101 Things to do in Northern Arizona
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Northern Arizona is a surprisingly diverse area of the country, especially in comparison to its’ southern counterpart. Instead of the towering Saguaro cacti of the Sonoran desert, you will find yourself immersed in the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world. Instead of 6 months of brutally hot 90-100+ degree temps, you will find an attractive 4 season climate which includes mild summer days rarely topping 80 degrees, intense winter snow storms, and even some terrific fall foliage.
You will not find miles of never ending suburbia, but rather interesting historical sights, endless beautiful hiking trails, easy access to natural wonders and towering red rock formations, the state’s largest ski resort and only Nordic center, and so much more. If you only visit the Grand Canyon, you are really missing out by not seeing more impressive, but less hyped natural wonders.
I had the privilege of living in this amazing area for 2 years, and thus, have the local scoop on the best-of-the-best. I have hiked over 100 miles of trails, taken roadtrips nearly every weekend, sought out rare and historical sites, and attended dozens of local events. Here is my guide to exploring Northern Arizona. This list is in no particular order, although I have marked what I believe to be the top 20 must-do’s with a star.
1. Hike the Inner Basin trail in the fall*
Hiking the Inner Basin trail during Flagstaff’s spectacular fall season is one of my favorite experiences to date in Arizona. During the fall, Flagstaff sees brisk sunny days and amazing fall foliage that is right up there with anything you would find in New England. The high altitude Inner Basin hike takes you into the heart of the beautiful San Francisco Peaks (home to Humphrey’s Peak – Arizona’s highest summit at over 12,000 ft). No picture does this one justice, so you will have to see for yourself. The leaves are so extraordinary: this is one of my top leaf peeping hikes in the entire country.
Mesmerizing aspens line the 1.7 mile out-and-back trek, casting a gorgeous golden glow in the fall sunlight. Leaf peepers absolutely must plan for a stop here. Few places out West offer such an incredible leaf peeping experience without much effort or cost involved. The hike, which starts at 8700 ft and ends near 10,000, is intense alright, although when surrounded by such beauty, it really does not feel like all that much effort. You can go out to your comfort level and turn around at any point.
2. Walk across Devil’s Bridge*
Devil’s Bridge, the largest sandstone arch in Sedona, is the most fascinating natural wonder in Red Rock Country. A walk across this mesmerizing natural bridge makes for one of the most photo worthy shots in the entire state. The hike to get to the bridge is nothing short of spectacular with red rock scenery in every single direction. Surprisingly, the trek is not too difficult (400 ft elevation gain) considering the ROI of out-of-this-world scenery. The ending rock climb involves a bit of a scramble, however, as soon as you begin walking across the bridge, marveling at the scenery all around you, there is no question as to whether or not your effort was worth it.
Be aware: this is one of Sedona’s most popular trails, so you will need to get here early to ensure a parking spot. If you only have time for one trail in Sedona, Devil’s Bridge is absolutely the must-do! Note: 4 WD required to park at the main trailhead or you will need to take a connector trail from Chuck Wagon.
3. Take a cruise down Oak Creek Canyon*
Oak Creek Canyon Scenic drive is without a doubt one of the most gorgeous drives in the country. It’s hard to compete with the diverse scenery found along this magnificent 14 mile stretch of land. The dramatic change of scenery includes: towering red rock formations, green ponderosa pine forests, leafy deciduous trees that change brilliant shades of gold and red in autumn, and magnificent mountain and canyon views. During the fall season, the leaves turn brilliant shades of gold and wintertime after a storm, the red rock looks incredible dusted with snow.
The drive begins just a few miles outside of Flagstaff and continues on until eventually reaching the magnificent red rock wonderland of Sedona. Views aside, there’s lots of attractions along the way including a beautiful creekside hike, a wonderful breakfast restaurant called Indian Gardens, several scenic overlooks, picnic and camping areas, the best natural spring water anywhere, and several authentic Native American craft markets. You will definitely want to set out at least a half day for this one! I lived in Kachina (5 min from the start of this drive) and basically drove it at least once per week. Yes, it’s that gorgeous!
