Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments Loop

The Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments Loop is a very scenic loop ride that begins at the Sunset Crater Visitor Center parking lot, about 15 miles north of Flagstaff Arizona.

The best time to do this ride is early or later in the year, April & May or October, to beat the heat. In the fall, September and October, the colors of the black volcanic flows, the yellow aspen leaves, the deep blue ski, and the white of the snow on the San Francisco Mountains is stunning. Since the elevation of the Sunset Crater National Monument is 6,960 ft., the weather can be colder than Flagstaff.

The ruins and the volcanic terrain are great. Definitely include time to tour the ruins. The cuesheet below covers both Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments.

Distance: 52 Miles, 3,360' Elevation Gain.

Getting There: Drive north about 15 miles from Flagstaff, Arizona on US89 to the Sunset Crater Visitor's center.

Roadway: US89 has a lot of traffic but has nice shoulders most of the way. Do the US89 section first to avoid traffic. There are rumble strips which are deep but narrow. Where there is new pavement you can ride two abreast right of the rumble strips. The roads in the two monuments have extremely light traffic.

Options: It is possible to ride to and from Flagstaff and do part of the loop. Also, there is a campground at the Sunset Crater National Monument Visitor Center and you can overnight there.

Notes: Take ample water. The visitor centers are the only places to get water, maybe the Sunset Crater parking lot too.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Download US NPS PDF Map (65KB)

Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments CueSheet // 52 Miles, 3,360' Elevation gain. Mileage Elevation (Feet) Leg Description 0 6960 Sunset Crater Visitor's Center 2.1 7230 US89 16.8 5580 Wupatki N.M. South Entrance. The turn is well signed. 21.1 5290 Lomaki Ruins 27.2 5300 Doney Picnic Areas and View Point,begins great downhill 29.8 4800 1st low point 31.2 4660 Low Point 32.1 4820 Wupatki Visitor Center and largest ruins in the monument, water available 40.4 5490 Entering Strawberry Crater Wilderness 44.3 6150 Painter Desert Overlook, nice lunch spot, no water 48.3 6940 Sunset Crater N.M Boundary (Whew-good hill!) 51.0 6970 Sunset Crater Parking Lot 52.6 6960 Sunset Crater Visitor Center

Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments Map

Mileages are between the dots.

Elevation Profile