Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Flagstaff, AZ
Sunset Crater is a 1,000-foot cinder cone that erupted around 1085 CE, making it the youngest volcano on the Colorado Plateau. The surrounding lava flows and cinder fields create an otherworldly landscape under dark Flagstaff-area skies. The Lava Flow Trail winds through black basalt formations that provide stark foreground elements for night photography.
Photography Guide
- Best Time
- golden hour
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Shot Types
- landscapewideastrophotographydetail
- Best Seasons
- springsummerfall
Gallery
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Flagstaff, AZ
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Walnut Canyon contains over 80 cliff dwelling rooms built by the Sinagua people around 1100-1250 CE within the limestone walls of a 400-foot-deep canyon. The monument sits east of Flagstaff in ponderosa pine forest and benefits from the city's dark sky protections. The canyon rim provides dramatic views of the forested canyon with ancient dwellings visible in alcoves along the cliff faces.
Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Urban Trail System - Buffalo Park
Buffalo Park is a 215-acre open meadow on the north side of Flagstaff with unobstructed views of the San Francisco Peaks and surrounding volcanic landscape. As part of the world's first International Dark Sky City, the park benefits from Flagstaff's strict lighting ordinances. The open terrain and mountain horizon make it an accessible location for Milky Way photography with alpine foregrounds.
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Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory, founded in 1894, is where Pluto was discovered in 1930. Flagstaff was the first International Dark Sky City, and the observatory benefits from municipal lighting ordinances that preserve dark skies. The historic Clark Telescope dome and modern Discovery Channel Telescope provide iconic foreground subjects for night sky photography.