Hike the Wupatki Pueblo Trail

Grand Falls is closed indefinitely as of February 2023. Please visit leupp.navajochapters.org for more updates.  Grand Falls is located about 30 miles northeast of Flagstaff Arizona in Navajo Nation. Even though its only 30 miles from Flagstaff you’ll still have about an hour drive to the falls. 10 miles of the trip will be on Indian road 70 which is a maintained dirt road but may require a 4...

Off of the 89, just north of Flagstaff AZ, there is an unmarked dirt road just before a gas station. It leads out to privately owned land that's open to the public. Some friends and I went out there to get away from our day jobs. As we headed down the road, the land opened up in vast expanses of hills. Some of these hills are dormant volcanic craters and we decided to see what was at the top. ...

Get started on the hike from the parking lot. The first quarter mile is paved and very easy to walk. The rest of the trail takes you to the base of the volcano through lava flows and tubes. This is an incredible landscape to take in along your hike.

The free camping in the Coconino (as well as the many other national forests) is generally along the old Fire Roads, and old Forest Service Roads. You can tell if a road is one of these by a brown sign with an FS 123 or any other number, FS meaning Forest Service Road. There are many of these roads just outside the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument on Highway 89 Heading in the direction o...

When the golden fall color is at its peak is when this trail (and Locket Meadow camping) is the most popular.  I recommend getting there as early as possible, because parking goes FAST.  And note that the drive up to the trailhead is a bit sketchy as well… Beginning at Lockett Meadow, the start of this trail is flat and filled with aspen.  As you begin the climb, you’ll encounter row after row ...

Getting There North of Flagstaff on the 89A, take a left turn directly after a sign for Sunset Crater. This road winds up a well-developed path; when it ends, turn right. After the road banks left, take a right at the next fork and continue on the dirt road up a single lane path until you enter the Lockett Meadow campground. Be sure to drive carefully and slowly, as other vehicles will be leavi...