Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is a National Monument in Arizona. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 11 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Sunset Crater Volcano
We matched 11 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Sunset Crater Volcano. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (2)
Mountain Peaks (2)
Volcanoes (6)
Volcano
VolcanoVolcanoVolcanoVolcanoVolcanoFire Lookouts (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Sunset Crater Volcano the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:35 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:37 PM | 245° | 10h 02m |
| February | 7:13 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:09 PM | 255° | 10h 55m |
| March | 6:38 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:34 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:54 AM | 6:28 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:59 PM | 283° | 13h 05m |
| May | 5:23 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:24 PM | 294° | 14h 01m |
| June | 5:11 AM | 5:49 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:43 PM | 300° | 14h 32m |
| July | 5:23 AM | 6:00 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:42 PM | 297° | 14h 19m |
| August | 5:46 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:17 PM | 288° | 13h 30m |
| September | 6:10 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:35 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:33 AM | 7:07 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:52 PM | 260° | 11h 19m |
| November | 7:02 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:21 PM | 248° | 10h 19m |
| December | 7:29 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:16 PM | 242° | 9h 47m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.3711, -111.5104); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Sunset Crater Volcano, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:14 AM – 5:44 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 3:18 AM – 5:08 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 1:18 AM – 4:18 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 11:23 PM – 3:33 AM | 4.2 | 26° |
| June | 9:30 PM – 3:20 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 9:26 PM – 1:56 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 8:49 PM – 11:49 PM | 3.0 | 26° |
| September | 8:00 PM – 9:50 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 7:17 PM – 7:57 PM | 0.7 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Be prepared for variable and extreme weather conditions. Expect high winds any time of year. Summer temperatures are often above 95ºF (35ºC) and we have afternoon thunderstorms from July through September. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures are common in the winter. Dress in layers, as weather at Sunset Crater Volcano can change quickly at any time of year.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (54%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From Flagstaff, travel north on US Highway 89; from Page and the east entrance of the Grand Canyon, travel south on Highway 89. Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments are both on the loop road FR-545, which meets Highway 89 near mile markers 430 (Sunset Crater Volcano) and 444 (Wupatki).
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
AZ
AZ
AZ
AZ
AZ
AZ