The Best Hikes in Flagstaff

The Best Hikes In Flagstaff | What To See & Do In Flagstaff, Arizona

Now I have to admit, Flagstaff wasn’t a destination at the top of my bucket list. In fact, I hadn’t even heard of it until one of my best friends, who is a professional athlete, told me she does altitude training camps out there and invited me to come and visit. Two years and two extended trips later, I definitely feel like I have plenty of local recommendations and insider tips to share with you!

If you picture Arizona as nothing but scorching red deserts and towering cacti, Flagstaff might come as a bit of a surprise. It’s a laid-back mountain town perched at around 2,100m on the Colorado Plateau surrounded by snowy mountain peaks and leafy pine forests. It’s not only heaven for athletes, but a great destination for hikers with an abundance of trails to explore and iconic locations like the Grand Canyon within easy reach. And the best bit? Visit in autumn and the whole place lights up with the most vibrant colours. I swear we hardly get colours like this at home!

In this guide I’m going to share everything you need to know to plan your own trip, from the best hikes in and around Flagstaff, to where to eat, where to stay and when to go. Whether you’re a keen hiker, a runner chasing some altitude gains or just after an adventurous stop on a longer US road trip, I’ve got you covered.

The Practicalities:

Getting There:

There are regular flights from global destinations into Phoenix which is a couple of hours drive south from Flagstaff. If you are travelling internationally, you would most likely need to get a domestic internal flight to land in Flagstaff airport itself.

Getting Around:

I highly recommend renting a car to get around Flagstaff, you will need it to access trailheads, get to local restaurants and just generally navigate the surrounding areas as everything is pretty spread out.

When To Visit:

I have visited twice and on both occasions in the autumn period of September to November, and found it to be perfect. Not too busy, crisp clear weather and plenty of beautiful autumn colours. This time of year also avoids the snow of winter, winds of spring and monsoons of summer.

How Long to Stay:

Flagstaff is a small town and there isn’t a huge amount to do in the region, it tends to be more if a stop off on a longer road trip. However, as someone who has visited for 8-10 days at a time to see friends, I have found plenty to keep myself entertained. That being said, I would recommend between 1-3 days for most visitors passing through.

Where to Stay:

There is an abundance of airbnbs across Flagstaff which are fairly affordable, but if you’re looking for a hotel my top two recommendations would be High Country Motor Lodge and Little America Hotel.

What To See and Do in Flagstaff

Before I jump into the best hiking trails in Flagstaff, I thought I could share some other wholesome activities in the region.

Over the past two years of visiting, these have been some of my favourites:

Wander Around Downtown Flagstaff

Flagstaff’s historic downtown is small but charming and well worth exploring. It’s full of old red brick buildings, independent shops, cute coffee shops and plenty of craft breweries. If you’re looking for a place to place to while away an afternoon after a big hike, this is the place to do it. In terms of the best foodie spots in town, I need to mention some of my highlights:

Pizzicletta – The best pizza in Flagstaff, hands down. They also do incredible gelato too!
The Monthly Shift Bake Sale – On the first Saturday of every month there is an iconic bake sale at Shift. Locals get there 15 minutes before opening and queue up for some of the beast baked goods in the area – the menu changes each month and they are honestly delicious! Definitely go if you’re there when its’ on.
Toasted Owl – A brunch spot with a creative menu and plenty of vegan and veggie options.
Single Speed – In my opinion, the best coffee in Flag. It isn’t downtown, but it is worth travelling for! And their vegan wrap is delicious.
Mama B’s – A local staple for the best smash burgers, tater tots and fries. Get there early to avoid a crazy queue!

Visit Snowbowl & Aspen Corner

Arizona Snowbowl is a ski resort on the slopes of the San Francisco mountains, about 25 minutes north of downtown Flagstaff. You might be thinking, why should I visit a ski resort in autumn? Let me explain! In summer and autumn there are two scenic activities you can try, a chairlift over the bright yellow aspens and a gondola up to the top of the mountain. Both of these give you absolutely incredible views across northern Arizona’s volcanic landscape and pine forests, sometimes even letting you make out the grand canyon on the horizon! If you don’t want to spend the money on these activities though, you can still just drive up and sit on the rocks as you watch the sunset. In my opinion it’s the best sunset spot in Flagstaff!

It’s also worth mentioning Aspen corner, which is on the road up to Snowbowl, and one of Flagstaff’s most famous autumn photo spots. It’s essentially a bend in the road with plenty of parking surrounded by a dense grove of aspen trees that turn the most stunning golden shade in autumn. You can hop out of the car and go for a wander amongst the colours or join a hiking trail for a longer stroll – it is absolutely gorgeous and well worth a visit. A heads up, it is popular so I recommend arriving early or later in the day to avoid peak crowds!

Take A Day Trip

There are so many incredible beauty spots and iconic outdoor destinations without easy reach of Flagstaff. My top recommendations would be heading to the Grand Canyon for a hike along the southern rim, Petrified Forest national park for the massive vivid concentrations of petrified wood and Sedona for iconic trails amongst the red rocks. I actually have an in-depth Sedona travel guide with all the best trails, which I will link here for you.

Now for the main event! In my opinion, the best way to experience Flagstaff is on foot, and with endless trails right on the doorstep you’ll be spoilt for choice. Just remember that the whole region sits at high altitude, so take it slow, drink plenty of water and don’t be surprised if you’re a little more out of breath than usual! There are so many routes in the area, but I have narrowed this guide down to my top five.

Walnut Canyon

Walnut Canyon is a deep winding limestone canyon with the remains of dwellings built by the Sinagfua people tucked into its cliffs. If you want to keep it easy, you can head to the visitors centre and do short simple loops from there.

But if you fancy a longer trail then I would recommend either The Fisher Point trail (14km, 270m elevation) or the AZT Walnut Canyon Trail (8km, 160m elevation).

Humphreys Peak

If you’re looking for a challenge then this is perhaps the spiciest hike in Flagstaff. Humphreys Peak is the highest mountain in the whole state of Arizona, and the views from its summit are absolutely incredible.

It’s a strenuous and rocky 16km trail with over 1000m of elevation gain, but it is totally worth it for the feeling of climbing such an iconic beast of a peak!

The Abineau-Bear Jaw Loop

This trail allows you to walk through the beautiful golden aspen trees of the region, but avoid the crowds of more famous hikes near Aspen Corner. As a warning, it is a little spicy at 12km and 600m elevation gain with a couple of steep inclines, and there’s limited parking at the trailhead so bear that in mind.

But if you want to immerse yourself in the autumn colours, trails don’t get much better than this!

The Arizona, Sunset & Little Bear Trail

Personally, I really enjoyed hikes around the region near Little Elden just north of Flagstaff as they were peaceful, beautiful and felt a little more off the beaten path.

This particular route combines a few trails to give you a really diverse route with plenty of gorgeous views. It’s 16km long with 500m of elevation so a bit spicy at times, but if you want an easier alternative in the area I would recommend the Old-New Heart Trail.

The Rocky Ridge, Tawaa & Big Bang Loop

For those seeking solitude this is another more quiet trail, this time focusing on weaving through the pine forest. It’s super close to downtown so it’s easily accessible. It’s 12km long with 400m of elevation gain but it’s a pretty gentle route, steadily climbing up to get views over Flagstaff and the surrounding area.

Just a heads up that there can be some mountain bikers around so keep your ears open for them!