Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop Road explores a volcanic landscape and pueblos from ancient residents.

Sunset Crater. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

About 900 years ago, the ground north of Flagstaff rumbled and shook. A fountain of fire spewed lava and ash into the air, destroying much, yet also creating two sites now crowned as national monuments. The 35-mile Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop Road lets you explore Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and the pueblo remains at Wupatki (pronounced wuh-POT-kee) National Monument.

From Phoenix, head north on Interstate 17 for the 2-hour, 140-mile trek. As you enter Flagstaff, Interstate 17 becomes Milton Road. If you continue on Milton Road for about 2 miles, the road turns to the right and becomes Historic Route 66. Continue through town for about 4 miles, and then head north on U.S. Highway 89 toward Page. In 12 miles, turn right onto the Loop Road for Sunset Crater and Wupatki national monuments.

In Lava’s Wake

Just after turning on the Loop Road, the first pullout on the right offers a panorama of the varied environments you can experience in Arizona. From where you stand in Bonito Park, the 12,600-foot San Francisco Peaks are to your right. You get your first glimpse of Sunset Crater to your left. The volcanic cone rises to 8,029 feet above sea level. Continue east on the Loop Road for 1.7 miles to the visitor center.

Back on the Loop Road, the left pullout for Lenox Crater Trail is about a mile ahead. If you walk down the hill from the parking area, you can explore the short, quarter-mile Aa Flow Trail (pronounced AH-ah), which gives you an up-close look at rugged formations and hardened lava flow.

Continue on the Loop Road for about a half-mile to the parking area for the Lava Flow Trail. This quick walk gives you unobstructed views of the lava flows and Sunset Crater. If you want a closer look, the 1-mile Lava Flow Trail winds along the base of Sunset Crater.

Wandering Wupatki

When you leave the Lava Flow Trail, continue on the Loop Road for 15.4 miles to the Wupatki Pueblo and Visitor Center.

Wupatki National Monument. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

By A.D. 1190, there were an estimated 2,000 people within a day’s walk of here. Wupatki was once a 100-room pueblo, the remains of which you see today. The half-mile trail behind the visitor center circles through the ruins where the Wupatki once lived while farming the land. The circular ball court was a central part of the pueblo’s social life, serving as both a place to play and possibly hold ceremonies.

After exploring Wupatki, you might want to backtrack on the Loop Road for about a quarter-mile to the Wukoki Pueblo. The 2.5-mile access road on your left takes you to one of the best-preserved structures in the monument. Over the years, archaeologists have found pottery and turquoise jewelry here.

Head back to the Loop Road and tum right, passing the visitor center. In 4.2 miles, make a stop at Doney Mountain Picnic Area. From the picnic area, you can take the half-mile hike to the top of Doney Mountain, another volcanic cone. While smaller than Sunset Crater, this 210- foot vertical climb gives you a look at the crater.

When you’re ready to head back to the city, turn left and continue 9.5 miles west to U.S. Highway 89. If time allows, there are other pueblo remains just off the main Loop Road before you reach the highway. At U.S. Highway 89, turn left and proceed 26 miles back to Flagstaff.

If You Go to Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop Road

Preparing for your trip: Remember there are no restaurants or gas stations on the Loop Road. Carry plenty of water. A sturdy pair of shoes is necessary for hiking, and no pets are allowed on trails.

When to go: The drive is open year-round, day and night, with most trails accessible from sunrise to sunset. Both visitor centers are open daily except Christmas. Hours vary depending on the season, so check online before you head out.