Sunset Crater, Volcanic cinder cone in Coconino County, United States.
Sunset Crater is a volcanic cinder cone with rust-colored mineral deposits staining its upper slopes and rim. Black lava fields of varying ages and textures spread across the surrounding landscape in all directions.
The eruption occurred around 900 years ago and dramatically altered the surrounding landscape. This event influenced how people settled and used the land in the region for centuries afterward.
The Ancestral Puebloans and later communities recognized how the eruption changed their land and modified their way of living in response. The area continues to hold cultural meaning for these groups today.
Visit early in the morning or late afternoon when shadows reveal the landscape's texture and crowds are lighter. Bring plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes since the ground is rough and sharp lava is everywhere underfoot.
The dark volcanic landscape around Sunset Crater resembled the moon so closely that astronauts trained here for space exploration. Remnants of these training sites are still visible to visitors today.
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