Sunset Crater Volcano Monument: Nature's Power & Human Renewal

Sunset Crater Volcano

National Monument

Welcome!

Around 1085 the ground shook and lava spewed high into the air. When the eruption finished, it had changed both the landscape and the people who lived here. Today, it teaches how nature and humankind affect each other—and how rebirth and renewal happen in the wake of disaster.

Stories from Sunset Crater Volcano

One of the three Flagstaff National Monuments, Sunset Crater Volcano is an International Dark Sky Park, protecting the night sky from harmful light pollutions and preserving the ecosystems that depend on this protection. Visit, learn, and explore this unique part of Arizona history.

Native America Ruins, Wupatki
See Arizona’s Remarkable Wonders and Volcanic History in National Parks Arizona has some of the most beautiful, culturally significant landscapes in the nation. Whether you’re visiting the Grand Canyon State for the first time or looking to get better...
Shop Online

Bring the Park Home

Your purchases support the parks. When you can’t get to a national park for a visit, experience it from the comfort of your home. WNPA’s online store is packed with ranger-approved park collectibles, books, toys, and clothing. Shop for a special item to commemorate a trip, share a memory with a nature lover or park enthusiast, or represent your favorite national parks.

Banner Image

Discover More National Parks

David Kroese, author of “The Centennial: A Journey Through America’s National Park System,” reveals the hidden gems of the National Park System with Western National Parks Association’s regional program manager, Caroline Lochner. “The Centennial: A Journey Through America’s National Park System” details David’s compelling explorations of 387 national parks in 360 days. The story continues through December 2017, when he becomes one of fewer than fifty people known to have visited all 417 national parks. Experience the inherent marvels within America’s unique landscape and fascinating history, revealed in engaging context, poetic descriptions, and heartfelt appreciation. This book is available for purchase from http://store.wnpa.org.

Since our founding in 1938

WNPA has provided more than

$147 million

in aid to our partner parks to fund educational programs, initiatives, and scientific research

Kids in Parks

National parks are places where kids can dream up great adventures! Taking in amazing scenery. Testing out new skills. Exploring places kids may have only heard about. But most importantly, creating new memories with friends and family.

Our public lands are our public commons. They belong to all of us as part of our natural and cultural heritage. They remind us of a larger world that has existed long before the arrival of humans and will survive long after we are gone. –Terry Tempest Williams, Author & Conservationist