Bonito (Az)

Summary

Bonito Campground is located 18 miles northeast of Flagstaff and features 44 single campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, cooking grills, drinking water and flush toilets. Nearby attractions include Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater National Park, Walnut Canyon National Monument and historic downtown Flagstaff. The campground is pet friendly and provides a beautiful, restful setting to enjoy nature and explore the local area.

Overview

Bonito Campground is located 18 miles northeast of Flagstaff, near Sunset Crater/Wupatki National Monument. Elevation is 6,900 feet. Bonito Campground 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 otherwordly appearance to this starkly beautiful place. 

Recreation

Hiking, sightseeing, wildlife viewing are popular activities.

Facilities

The campground has 44 single campsites with 1 ADA accessible site. 22 sites are reservable and 22 sites are dedicated as first-come-first-served sites. Each site has provided picnic tables, fire rings and cooking grills. The campground has paved roads and spurs, drinking water and flush toilets. Bonito campground is pet friendly. Pets must always be restrained or on a leash.

Natural Features

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.

Nearby Attractions

Also nearby is Wupatki National Monument. The centerpiece of this area is a four story masterpiece of Native American stone masonry. Construction of that stone-age condominium began in about 1120 A.D. 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. The entrance to Sunset Crater National Park is adjacent to the campground. The Visitor's Center provides much information on the geological history of the area. You can enjoy learning about the Native Americans who populated the area as you wander through the nearby Walnut Canyon National Monument. The historic downtown section in nearby Flagstaff will provide a glimpse into the early days of the city's past.