Bonito Campground (AZ)

Bonito Campground is located 18 miles northeast of Flagstaff, near Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument, at an elevation of 6,900 feet. It is named for the Bonito Lava Flow, which oozed across this high desert plain some 900 years ago. That river of liquid rock, now frozen forever, is just one of the many remnants of volcanic activity which lend an otherworldly appearance to this starkly beautiful place. Hiking, sightseeing and wildlife viewing are popular activities. The campground has 44 single campsites, one of them ADA accessible; 22 sites are reservable and 22 are dedicated first-come, first-served. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and cooking grill. The campground has paved roads and spurs, drinking water and flush toilets. Bonito is pet friendly — pets must always be restrained or on a leash. Beautiful tall ponderosa pines are abundant throughout the campground and across nearby ravines and hillsides. Bonito is a restful place to simply relax and enjoy nature. The entrance to Sunset Crater is adjacent to the campground, and its visitor center provides much information on the geological history of the area. Also nearby is Wupatki National Monument, whose centerpiece is a four-story masterpiece of Native American stone masonry: construction of that stone-age condominium began in about 1120 A.D., and at one time it contained as many as 100 rooms and housed as many as 125 people. Both Sunset Crater and Wupatki have visitor centers and feature self-guided as well as interpreter-guided tours. You can also learn about the Native Americans who populated the area as you wander through nearby Walnut Canyon National Monument, and the historic downtown section in nearby Flagstaff provides a glimpse into the early days of the city's past.