Day 25 - Wednesday, Oct 18 - Flagstaff, Sunset Crater, Meteor Crater, Petrified Forest, Gallup NM
Starting mileage: 6166 Starting time: 7:30 am
Ending mileage: 6444 Ending time: 6:00 pm
Travel mileage: 278 Travel time: 9:30 hours
First stop was backtracking about 20 miles north to the Sunset Crater national monument. In geological time this is a very recent volcanic cone, formed about 1000 years ago. As there were Native Americans living around the eruption at the time, there are oral histories of the event. At the visitor center there is information about the history and geology. There are chunks of lava with the remnants of corn embedded which archaeologists believe was from ears of corn being placed near the lava flow as offerings. One can no longer climb up the crater summit but there are trails that go over the lava flows and smaller volcanic cones.
Next was the Winslow Meteor Crater. I had been here and the Petrified Forest with my grandparents about 55 years ago when Route 66 was still the main travel route while the Interstate highway system was being constructed. Now I-40 replaces or follows along the old Route 66. The visitor center is significantly improved since I was there, with a video about the meteor crash 50,000 years ago and displays about this and other significant meteor crashes. There are overlooks of the crater which is quite impressive.
Last stop was the Petrified Forest national park. From the visitor center the road goes along a bluff at the edge of the Painted Desert with spectacular views of the blue, yellow and red rock formations.Native Americans have lived in this area for thousands of years and some of the ancient pueblos are being excavated by archaeologists. There are numerous petroglyphs in the area, with one set of rocks with 600 distinct petroglyphs. Unfortunately, little is known about the meaning of these. We traveled along to the Crystal Forest, a mind-boggling collection of huge colorful petrified logs scattered about the landscape.
Ending mileage: 6444 Ending time: 6:00 pm
Travel mileage: 278 Travel time: 9:30 hours
First stop was backtracking about 20 miles north to the Sunset Crater national monument. In geological time this is a very recent volcanic cone, formed about 1000 years ago. As there were Native Americans living around the eruption at the time, there are oral histories of the event. At the visitor center there is information about the history and geology. There are chunks of lava with the remnants of corn embedded which archaeologists believe was from ears of corn being placed near the lava flow as offerings. One can no longer climb up the crater summit but there are trails that go over the lava flows and smaller volcanic cones.
Next was the Winslow Meteor Crater. I had been here and the Petrified Forest with my grandparents about 55 years ago when Route 66 was still the main travel route while the Interstate highway system was being constructed. Now I-40 replaces or follows along the old Route 66. The visitor center is significantly improved since I was there, with a video about the meteor crash 50,000 years ago and displays about this and other significant meteor crashes. There are overlooks of the crater which is quite impressive.
Last stop was the Petrified Forest national park. From the visitor center the road goes along a bluff at the edge of the Painted Desert with spectacular views of the blue, yellow and red rock formations.Native Americans have lived in this area for thousands of years and some of the ancient pueblos are being excavated by archaeologists. There are numerous petroglyphs in the area, with one set of rocks with 600 distinct petroglyphs. Unfortunately, little is known about the meaning of these. We traveled along to the Crystal Forest, a mind-boggling collection of huge colorful petrified logs scattered about the landscape.
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| Day 25 map |
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| Lava flow at Sunset Crater |
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| Meteor Crater |
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| At Painted Desert |
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| Ancient Petroglyphs |
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| Petrified Forest - Crystal Forest |
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