Flagstaff Arizona AttractionsFrom Ancient Pueblos to Volcanoes: There are Plenty of Flagstaff Arizona Things To DoFlagstaff is a mountain town. So you might expect Flagstaff Arizona attractions to include plenty of outdoor recreation and you won't be disappointed. Flagstaff has one of the best selections of hiking and biking trails, right next to town, in the U.S. There are hikes through wildflower-filled meadows, forested mountain bike trails, climbs up dormant volcanoes and skiing and snowboarding on those volcanic peaks in winter. Not an outdoor junkie? No worries. Flagstaff Arizona attractions offer everything from art galleries and museums to shopping and nightlife.
Into history? Just take a stroll through downtown Flagstaff with its historic 1900s-era buildings. Want to see something even older? The Flagstaff area has long been home to several indigenous cultures including the Sinagua, Hopi and Navajo peoples. Explore their cultures at the wonderful Museum of Northern Arizona, one of the best Flagstaff Arizona attractions. Or visit one of the many American Indian ruins nearby. For an out-of-this-world experience, drive up Mars Hill to the Lowell Observatory. Here, you can look through the same telescopes that astronomers used when they discovered Pluto and helped map the moon for the Apollo missions. No matter what your interests, there are plenty of Flagstaff Arizona attractions to keep you entertained. Flagstaff Arizona Attractions: Close to Town
Downtown Flagstaff and Heritage Square Window shop or run up your credit card at the interesting boutiques and eclectic galleries which offer all manner of arts and crafts, from Native American art and jewelry to contemporary glass and paintings. If you're in Flagstaff in summer, don't miss the free outdoor entertainment series in Heritage Square. This open air gathering place hosts live music on Thursdays. We've enjoyed Latin music and dancing lessons and Middle Eastern music and belly dancing. On Friday nights there's "Movies on the Square," a popular family outing. Details: Downtown Flagstaff off of Route 66. The downtown is bordered by four streets, from north to south: Elm Avenue, Agassiz Street, Beaver street and Butler Avenue. San Francisco Street and Aspen Avenue are the heart of the area. Heritage square is on Aspen between Leroux and San Francisco Streets.
Experience the vibrant Flagstaff art scene during the Flagstaff Art Walk. This is one of the Flagstaff Arizona attractions that's popular with both locals and visitors alike. This lively event happens the first Friday of every month in downtown Flagstaff. The First Friday Art Walk is the perfect time to meet artists and gallery owners, see live performances and shop an eclectic mix of over 15 Flagstaff art galleries. Click here to read our First Friday Flagstaff Art Walk page for more details.
Lowell Observatory The Lowell Observatory is famous for its discovery of Pluto in 1930. Today, it is still an active research facility, making discoveries in Kuiper Belt Objects and the outer solar system, near-Earth asteroids and surveying nearby galaxies. Visit this most fascinating of Flagstaff Arizona attractions during the day and you can tour the historic telescope and grounds. At night, peer at heavenly bodies through the historic Alvin Clark refractor telescope – the very telescope Percival Lowell used to observe Mars. The Steele Visitor Center has cool interactive exhibits and a 3D digital space theatre. Outside, take the easy, paved Pluto Walk – a 350-foot model of our solar system. After our visit to this most fascinating of Flagstaff Arizona attractions, we felt like we had traveled the universe. And to think it was only a 1-mile drive from downtown Flagstaff! Address: 1400 W. Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff AZ 86001
Museum of Northern Arizona Nine exhibit galleries have beautiful displays showcasing everything from dinosaur fossils and Pueblo pottery to Hopi katsinas and Western landscape paintings. The exhibits on the native peoples of the area are superb. Afterward, stop in at the gift shops for excellent pieces of Native American art, books on natural history and native cultures and souvenirs. Before you leave, take a moment to sit under the massive ponderosa pines outside the main door where bird feeders attract many animal species including Lewis’ woodpeckers and Abert's squirrels. Address: 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff AZ 86001 Flagstaff Arizona Attractions: Outdoor Recreation
Nestled among the ponderosa pines, this scenic botanical garden is one of our favorite Flagstaff Arizona attractions. The Arboretum is home to one of the largest collections of high country wildflowers in the U.S. You'll also see over 2,500 species of high elevation flowers, trees and shrubs, many of which are native to the Colorado Plateau region. There are 200 acres of themed gardens and nature trails with lovely views of the San Francisco Peaks. The Flagstaff Arboretum is a great place to get tips on waterwise gardening and gardening in short season climates. During our walks around the arboretum, we've enjoyed seeing local Flagstaff wildlife such as cottontail rabbits, woodpeckers and ground squirrels. A pond is home to two species of endangered Arizona fish. Birders, take note: more than 100 species of birds have been sighted here. Don't miss the spectacular Birds of Prey flight demo held daily. Click here to read our Flagstaff Arboretum review for more details.
Perched up high in the San Francisco Mountains, the Snowbowl is a scenic ski resort nestled amid the alpine landscape of the Coconino National Forest. This is one of the most popular outdoor Flagstaff Arizona attractions. The Snowbowl's four chair lifts take you to the 32 runs available for downhill skiing and snowboarding. The Sunset Terrain Park has obstacles, spines, rails and fun boxes for both skiers and snowboarders. Two day lodges offer everything from equipment rental and food to sports shops and lessons. For overnighters, you can stay in the lodge and cabin rentals at the base of the mountain. In summer, ride the Arizona Snowbowl Skyride up to the top of Agassiz Peak for amazing views and hiking at 11,500 feet. Take a ride during autumn and you'll see some spectacular fall color as the many aspen trees turn from green to gold. Click here to read our Arizona Snowbowl page for more details.
