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About this place
SP Crater offers scenic views and solitude, you can get this place almost to yourself. Great spot for hiking and trail running.
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. SP Crater is seen on google maps as a giant black pit with hardened black lava rock flowing from it. The hike up any of the craters is heinous due to the fact that it's all volcanic cinders. However, the view from the top made the strain completely worth it.
From the top you can see the south rim of The Grand Canyon and hundreds of miles in either direction. If you stay, or hike at night during a new moon, you'll see stars and the Milky Way. Flagstaff is one of the top rated "Dark Sky Cities" in that it takes actions to reduce light pollution. If you happen to make it to the top, be sure not to fall into the crater pit while you're standing in awe of the landscape.