Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
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In the morning, we circled back to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument before continuing on toward Page. Sunset Crater was our third national monument in the Flagstaff area, and it felt completely different from the others. We hiked the A‘a Trail and the Lava Flow Trail, both short hikes packed with interesting terrain. The wind was no joke that morning, with gusts pushing close to 30 mph, which only added to the stark, exposed feel of the place.
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This was my first time seeing volcanic rock and black soil up close. There’s a harsh beauty to dark lava fields stretching toward distant mountains, with very little softness in the landscape. Everything feels raw and unfinished. Sunset Crater last erupted about 1,000 years ago, right when the Sinagua people lived in this area. What began as a disaster ultimately reshaped the land in a useful way. The volcanic cinders enriched the soil, making farming possible for centuries afterward.
In 2022, a wildfire burned roughly 60 percent of the surrounding forest, and the evidence is still visible today. The lava fields, however, remain unchanged, a reminder that this landscape was shaped by forces far bigger than fire.
We wrapped up our visit and pointed the camper north toward Page. We had originally planned to boondock near town, but since we were arriving on a Saturday, I did not feel like gambling on finding an open spot. Instead, I booked us into Wahweap Campground for the weekend. Unlike the private campground in Flagstaff, this one felt worth it. The views alone justified the stay, and we chose a no-hookup site to keep the cost reasonable.
In 2022, a wildfire burned roughly 60 percent of the surrounding forest, and the evidence is still visible today. The lava fields, however, remain unchanged, a reminder that this landscape was shaped by forces far bigger than fire.
We wrapped up our visit and pointed the camper north toward Page. We had originally planned to boondock near town, but since we were arriving on a Saturday, I did not feel like gambling on finding an open spot. Instead, I booked us into Wahweap Campground for the weekend. Unlike the private campground in Flagstaff, this one felt worth it. The views alone justified the stay, and we chose a no-hookup site to keep the cost reasonable.