Buffalo Park Urban Trail The wide path loops through large meadows dotted with wildflowers in spring and summer and skirt the edge of the forest. They're perfect for a leisurely stroll. The San Francisco Peaks provide a stunning backdrop, making this park a good stop for taking photos. Pack a picnic lunch and take the whole family. A word of caution, keep an eye out for summer afternoon thunderstorms, which may have you going back to your car quickly. We enjoyed our walk in the park, but when we saw the approaching rain and lightning, we knew it was time to go. Location & Directions: Northeast Flagstaff. Take Route 66 to San Francisco Street. Turn north on San Francisco and drive about one mile to Forest Avenue. Turn east on Forest and proceed about 0.8 miles north to the signed turnoff, which is next to the U.S. Geological Survey offices.
Red Mountain Trail The strangely carved red rock walls are pockmarked with holes that are often used as nesting sites by falcons and eagles. Oddly shaped rock towers, known as "hoodoos", inky black lava crystals and tall ponderosa pines decorate the u-shaped amphitheater at trail’s end. Best of all, there are few visitors because Red Mountain is a 25-minute drive north of Flagstaff. On our hike, we had only flocks of ravens, pinyon jays and swallows to keep us company. Of all the Flagstaff Arizona attractions, this one is a perfect place to get away from it all. Location & Directions: The trailhead is 25 miles northwest of Flagstaff on Highway 180. Turn left at the Forest Service sign marked "Red Mountain Geologic Area" just after Milepost 247. A ¼ mile graded dirt road (passable by all vehicles) leads to the parking lot at the trailhead.
Kachina Trail Starting near the base of the Arizona Snowbowl, the Kachina Trail follows the San Francisco Peaks' middle slopes, gently rolling through an old growth forest of giant Douglas firs, spruce, ferns and moss that looks like a home for elves. Occasional clearings give views down to the prairie below or the peaks above. In spring and summer, the meadows are filled with a variety of wildflowers. Keep an eye out for wildlife including mule deer, Clark's nutcrackers, gray squirrels and Stellar's jays. In the fall, this area is a blaze of autumn color as the aspens turn golden, and bull elk bugle as they gather their harems of females. Location & Directions: 17 miles north of Flagstaff. Drive 7 miles northwest of town on U.S. Highway 180. At Snowbowl Road, turn right and drive 7 miles to the lower Snowbowl Ski area. Park in the first parking lot on the south (right) side of the road, where you will see a sign for the Kachina Trailhead. The trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot. Flagstaff Arizona Attractions: Day Trips
Wupatki National Monument The park preserves five pueblo ruins. Three ancient cultures came together here: the Anasazi, Singua and Cohonina. These ancestors of the Hopi and Zuni people built impressive sandstone structures perfectly adapted to the rigors of the Colorado Plateau climate. An excellent visitor center at the Wupatki Ruins details the history and lifeways of the people who lived here. Afterwards, take a self-guided tour through the 100-room Wupatki, the largest of the pueblos. Be sure to stop at the Nalakihu citadel. Our walk to the top of this tall structure was a memorable experience, where time seemed to stand still as we gazed out across the quiet grasslands towards the San Francisco Peaks. It's farther away than most other Flagstaff Arizona attractions, but the panoramic views, beauty and solitude of the park are worth the trip alone. Location & Directions: Northeast of Flagstaff, off of Highway 89A. Drive Highway 89A north out of Flagstaff for 12 miles. Turn right at the signed turnoff for Sunset Crater-Wupatki National Monuments. The Wupatki Visitor Center is 21 miles from this junction. A 36-mile paved road links the two parks. Make sure you have a full tank of gas before venturing to the monument. We recommend you pack a picnic lunch. The visitor center does have vending machines with limited items. Do not climb on the walls, remove or disturb any features. Be respectful; these sites are sacred to the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo people.
Sunset Crater National Monument Over 900 years ago, a series of massive volcanic explosions erupted from the 1,000 ft. high cinder cone now known as Sunset Crater. An 850-foot fountain of fire laid down a blanket of lava and falling ash covered over 64,000 acres of the surrounding countryside. The cooled lava then became a bizarre landscape of dramatic, weirdly-shaped rock formations. Today, you can hike the easy 1-mile Lava Trail loop where you can see the hardened black lava up close and walk to the base of the cinder cone. The rich ore deposits around the park also created meadows filled with wildflowers. The Sunset Crater Visitor Center has interactive exhibits where you can find out more about volcanoes and the geology of the area. Although the park is a bit of a drive out of town, this is one of the most popular Flagstaff Arizona attractions for its relatively level trails, picnic areas and campground as evidenced by the bus loads of students during our visit. Location & Directions: Northeast of Flagstaff, off of Highway 89A. Drive Highway 89A north out of Flagstaff for 12 miles. Turn right at the signed turnoff for Sunset Crater-Wupatki National Monuments. This information was accurate at the time of our visit. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with each facility before making reservations and/or travel plans. Return to Flagstaff Arizona Travel Guide from Flagstaff Arizona Attractions page
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