NPS - National Park Service

07/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/27/2024 15:06

Road Closure Aug 6-8 and Aug 13–15 2024 on FS Road 545 (Loop Road) in & near Sunset Crater Volcano Nat’l Monument

Date:
July 27, 2024

CONTACT - Mark Szydlo, [email protected], (928) 526-1157 x234

Road Closure Aug 6-8 and Aug 13-15 2024 on FS Road 545 (Loop Road) in & near Sunset Crater Volcano Nat'l Monument FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - Road 545 (also known as the Loop Road), which connects Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments, will have periodic multi-hour closures starting Tue Aug 6. These closures are necessary for the safe removal of remaining hazard trees from the 2022 Tunnel and Pipeline Fires.

When: two phases - 1) starting 8am Tue Aug 6 and ending by 4pm Thu Aug 8, and 2) starting 8am Tue Aug 13 and ending by 4pm Thu Aug 15. Full closure of FS Road 545 between milepost 4 (east of Lava Flow Trailhead) to milepost 12 will occur from 8am12pm and 1pm-4pm daily Mon-Thu throughout each week of this project.

Where: FS Road 545. The closures will take place between mileposts 4 through 12. Note: Milepost 4 is at the Lava Flow Trail parking lot. Access to (but not beyond) the Lava Flow Trail parking area from the southern entrance of Road 545 will remain open throughout the project. Monument trails will be accessible but note the Visitor Center will be closed due to a concurrent infrastructure project. Updates and alerts will be shared on Sunset Crater Volcano's official website www.nps.gov/sucr.

Beginning 8am Tue Aug 6 through 4pm Thu Aug 8 and beginning Tue August 13 through 4pm Thu Aug 15, it will therefore only be possible to drive between Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments on the Loop Road before 8am, between 12- 1pm, and after 4pm. Detouring to access each Monument visitor center via Highway 89 during closure times is advised. Please note that for the timeframe of this project, Arizona is on the same time zone as the Pacific Time Zone.

Local residents should contact park staff for additional information. Note that on the following days: Thu Aug 8, Tue Aug 13, Wed Aug 14, and Thu Aug 15, between 8am-12pm and 1pm-4pm each of these days, FS Road 776 will not be an alternate option.

Thank you for patience and understanding as we continue fire recovery and safety efforts!

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