Northern Arizona’s oldest attraction is offering visitors a new way to experience it. Now, for the first time ever, Northern Arizona’s Meteor Crater has started offering guided tours to the bottom of the crater. Meteor Crater is a one-mile-wide, 550-foot-deep depression in the Earth that was created by the impact of a meteor, and it’s estimated to be about 50,000 years old. The Meteor Crater Floor Tour was previously restricted to only NASA astronauts in training and scientists and is now open to the public. It was a no-brainer to start offering this early in 2026. “It’s the most requested visitor experience, and something we’ve wanted to do for a long time, but we wanted to make sure we could do it safely and responsibly,” says Andrew Taylor, who does marketing for Meteor Crater.
Photo courtesy of the Arizona Office of Tourism, by An Pham.
In order to make this a safe experience, the staff restored and improved the historic trail, developed safety protocols and trained tour guides. Andrew emphasized that the trail is difficult and not for beginners or inexperienced hikers. The staff created what he described as a natural staircase. The average number of hikers hovers around 30. The entire hike takes around two-and-a-half hours and offers minimal shade. This does account for the time at the bottom of the crater to explore it. During the tour, hikers can expect to stop to catch their breath, take photos and learn more about the attraction. They also can expect to learn more about the history, the mining operations, space and geology. It’s very science focused. Above, look forward to a truly special experience. “Everyone’s very excited and happy, and the ones who have had the privilege of going to the bottom, they love the experience and want to come back,” he says. Andrew, who has taken the hike, said it’s incredible. “It feels like you’re entering a different world. It’s unlike any other hike that I’ve been on,” he says. “We want to create memorable experiences and activities that really reach that level of truly making an impact on anyone who has an interest in space and science, adventure seekers, families that are inspired by the Crater.” – Teresa K. Traverse
