flow. They are fed by the underlying flow rather than a deep magma conduit.”

Cave

A little further down the trail we see a small cave opening. And, according to people we meet on the trail, this cave used to be open to allow visitors to peek inside. It’s now blocked off; but you can still feel air coming up through the opening.

Bonito Vista Trail

This short (0.3 mi round trip), easy, paved trail goes across the Bonito Lava Flow. The field of lava was formed as a molten lava river pooled around the base of Sunset Crater. Then, a layer of cinders rained on top, and finally lava squeezed-up through cracks, expanding the lava field across the landscape.

During the 1960’s space race, every Apollo moon landing astronaut did their geology training here, enabling them to distinguish between craters formed by volcanism and meteorites. The area was also ideal for testing equipment, tools, and lunar rover prototypes.

Lenox Crater Trail

Next, we head out on the Lenox Crater Trail, which is a 1.6 mile, 200 foot elevation gain, moderately strenuous trail leaving from the same parking lot. Along the trial, we are promised views of the Bonito Lava Flow, O’Leary Peak, the San Francisco Peaks, and Sunset Crater Volcano.

Trail

Crater

Once we reach the pinnacle of the trail, we’re standing on the eastern rim of Lenox Crater. Which is all that is left of a 250 foot high cinder cone that formed hundreds of thousands of years before Sunset Crater.

San Francisco Mountains

In the distance, we can see the San Francisco mountains. Rising 12,633 feet (3851m), “The Peaks” are Arizona’s highest point and visible from miles around. Spanish friars named these peaks the San Fancisco Mountains in 1629 and were surprised to find that they did not have lakes or streams. That’s because these mountains are actually a composite volcano that erupted about 6 million years ago. Can you imagine how tall this mountain was prior to the volcanoes eruption?

A’a Trail

Once we reach the bottom of Lenox Crater, we cross the road to do the easy 0.2 mile loop through a section of the Bonito Lava Flow. Here we learn that “A’a” is Hawaiian for “stony rough lava.” True to it’s name, the lava in this section has many sharp, fragmented surfaces. It was formed as the lava flowed slowly and cooled quickly.

We then retrace our steps back to the Lava Flow Trailhead to pick up the tuck and head back to camp for dinner.

As we’re getting into the truck, the sun highlights this beautiful Scarlet Gilia. What’s more appropriate than a plant that looks like molten lava peeking through the black soil at the base of a volcano.

This is a very interesting and educational stop. I know we’ll never look at the mountains around Flagstaff the same way again.

Next stop… Wupatki National Monument