Walnut Canyon, Wupatki, and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monuments are all managed collectively by the National Park Service as the Flagstaff Area National Monuments. They protect over 40,000 acres of diverse landscapes, including canyons, ancient puebloan ruins, deserts, volcanoes, and more!
If you’re on a trip to Northern Arizona and plan to stop in Flagstaff, don’t overlook the 3 Flagstaff Area National Monuments just because you’re near the Grand Canyon and other famous attractions.
Due to their close proximity to Flagstaff, it is possible to see all 3 in one day. In fact, that’s exactly what my husband, sister, and I did on our trip to Flagstaff. We also packed in a couple of the Flagstaff breweries and a visit to Lowell Observatory to stargaze during the same day (yes, it was a very busy day for us!).
All 3 of these National Monuments exceeded my expectations. Not only were the ancient pueblos and dwellings really neat to see, the desert and grassland scenery was unreal as well.
This post is your ultimate guide to the 3 Flagstaff Area National Monuments: Walnut Canyon, Wupatki, and Sunset Crater Volcano. I’ll cover the best things to do, how long a visit takes, fee information, and more!
Flagstaff Area National Monuments Overview
Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater Volcano, and Wupatki National Monuments are all collectively managed by the NPS as the Flagstaff Area National Monuments.
I was surprised at how different each one felt despite them being so close in location. Explore volcanic landscapes, a vast canyon with cliff dwellings, and ancient puebloan ruins all in one day.
All 3 National Monuments are located within a 30 minute drive from downtown Flagstaff.
Walnut Canyon is situated to the east and the Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano are located along the same loop road to the north of downtown. Most people visit both Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano at the same time by driving this 34-mile scenic loop road.
Best Time to Visit the Flagstaff Area National Monuments
The best time to visit the Flagstaff Area National Monuments is late spring through the fall. Flagstaff sits at 6800 feet, so it’s cold, windy, and snowy in the winter.
The NPS might close the National Monuments due to weather, and it would be a bummer if that happened on your visit!
We visited in late March and I would say that is on the earlier end of when I would recommend going. We had a little bit of snow during our trip and it was pretty windy, but it was manageable. Going any earlier in the year would be too cold, in my opinion.
The National Monuments will be more crowded in the summer, but it’s nothing like visiting the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, or other extremely popular destinations.
Fall would be a beautiful time to visit to see the Aspen trees change color and the spring brings wildflowers.
Related: Petrified Forest National Park: The Ultimate Itinerary & Guide
How to Get to Flagstaff
Flagstaff is located in Northern Arizona about 2 hours north of Phoenix. Phoenix is the closest major airport and is convenient to fly into and rent a car. From the Phoenix airport, it’s a straight shot up I-17 to get to Flagstaff.
Here are some drive times to Flagstaff from nearby popular destinations:
- Grand Canyon South Rim: 79 miles / 1.5 hours
- Phoenix, AZ: 145 miles / 2 hours
- Sedona, AZ: 30 miles / 1 hour
- Page, AZ (Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, etc): 129 miles / 2 hours
- Petrified Forest National Park: 115 miles / 1.5 – 2 hours
Related: The Ultimate 9-Day Northern Arizona Road Trip Itinerary
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Year Founded: November 30, 1915
How to Get There: head east on I-40 from downtown Flagstaff and follow Walnut Canyon Road
Fees & Passes Information: $25 per vehicle, free with the America the Beautiful Pass
Hours: 9-5 daily, closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Best Things to Do: walk the Rim Trail, hike down to the Island Trail, check out the Visitor’s Center
Time Needed to Visit: 2 hours
Walnut Canyon is an incredible National Monument that preserves the dwellings and ruins of the indigenous people that inhabited the area in the canyon. The dwellings date back to between 1125 and 1250 AD.
These communities built their homes along the side of the natural recesses in the canyon walls and farmed in the area. The water in the canyon was essential for survival.