4. Test out an authentic Navajo Taco
The Northern Arizona region is rich in Native American history. Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the country, encompasses 5 states including a large portion of Northern Arizona. I enjoyed trying lots of Native American specialties since moving to the region. Authentic frybread is often served at local restaurants. Most notably, the Navajo taco is a traditional Southwestern style taco which uses frybread instead of a tortilla. My favorites include the Navajo Taco at Charly’s at the historic Weatherford Hotel in downtown Flagstaff, as well as the Najavo taco at Salsa Brava, a classic Rt 66 Mexican restaurant which featured on Food Network’s popular Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
5. Stroll around a creepy old ghost town
There are numerous ghost towns throughout Arizona, most of which were former mining boomtowns. Many of these ghost towns became abandoned when the new highway replaced Rt 66. The most interesting to visit is 2 Guns, located about 30 miles outside of Flagstaff along I-40 at exit 230. 2 Guns was once a popular tourist stop on Rt 66 due to a thriving zoo and many other amenities.
A crumpled down graffiti covered gas station, an old campground building, and mountain lion cages from the old zoo are the only remains of this creepy ghost town. It’s quite a strange experience to stroll around the barren desert land imagining that a thriving zoo once existed in this now totally isolated stretch of land!
6. Take in magnificent views of Arizona’s highest mountain range at Buffalo Park
The San Francisco Peaks are home to the tallest natural point in Arizona. The highest peak, Humphrey’s, stands tall at a whopping 12,637 feet. Various locales around Flagstaff provide decent views of these stunning mountains, however, the best uninterrupted views are accessible via a 2 mile nature stroll at Buffalo park. You can also enjoy amazing views of Mt. Elden here. From summer hiking, to spring bike riding, to winter cross country skiing and snowshoeing, Buffalo Park is your best bet in town for any type of fitness activity, anytime of the year.
7. Hike to one of the most photographed natural wonders in the Southwest*
Horseshoe Bend is the name given to one of the country’s most extraordinary natural wonders. The name comes from the unique shape that the Colorado river takes as it curves around a beautiful red sandstone rock formation. This is a must-see out West, particularly if you happen to be already driving this way enroute to Zion National Park. The hike is less than a mile (though really steep), but worth it for the incredible viewpoint. Really, not a bad deal for such little effort! Take lots of pics but stay far away from the edge. A massive 1000 foot drop has led to the death of many a tourist attempting to take crazy photos! Leave the selfie stick at home.
8. Eat “What Guy Ate”
If you are a fan of Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives program, you will definitely want to check out Flagstaff’s restaurant scene. Several local diners have been featured on the show including Brandy’s, a local breakfast favorite known for their huge portions, Fat Olives, a hotspot in town for pizza, and Salsa Brava, a fun Mexican restaurant known for its’ large endless salsa bar and tasty Southwestern style fare.
All 3 of these are located on historic Rt 66. Here’s what Guy ate at each: Belgio Dulce Pizza (Fat Olives), Navajo Taco (Salsa Brava), and Beef Stew and Flat Iron Steak (Brandy’s). My personal favorite of the 3 is Salsa Brava for the delicious hearty Mexican fare, colorful ambiance, and great service. Be sure to try one of the signature stuffed sopapillas pictured above.
9. Stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
Everyone is probably familiar with the lyrics to the Eagle’s catchy 70’s classic Take It Easy. “Well I’m standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona…” Did you know that you can actually stand on the Rt 66 corner in small town Winslow, Arizona for a really cool nostalgic photo. This tiny Northern Arizona community (which frankly resembles a ghost town) sees most of its’ traffic from tourists taking pictures at this commemorative park. Not much else to do really, although there are a few cool souvenir Rt 66 shops nearby. Oh, and you must try the amazing blue corn piki bread & hummus at The Turquoise Room, located in the historic La Posada hotel.
10. Ski through snowy pines at the Arizona Nordic Center
Flagstaff is the winter playground of Arizona, and also one of the snowiest cities in America, seeing an average of over 200 inches of snow per year! The high altitude trails in the mountains tend to get even more snow, which also sticks around longer due to the hefty tree coverage which prevents the snow from melting as fast. Each winter season, thousands upon thousands of southern Arizona residents, whom are sick of the unending heat, make their way up north to ski, snowshoe, sled, and simply play in the snow. As a local, I saw them lined up for miles on end to get on Snowbowl Road and often had to deal with hours long waits, especially over holiday periods.
The Nordic skiing center is a great choice for anyone looking to bypass the crowds at Snowbowl as it tends to stay pretty quiet in comparison to the uber popular ski resort. Nicely groomed trails, a diversity of terrain for all skill levels, and beautiful views of the pines make it well worth the long drive along congested Hwy 180. There are lots of fun little hills and the views are so peaceful and gorgeous. Not a skier? Try snowshoeing: it is easy, affordable, and a great workout!
