10 Worthwhile Northern Arizona Attractions & 10 to Skip!
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.
One section of the trail will take you past 2 very narrow boulders, hence the unique name.
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. A diverse variety of desert plant life and well as many scenic vistas can be enjoyed the entire length.
Hiking Fat Man’s Loop is the perfect summer activity: a winning combination of exercise, nature, and beautiful mountain views!
7. Spend the day exploring 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.
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, sparkling a medley of colors 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) including 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.
A day at the Petrified Forest is definitely worth the 1.5 hour drive from Flagstaff. It’s an interesting, affordable, and fun way to spend a half day, especially when combined with the nearby Meteor Crater.