Meteor Crater is a meteorite impact crater approximately 43 miles east of Flagstaff, near Winslow. The site was formerly known as the Canyon Diablo Crater, and fragments of the meteorite are officially called the Canyon Diablo Meteorite. Scientists refer to the crater as Barringer Crater in honor of Daniel Barringer, who was first to suggest that it was produced by meteorite impact. The crater is privately owned by the Barringer family through their Barringer Crater Company, which proclaims it to be "best preserved meteorite crater on Earth".
The
crater is not protected as a national monument, a status that would
require federal ownership. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in November 1967.
Meteor
Crater lies at an elevation of about 5,709 ft above sea level. It is about
4,000 ft in diameter, some 570 ft, and is surrounded by a rim that rises 150 ft
above the surrounding plains. The center of the crater is filled with 700–800 ft
of rubble lying above crater bedrock. One of the interesting features of the crater is its
squared-off outline, believed to be caused by pre-existing regional cracks in
the strata at the impact site.
Formation of the
crater
The
crater was created about 50,000 years ago during the Pleistocene epoch when the local climate on
the Colorado
Plateau
was much cooler and damper. At the time, the area was an open grassland dotted
with woodlands inhabited by woolly mammoths and giant
ground sloths.
It was probably not inhabited by humans; the earliest confirmed record of human
habitation in the Americas dates from long after this impact.
The
object that excavated the crater was a nickel–iron meteorite about 54 yards across,
which struck the plain at a speed of several kilometers per second. Impact
energy has been estimated at about 10 megatons. The speed of the impact
has been a subject of some debate. Modeling initially suggested that the
meteorite struck at a speed of up to 45,000 mph, but more recent research
suggests the impact was substantially slower, at 28,600 mph.. It is
believed that about half of the impactor's bulk was vaporized during its
descent before it hit the ground.
The
meteorite itself was mostly vaporized upon impact, leaving little in the
crater.
Here's what you need to know to make that visit.
Current
Hours
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily
Meteor Crater is located off I-40 at
exit 233, Meteor Crater Road, then 6 miles south on the paved road. 35 miles
east of Flagstaff, 20 miles west of Winslow, in Arizona, USA
Admission Prices, all year long
Admission prices include 3 lookout points on the rim of the crater, an
Interactive Discovery Center, a theater showing our movie "Collisions and
Impacts" as well as a guided tour on the rim of the crater.
- Adults $16.00
- Seniors $15.00 (age 60 years and over)
- Juniors $8.00 (age 6 through 17 years)
- 5 and under are free
Group rates available
Pets are
not allowed so you definitely need to plan around that.
The summers are very hot in that desert area, so leaving them in the car is
not an option. Not ever. If you happen to be traveling with a travel trailer
or in a motor home, there is an RV park close by which would be perfect with your ac running and the pet relaxing near by.
Winter Hours: September
15th to Memorial we will be open from:
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving Day8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Closed Christmas Day
The RV Park is located perfectly for anyone who drags they accommodations along with them or if you enjoy camping. Here's an over view of the park, as per their site.
Set up your lawn chairs, look into the night sky from the
Meteor Crater RV Park, and enjoy one of the finest star and sky shows offered
in the American Southwest.
You and your family can also experience breath-taking
sunrises and sunsets plus make the Meteor Crater RV Park a comfortable base
camp for day trips and your exploration of Northern Arizona.
Meteor Crater RV Park near Flagstaff Arizona. The park boasts
of 71 beautifully landscaped pull through RV and camping spaces. Amenities
include private restroom and shower facilities plus two designated ADA and
special needs accessible restroom and shower rooms.
The park is fully fenced with a secure gated entrance. It
offers computer access via park-wide WIFI service.
Next to the park is a gas station, camper convenience
store, laundry, recreation room.
Meteor Crater RV Park is near Flagstaff Arizona. The park offers
easy access to the Meteor Crater Visitors Center and I-40 interstate highway.
The park's high desert plateau location makes daytime temperatures moderate, with
cool and pleasant evenings.
Morning, afternoon, or all day trips can be organized to the
Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, Historic Winslow, Flagstaff and the San
Francisco Peaks, Grand Canyon, Mogollon Rim and Northern Arizona Lake Country,
Navajo Nation and Hopi Mesas, and a Sedona, Jerome, Camp Verde Loop and don't
forget Winslow Arizona.
RV Park Guests receive discount coupons for Meteor Crater
admission plus coupons for food and other area attractions. Videos, maps, and
visitor information on nearby attractions are also available upon request.
While exploring the night sky at Meteor Crater RV Park,
you're very likely to see a falling star--the fiery passage of a cosmic dust
particle through our atmosphere. If you see another meteor like the one which
created Meteor Crater coming, please contact the RV park office immediately .
For additional information
and reservations call:
928-289-4002 or
800-478-4002
I can tell you from my own experience that this is a nice and relaxing point of interest in Arizona. Did I find it exciting enough that I would take school age kids there? No. If they were doing a report of some sort and there was purpose, then maybe. But if your child is not a science nerd, they will quickly bore.
One more word of advice - be prepared to do a little walking. There isn't a lot that will need to be done but in order to see the crater from all angles and from the look out points, you will be doing a bit. Lace up those tennies and enjoy the clean, desert air.
No shortage of photo ops here.
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