The Island Trail allows you to hike down into the canyon and explore 25 cliff dwellings along a 1-mile loop trail. There are 240 steps down to the trail that you’ll need to be prepared for, but we didn’t find this hike to be too strenuous!
You can also hike along the rim for views over the canyon. This trail is 0.7 miles round-trip and is relatively flat.
We loved exploring Walnut Canyon. It is incredible to think about what life would have been like to live on the side of a canyon wall!
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Year Founded: May 26, 1930
How to Get There: head east on I-40, hop on US Highway 89 north, and then take the first right onto Loop Road (the first right will take you to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument First, the second right onto Loop Road will take you to Wupatki National Monument)
Fees & Passes Information: $25 per vehicle (includes entry to Wupatki as well), free with the America the Beautiful Pass
Hours: open year round, from sunrise to sunset
Best Things to Do: walk the Lava Flow, Bonita Vista, Lenox Crater, A’a, and Lava’s Edge Trails
Time Needed to Visit: 1-2 hours
Sunset Crater Volcano is one of 600 cinder cones that surround the Flagstaff area. It is also Flagstaff’s most recent volcanic eruption, which happened about 1000 years ago. It covered over 900 square miles in ash and lava, and forever changed the landscape of the area.
This eruption was part of a series of events that shaped the San Francisco volcanic fields over the span of millions of years.
Visitors can now explore the volcanic features via a series of short trails at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. All of the trails are easily accessible off the main road. We got lucky with a clear day and loved exploring the lava flows and scenery of the San Francisco Peaks off to the distance!
The Sunset Crater itself is not available for climbing in order to protect its natural resources. There used to be a trail to the top, but erosion and scarring of the soil caused the NPS to close the trail in the 1970’s. Please respect the environment and stay on established trails and leave no trace!
Wupatki National Monument
Year Founded: December 9, 1924
How to Get There: head east on I-40, hop on US Highway 89 north, and then take the second right onto Loop Road (the first right will take you to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument First, the second right onto Loop Road will take you to Wupatki National Monument)
Fees & Passes Information: $25 per vehicle (includes entry to Sunset Crater Volcano as well), free with the America the Beautiful Pass
Hours: open year round, from sunrise to sunset
Best Things to Do: drive the Loop Road and walk the 4 short trails to the different pueblo sites, do a ranger-led hike in the backcountry
Time Needed to Visit: 2 hours to drive the loop road and walk the trails, add 2-4 more hours for a ranger-led hike
Wupatki National Monument is home to several different pueblo sites dating back to the 1100’s and 1200’s. The Wupatki Pueblo is the largest free-standing pueblo in Northern Arizona- it is really impressive to see up-close!
There are 4 different trails that spur off of the Loop Road that take you to the remaining dwellings: Wupatki, Citadel, Lomaki, Wukoki, Nalakihu, and Box Canyon. You are also able to go inside a lot of the dwellings and explore them close-up.
If you have more time to explore Wupatki National Monument, you can also do a ranger-led hike to different areas of the backcountry of Wupatki National Monument.
When the nearby Sunset Crater erupted in the 11th century, indigenous people moved to the area because the volcanic ash improved the soil for farming. By 1225, the sites were completely abandoned, most likely due to changing weather conditions that made the area difficult for growing crops.
The pueblos here are really cool to see, but I was also pleasantly surprised at the gorgeous desert scenery with views of the San Francisco Peaks! The contrast of the yellow-green landscape with the red pueblos made for awesome photos.
A visit to Wupatki is relatively short and sweet- it only takes a couple of hours to drive the loop road and visit all 4 short pueblo trails.
1-Day Flagstaff Area National Monuments Itinerary
Here’s how we structured our Flagstaff Area National Monuments itinerary:
- Head to Walnut Canyon first when they open at 9 am. Hike down the canyon and walk the Island Trail, and then explore the Rim Trail.
- Grab lunch in Flagstaff.
