Lava Flow Trail,
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Approximately 950 years ago the volcano of Sunset Crater erupted and changed the surrounding landscape to what you see today. The Lava Flow Trail is a short, self-guided trail at the base of the now extinct Sunset Crater. The trail follows the lava flow and cinder that spewed from the volcano. Sunset Crater cinder cone is the youngest of 600 volcanoes within the San Francisco Volcanic Field ranging in ages from 6 million years to 1000 years.
Elevation
The Lava Flow Trail has a maximum elevation of 6,980 ft., a minimum elevation of 6,956 ft. and an elevation range of 24 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 0.3 mi | 6,956 ft | 6,980 ft | 24 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 7 min | 2.2 | 27 ft | 39 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 7 min | 3.2 | 39 ft | 27 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Lava Flow Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: White Horse Hills, AZ
- North Topo Map: O'Leary Peak, AZ
- Northeast Topo Map: Strawberry Crater, AZ
- West Topo Map: Humphreys Peak, AZ
- Topo Map: Sunset Crater West, AZ
- East Topo Map: Sunset Crater East, AZ
- Southwest Topo Map: Flagstaff West, AZ
- South Topo Map: Flagstaff East, AZ
- Southeast Topo Map: Winona, AZ
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Lava Flow Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Lava Flow Trail?
The length of the trail is 0.3 miles (0.5 km) or 622 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Lava Flow Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 7 minutes in one direction and in 7 minutes in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.