Sunset Crater Volcano

The eruption that created Sunset Crater National Monument was devastating. The date is not firm but there is evidence it occurred around 1085. The eruptions formed a 1,120 foot-high cone, and covered an 810-square-mile area with a blanket of ash and lapilli. The impact of the eruption was so profound, it forced the Sinagua people to abandon their homes. Today, visitors can explore trails winding through lava flows, lava tube caves, and ponderosa pine forests, witnessing the area’s gradual ecological recovery. The monument protects both geological wonders and ancient Indigenous sites, offering insight into the cultural and natural history of the region.