Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Truly dark sky, with the zodiacal light clearly visible.
Sunset Crater is a 1,000-year-old cinder cone volcano north of Flagstaff with a certified dark sky designation and the same lighting protections that cover the entire Flagstaff area. The volcanic landscape, all black cinders and lava flows, absorbs rather than reflects light, which keeps the observing environment unusually dark at ground level. It pairs naturally with Wupatki and Walnut Canyon for a full day and night trip out of Flagstaff.
What's here
On the map
What to bring
Our picks for a good night under the stars.
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Nearby in Arizona
Chiricahua National Monument
Isolated sky island with rock pinnacle foregrounds in southeastern Arizona.
Grand Canyon National Park
Gold Tier dark sky park where the canyon drops away into darkness below you.
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
One of the country's most remote Dark Sky Sanctuaries on the Arizona Strip.