Bonito Vista Trail

Bonito Vista Trail is a short, easy route in the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument near Flagstaff. This area shows off the craters, volcanoes, and lava flows that define this interesting, moonlike landscape. This route is a nice warm-up for other hikes in the park, or it can be enjoyed on its own by families with young kids and hikers of all skill levels. The trail traverses through black rock leftover from an eruption years ago.

This is an easy hike, but we always recommend wearing sturdy closed-toed shoes hiking in this area because of how sharp and abrasive the volcanic rock can be.

There are three trails that leave from the trailhead. You’ll take the middle of the three (the easternmost one is Lava Flow Trail and the westernmost is Lenox Crater Trail). The hike goes straight ahead and there aren’t any junctions to navigate. Look out at the craters around you and the dramatic black landscape. When you reach the end of the trail, turn around and retrace your steps.