10 Worthwhile Northern Arizona Attractions & 10 to Skip!
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
6. Hike the Fat Man’s Loop Trail
While not the easiest nor hardest trail in town, Fat Man’s Loop is hands down one of the most scenic and fun options. Summer is the best time to set out on this 2.5 mile loop as the steep sections would be much too difficult to trek through during the snowy, icy winter months.
The weird name comes from this rock that you have to squeeze through – it’s not as narrow as it looks!
This trail is easy to follow. There are a few steep sections where you will get in a nice workout, although you won’t leave totally exhausted. It’s pretty underrated in my opinion considering the great views via moderate effort.
Overall, this is one of my favorite summer hikes: a winning combination of exercise, nature, and beautiful mountain views!
7. Go back in time (way back) at the Petrified National Forest
This beautiful 200+ million year old park, which long ago resembled a tropical oasis with dinosaurs roaming about, now stands as a desolate desert with lots of petrified wood. There is so much history here and it’s a really unusual place and for that reason alone it warrants a visit. To date, this is probably the most interesting place I’ve explored in the region.
Petrified wood is a fossil formed when trees are buried and water rich in minerals like silica dissolve the original plant material. This in term gives the wood a crystal-like appearance. It’s interesting to note that the wood is made up almost entirely of quartz. You may see it parkling a medley of colors in the sun depending on the levels of iron, copper, and manganese which were present during the petrification process.
There is a beautiful 28 mile drive within the park which takes you past numerous points of interest (all very well marked). Some of these sites include: hiking trails offering close up views of the petrified wood, overlooks of the amazing Painted Desert, ancient pueblos and petroglyphs, and even an old Studebaker standing where Route 66 once passed through the park.
This incredible park is an amazing daytrip from Flagstaff, a must if you are a history buff. It’s an interesting, affordable, and fun way to spend a half day, especially when combined with the nearby Meteor Crater.
8. Explore the Flagstaff Urban Trail System
One of the things I love most about Flagstaff is the incredible trail system. You really don’t have to leave to enjoy beauty. Over 59 miles of recreational path not open to motor vehicles can be enjoyed anytime of the year. These paths (mostly paved) serve as excellent areas for running, biking, and even cross country skiing and snowshoeing. I definitely put in a lot of miles training for my half marathons, biking, and snowshoeing here.
The best sections of the trail are located within Buffalo Park (a nice flat 2 mile section) and Fort Tuthill (5 miles of relatively flat continuous trail). Buffalo Park has the advantage of offering some of the most spectacular views of the San Fran Peaks. Fort Tuthill is one of the quietest parks in town with lots of pretty pine trees and nice shade coverage.
There are plenty of trails within the FUTS for everyone. From easy to hard, city to rural, and ranging in scenery from desert like to heavily pine forested. Take a look at the FUTS map to plan a route for your next trip!
9. Stroll around historic downtown Flagstaff
I’ve been to Flagstaff’s lively Main St. more than a few times since living here. Main St. is lined with a variety of coffee shops, local restaurants, art galleries, pubs, and wine bars. It’s definitely one of the tourist hotspots. Lots of restaurants have outdoor patios which are so enjoyable during the summer months. It’s so nice to sit outside and enjoy a meal in the fresh air without feeling rushed! Plus, the majority of businesses are very dog friendly!
The Monte Vista Hotel is a great place to grab a cup of coffee, especially during the fall months with the foliage outside, not to mention the creepy haunted history. This historic property, built in 1926, is one of the most haunted hotels with repeated ghost sightings over the years. During October, they screen a horror movie every Wednesday night in the lounge area – how cool is that?! The Ghost Adventures crew hunted for ghosts here so you know that it’s eerie. Check out the Fear in Flagstaff episode to see if they found any good evidence 😉
No matter what time of year you visit, you are bound to find an event going on. Whether it’s an art fair/farmers market in the summer, Winterfest at the end of January/early February, or the fun Summer Movies on the Square held each Saturday night during the summer months.
In terms of dining, Mix, Lumberyard Brewing, and Beaver Street Brewery all offer a great menu and nice outdoor seating. These would be my top local picks downtown.
10. Plan an afternoon of hiking in Sedona
Perhaps I saved the best for last! You couldn’t possibly visit Flagstaff without taking the easy (and very scenic) drive over to Sedona. It would be a shame to pass up an opportunity so close (just a half hour or so). Sedona aka “Red Rock Wonderland” is home to hundreds of miles of hiking trails, ranging in difficulty from very easy to extremely intense. One thing is consistent, however, and that is that every single hike will give you the opportunity to lust after Sedona’s unique red rock formations.
My favorite recommended hikes include: Devil’s Bridge, Soldier’s Pass, Fay Canyon, West Fork, Teacup, and Little Horse. All of these trails are easy-mod in difficulty and should be relatively easy for most casual hikers. Fay Canyon is by far the easiest, a flat nature walk featuring incredible views. It is the perfect option for those not in great shape or anyone else looking to take it easy on vacation.
Devil’s Bridge is probably the most stunning and popular hike in the entire area. Some portions near the end are a bit challenging as you will have to climb over rocks, however, the majority of the hike is pretty flat and easy.
The experience of walking across the largest sandstone bridge (definitely a no-no for anyone terrified of heights) is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Check out these dramatic views! Be prepared to wait in line for your photo – worth it for the amazing viewpoint.
After your hike, check out Uptown Sedona, home to many unique restaurants, specialty shops (a great place to find a cool cactus themed souvenir), coffee shops, and galleries. I recommend the Prickly Pear ice cream at Black Cow.
