Meteor Crater, a great big hole in the ground, is well worth the trip

Apr 07, 2023

Deep enough to fit the Washington Monument and large enough to fit 20 football fields and over 2 million fans, Meteor Crater in Northern Arizona is located about 300 miles west of Albuquerque, off Interstate 40. Will Webber/The New Mexican

METEOR CRATER, Ariz. — Oh, to have been an astronomer perched atop the San Francisco Peaks outside Flagstaff, Ariz., about 50,000 years ago.

On one side you’d have a view of the Grand Canyon, an untouched ribbon of majestic beauty still being carved into the landscape by what was then an untamed Colorado River.

On the other, you’d be able to spin your telescope to the rocky plains 37 miles to the east and see one of the most amazing one-timers the earth has seen since humans began walking upright.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

What: Meteor Crater

Where: Northern Arizona, 37 miles east of Flagstaff, Ariz., just off Interstate 40

Travel: From Santa Fe, it's about a 365-mile trip (about five hours) each way

Cost: $18 for adults, $9 for kids, free for children 5 and under

Availability: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Christmas Day)

In January, Los Alamos hiker Coco Rae published Hiking Trails in Valles Caldera National Preserve, the first comprehensive guide to the 20-year-old preserve's trail system. The book details over 25 trails and includes topographical maps, trail conditions and recommendations for mountain bike…

Advertisement

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.