25.5/23 Sunset Crater National Monument

Since we didn’t want to reach Page before our reservation for Thursday night, we had a day to spare. After climbing the 4 miles to the Mogollon rim view and finding the weather overcast and rainy, we continued north, right through Flagstaff except for a quick stop at an Albertson’s to replenish our groceries. By eleven o’clock, after a total drive of 39 miles we arrived at Bonito campground at the lower end of National Forest road 545 loop at 7100 ft. elevation. The spacious campground was perhaps 1/4 full. Once we picked the best site—level, near a bathroom—the camp hosts zipped quickly to us in golf carts to collect our $8.00 fee (1/2 of standard for holders of Golden Age Passports). We could easily have gone on and east into the Grand Canyon, but an extra 100 miles round trip and with cloudy skies and only one day! It just didn’t seem worth while to revisit.
Although it was cold enough for us to pull on an extra shirt, the sun came out to reveal that we were parked on dark pumice with an intriguing black lava flow in view. Jean went exploring. It just didn’t seem worth while to revisit.
Although it was cold enough for us to pull on an extra shirt, the sun came out to reveal that we were parked on dark pumice with an intriguing black lava flow in view. Jean went exploring.


































Claret Cup Cactus Echinocereus triglochidiatus

By evening many more people had arrived at the campground, some in RV’s and quite a few tenters. It was getting colder and colder. We turned on the heater for the first time this trip. The tenters made campfires but went to bed early















Bonito Lava Flow
Bill wanted morning light to photograph nearby Sunset Crater. We woke at 6 a.m. to find the temperature was 22°, really cold. Ready to go at 6:40, Dream Machine was reluctant to start; a red light went on in the dash. Bill checked the manual and found the warning indicated low water. He opened the hood and had a look, decided it was not serious, and let the engine idle a few minutes before taking off. No more red light, but he later topped up the water.






Sunset Crater







Red Rocket or Scarlet Gilia
Gilia (Ipompsis) aggregata