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Jun 04, 2020 — S P Crater, apparently an achronym for "Shit Pot Crater" is a short and sweet hike up a popular cinder cone. My friend Matt recommended this one since it's a pristine example of a symmetrical cinder cone. I'd agree that it's a visually appealing set of contour lines on a topographic map. Coming from the north was my first option, but the road required a permit from AZ State Trust Land, so I instead approached from the south, which was basically the same hike. On either side, a dirt road leads to the saddle just west of the crater. I could have driven my car farther from where I parked, but I wasn't sure if it was an official road and didn't want to risk driving on some protected land. Plus, I was happy to add a little warm-up walk on a mostly flat road.
Once at the saddle, numerous social trails lead up the easily-eroded cinder. I don't know if one route option is better than any other, but expect it to be a bit of a slog: two steps up, one step back. It's steep and short, and I found myself on the rim of S P Crater pretty quickly. I'm not sure what I thought I'd see in the crater, but for some reason I was subconsciously expecting more than just a bowl of cinder. Regardless, I hiked its circumference and the views of lava flows and the surrounding peaks were really nice in all directions.
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