- Drive to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Walk the A’a, Bonito Vista, and Lava Flow trails. If you want a slightly more strenuous hike and have time, do the Lenox Crater Trail.
- Follow the loop road to Wupatki National Monument. Drive to each of the four pueblos and walk the short trails to view the ruins.
- Return back to Flagstaff for dinner.
Tips for Visiting the Flagstaff Area National Monuments
Buy a US National Parks Pass. If you plan to visit all 3 of the Flagstaff Area National Monuments and at least one other National Park or Monument within one year, this pass will save you money vs. paying separate fees at each site. The pass costs $80 and will get you into all federal lands for one year. Make sure you order ahead of time as they will ship you a physical pass!
Bring plenty of water and snacks in your car. There aren’t restaurants or facilities out near the National Monuments, so come prepared so you don’t get hungry!
Wear sturdy hiking shoes at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. The lava flow paths can be sharp and hard on shoes, so good hiking shoes are a must.
Are the Flagstaff Area National Monuments Worth Visiting?
Yes, the Flagstaff Area National Monuments are definitely worth visiting. If you find yourself staying in or driving through Flagstaff because you’re visiting the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Sedona, Petrified Forest National Park, or other nearby attractions, earmarking a day to see these National Monuments will be worth your time.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed learning about the history here and the scenic views can’t be beat!
I hope this post helped you plan your visit to the Flagstaff Area National Monuments! Please let me know if you have any other questions in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them!
-Megan
If You Have More Time in Flagstaff
More time in Flagstaff? Check out these other nearby attractions during your trip!
LOWELL OBSERVATORY: Lowell Observatory is one of the oldest observatories in the United States. It was founded in 1894 by Percival Lowell, the astronomer who discovered Pluto! Go stargazing at night and explore the museum exhibits. More information can be found on their website here.
METEOR CRATER NATURAL LANDMARK: Yes, Meteor Crater Natural Landmark is exactly what you think it is- a 600-foot deep crater caused by an iron-nickel meteorite. This site is on private land, so you will need to purchase a ticket for a guided rim tour and to visit the attached Barringer Space Museum. Meteor Crater is 45 minutes east of Flagstaff and will be on your way to Petrified Forest National Park. We loved this tour and visited on our way to Petrified Forest from Flagstaff. Tickets and more info can be found here.
FLAGSTAFF BREWERY TRAIL: Visit 8 unique breweries while you’re in town, have a pint, fill out your passport, and then stop by the Flagstaff Visitor’s Center to pick up your free pint glass!
More Information on Arizona
ARIZONA ROAD TRIP: This 9-day northern Arizona road trip that starts and ends in Phoenix takes you to Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest National Park, Flagstaff, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and more!
THE GRAND CANYON: One of the 7 wonders of the world, a trip to the Grand Canyon is a must. Check out my ultimate guide to visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim or learn how to visit the Grand Canyon in the winter.
SEDONA, AZ: Sedona has some of the best hiking trails I’ve ever seen. It makes a great stop on your way to or from the Phoenix airport or a day trip from Flagstaff. Check out my list of the top 10 hikes in Sedona, hike the Devil’s Bridge Trail or the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop.
PAGE, AZ: Page makes a perfect long weekend destination and is packed with famous attractions like Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and more. Check out the top 12 things to do in Page to help you plan your visit!
PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK: Petrified Forest is a highly underrated National Park that you can visit in one day with fascinating geology and unreal scenery. It’s a 1.5-hour drive from the Flagstaff and makes a great road trip stop. Check out my guide to Petrified Forest here.
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK: Located in Tucson, walk among the nation’s largest cacti. It is a 4 hour drive south from Flagstaff.
MONUMENT VALLEY: Incredible scenic drive full of sandstone buttes where many famous movies were filmed. It’s located 3 hours northeast of Flagstaff and will be on your way to Moab, Utah. Check out my guide to Monument Valley for more details on how to visit!
