Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Sunset Crater

Yet another hike away from Sedona (we did a lot that day, including Walnut Canyon and Wupatki). Sunset Crater and the surrounding area reveal a large slice of ancient history with volcanic lava fields and hills and valleys that illustrate the massive changes that shaped the earth in this area.




Sunset Crater is a National Monument with plenty of trails (the Aa Flow trail, the Cinder Hills Overlook and the Lava Flow Trail) to satisfy the meek and the more adventurous hikers.

We chose the most strenuous of the hikes within this park: Lenox Hill Trail.





This is a steep 1 mile trail that wanders through the Ponderosa Pines and ends up at the top of the hill with a great view of the San Francisco Peaks.







Be careful while hiking in Sunset Crater Park and stay on the trails to avoid damaging the landscape and avoid injury. Lava is brittle, sharp and unstable!


These 25 year-old hiking boots did the trick for me!


You should plan on spending some time at the Visitor Center before you start your hike to get oriented.




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