Located in the high country mountains of northern Arizona, Flagstaff’s four seasons are enviable by many. Summer temperatures average in the low 80s with sapphire blue skies and crisp mountain air, while the bounty continues into Fall with a panoramic canvas of quaking aspen and foliage offering hues of reds and purples. You will even experience a winter wonderland with an average of 108″ of snowfall in downtown.
PLAY OUTSIDE, NO MATTER THE SEASON
Flagstaff is a four-season hub of activity where an eclectic mix of small-town charm and endless outdoor adventure beckons. Flagstaff attracts outdoor enthusiasts year-round with its spacious vistas and cool, clean mountain air. Favorite activities include hiking, mountain biking, disk golf, camping, boating and rock climbing. During the winter months, At 7,000 feet and among the world’s largest Ponderosa pine forest, Flagstaff is host to countless skiers and snowboarders, as well as many families who come to enjoy nearby snowplay.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
Located right in the center of the city is its handsome Historic Downtown which is home to attractive architecture and interesting attractions. Centered around both the historic Route 66 and the old railway tracks that used to run through town, the vibrant area sprawls across several blocks and has lots for you to see and do. Flagstaff’s historic buildings now house lots of great restaurants and shops with the city also being known for its thriving cafe culture. On top of all this, Downtown hosts a regular farmers’ market, while its large student population offers a lively and youthful atmosphere in the area.
www.flagstaffarizona.org
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
The Grand Canyon achieved National Park status in 1919, although it was afforded Federal protection since 1893 as a forest reserve, and later as a National Monument. Only 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon continues to see close to five million visitors each year. The most visited area of the park is Grand Canyon Village on the southern rim.
WUPATKI NATIONAL MONUMENT
Rock walls of 800-year-old pueblos dot a desert landscape once home to thousands of people. Visitor Center exhibits explain how they survived by farming, hunting and gathering, and trading. Short trails lead to Wupatki, Lomaki, and other pueblos. The scenic drive to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument climbs rapidly from desert to mountain landscapes.
OAK CREEK CANYON
Just south of Flagstaff, Arizona State Route 89A descends a breathtaking series of switchbacks into a scenic, smaller cousin of the Grand Canyon. Known for colorful rocks and unique formations, Oak Creek Canyon is famous to the world around it for its spectacular scenery.
SUNSET CRATER VOLCANO
Born in a dramatic series of eruptions only 900 years ago, Sunset Crater is still the youngest volcano on the Colorado Plateau. Visitor Center exhibits explain the powerful geologic forces and their aftermath.
SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS
Towering at 12,633 feet, the mountains stand their lonely sentinel over a vast plateau; the forested gem in the crown of a great desert state. To some they are a sacred place, to some, they are a place of recreation, and to others, one of introspection. But to all, they are a place of awesome majesty and beauty that is unrivaled throughout the region.
COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST
Flagstaff boasts many superlatives, but perhaps the most appropriate one is the fact that the town is located in the largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest in the world. The ecosystems that surround Flagstaff span from piñon-juniper woodland to alpine tundra, but it is the Ponderosa pine forest in-between that dominates the area.
WALNUT CANYON
Walk among the cliff dwellings and pueblos where people lived only 800 years ago. Experience the dramatic geology, varied vegetation and wildlife that made their lives possible. Visitor Center exhibits explain their daily lives. The strenuous one-mile Island Trail descends into Walnut Canyon while the shorter Rim Trail offers overlooks and a pithouse display.
FLAGSTAFF EXTREME
If you’re looking for an exhilarating outdoor adventure activity then look no further than Flagstaff Extreme. Situated just south of the city center, it has five exciting elevated obstacle courses for you to navigate as well as over thirty zip lines to shoot along. The largest suspended challenge course in the state, it has over eighty swaying bridges, swings, and nets for you to navigate; all strung up between towering Ponderosa Pines. Besides climbing, swinging, and zipping your way through the canopy, you also have to outwit all of the obstacles that you come across on the way.
Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff
(888) 259-0125
www.flagstaffextreme.com
LAVA RIVER CAVE
Another incredible natural wonder close to Flagstaff is the Lava River Cave which is also located within Coconino National Forest. Situated just half an hour’s drive to the northwest of the city, it is well worth visiting for its rock formations that mimic flowing water. Remarkably enough, the cavern was formed roughly 700,000 years when a volcanic vent erupted nearby. As well as leaving behind wave and ripple-like remains in the rock, the molten lava also created stone icicles that hang suspended in time from the cave roof.
171B Forest Road, Flagstaff
(928) 526-0866
www.fs.usda.gov
