Our Next Stop----Flagstaff, Arizona

It was a grueling day of travel from Williams to Flagstaff---HA! We only went 25 miles! Bob and I stopped just west of Flagstaff at Camp Navajo, a National Guard camp with a beautiful campground. Fortunately for us, it opened for the season the day we arrived. Unfortunately, the gate guard thought it was closed, but he didn't want to send us away without checking so he drove to the campground and yes, it was open! Bob and I had our pick of sites and we chose the best one in the campground--it was long and our door would open toward the creek running behind the site!

While in Williams, we found out that Flagstaff has not one, not two, but three national monuments. We planned to visit all three. Since we arrived early in the day, after lunch we headed for Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument which is north of Flagstaff. Another reason for our drive was to check the national forest campground at the entrance to Sunset Crater. Unfortunately, it wouldn't open until 4 days later.

 

 After looking through the visitor center, Bob and I headed out to drive the forest service road that links Sunset Crater with Wupatki National Monument. We stopped at the a'a nature trail to walk through the volcanic rock. The path was paved with volcanic cinders and ash.

 Along the route we had fantastic vistas of the desert beyond the volcanic craters. The painted desert and the beginning of the Grand Canyon are in the distance here.

The forest service road is about 34 miles long. We arrived at Wupatki National Monument where  several pueblos have been partially restored.

Bob and I toured Wupatki. It is a large pueblo that was the cultural center for the area. It is not known exactly how many lived in this 100 room pueblo during the years it was active (about 150), but archaeologists know it was inhabited in the 1100s.

 Behind me is an example of living quarters for a family--that was it, just one room for the family. Most activities were done outdoors--cooking, weaving, tool making, etc.

From Wupatki we backtracked to Wukoki to see another pueblo that was about the same age, but much smaller.

By the time we finished touring the area, it was time to head back to Sol and enjoy an evening by the stream.

The following morning, we headed back to Sunset Crater Volcano. Bob and I were ready to do some hiking. Since we planned to be out most of the day, we started by geocaching the area around old Route 66 which was near our campground.

Then it was time to head for the trails! We hiked Lava Flow Trail which is a little over 1 mile in length. The first part is accessible for all, but the rest is over a lava rock trail.

 As you can see, the area is covered with black cinder rocks from the eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano about 900 years ago. It is amazing to see plants and trees growing in this dry rocky area.

From Lava Flow Trail we made our way to Lenox Crater Trail (the trailhead is in the same parking lot). This trail takes you around the cinder cone to the rim of the crater left by Lenox Volcano. As you make your way around the cinder cone trail, you get a good view of the San Francisco Peaks, the tallest in Arizona. Yes, they still have snow!

In one area, we spotted two stellar jays. The male stood on the stump and modeled for us while the female tried to sneak around the back of the fallen tree.

This is the view from the top of Lenox Crater. The trees down below are growing in what was once the inside of the volcano.

After the 2 mile Lenox Crater Trail, we walked to the Bonito Vista Trail. There was lava as far as you could see.

 This plant, nestled in the lava rock, was thriving.

 We saw quite a few desert lizards along all the trails. This one posed for me.

 Bonito Vista Trail was the last trail for us at Sunset Crater. Time to move to a trail closer to Flagstaff.

 Next stop, Elden Pueblo in the Coconino National Forest.This pueblo is still being excavated.

 

While we were walking the grounds, there was an elementary school group learning how to work an archaeological dig.

From Elden Pueblo we made a stop at Coconino National Forest Ranger Station to find other possible hikes in the area. The ranger gave us so much information that we decided we needed to put Flagstaff on our 'return to' list! We still had one more national monument to visit and that would be the following day. Time to return to Sol and relax by the stream! (Do you see a pattern here?)