An Easy Walk Through Towering Aspen Trees on Flagstaff’s Picturesque Veit Springs Loop

Flagstaff is home to so many beautiful hikes, ranging in difficulty from a “no sweat 2” mile fitness loop around Buffalo Park, to an incredibly intense all day adventurous 9 mile trek up to Humphrey’s Peak, which at 12,637 feet, is the highest point in Arizona.

For those seeking an easy nature stroll accompanied by beautiful views, Veit Springs aka Lamar Haines, a flat hike of only 2 miles which travels through a dense aspen and pine forest is the way to go. Most tourists pass this hike over as it is located halfway up Snowbowl Rd. The parking lot is kind of hidden so it doesn’t draw the traffic. For locals, this is a good thing! During my time living in the Northern Arizona region, this has been one of the hikes I come back to most often. I love seeing the summer wildflowers, the fall foliage, and I even snowshoe here during the winter months.

An easy & short trek through pines & aspens

The easy terrain and short distance makes this hike a good choice for hikers of all levels, even kids. Just be sure to take into account the high elevation (8648 feet) and drink extra water and eat salty snacks. I recommend reading some high altitude tips before setting out on any trail in the region just to be safe.

The trail itself is very scenic, as is the 4 mile drive up Snowbowl Road. If you are not paying attention, you can easily miss the trailhead parking area as there is no sign. Once you drive about 4.2-4.3 miles up this scenic drive, you will see a parking area on the right. This is where you will start the trail. You will see this sign with map that I have posted here.

One of the greenest hikes

This hike takes you through a dense forest of beautiful pine and aspen trees. This city is actually located within the largest ponderosa pine forest. The Coconino National Forest is a true gem and I have loved exploring all the trails. At times, I was reminded of the beautiful nature walks I took while living in New England. If you visit on a weekday or early in the morning, the trail will likely be desolate.  In fact, most of the time we see very little traffic here. It’s a wonderful place to explore nature, birdwatch, and get in a little healthy workout.

I really love the greenery on this one: it’s just so dense and dark. It’s a great option if you are sick of the unending sunshine in southern Arizona. On the other hand, the sunlight in high altitude towns like Flagstaff can actually be pretty intense as well. The sun feels much stronger to me living at high altitude. If I want to feel like I am escaping the sun for a dark, eerie hike like those I enjoyed in Massachusetts, this is my first pick.

A leaf peeping hotspot

Fall is the premiere time to plan your hike as the abundance of aspen trees make for a really colorful walk. This area is so amazing for leaf peeping; I’ve seen colors here rivaling the best of New England. I knew little about the area before relocating, so to say I was surprised is an understatement.

The beautiful golden hues are typically in full force by early October at this high of an elevation. Here’s a quick glimpse of some of the color you will see. It’s not my favorite fall hike in the area, but the color is great and it is a lot quieter than most other trails in the area.

Summer is wildflower season

Next to fall, summertime is my favorite time to get out on this trail. First off, the daytime temps are beautiful (typically in the upper 70’s.) Second, you will get to see colorful wildflowers everywhere. Take a look below at all the beautiful varieties of flowers we have seen while hiking.

You won’t find many people around, which allows you to totally immerse yourself in nature. Summertime can be busy with Phoenix locals escaping the desert heat. Most tourists tend to congregate around the downtown shops and restaurants, so the trails retain that peaceful vibe.

You can easily forget all your worries on this hike as you listen to nothing but the wind rustling through the trees.  Depending on the time of day you visit, you may see some wildlife.  Elk and deer are very common, especially during the early morning and evening hours. I’ve never seen any bears personally, but I have heard that they occasionally make an appearance. Honestly, I am glad to miss out on this opportunity. As a side note, It’s also one of the best birdwatching picks in the area.

A little bit of history…

Aside from the wonderful views, there are a couple of interesting surprises on this one for history buffs. One of these sites is an old abandoned cabin, built in 1892 by Ludwig Veit. As you can see from the photo below, the cabin has been cut down in size to prevent further vandalism.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the trail is seeing 1000+ year old pictographs and petroglyphs by early Native Americans. I’ve seen a lot of these since moving here at various places, but it is definitely a lot more interesting to see them hidden on a special trail. The hidden nature makes them even more appealing and special like you have to do a little work to get to them.

You will need to take a short detour off the trail to see these pictographs. Once you see the Lamar Haines dedication plaque (the park was recently renamed in the Flagstaff conservationist’s honor), you will stay to the left and keep going towards the escarpment. You will see the cabin and an old stone shed. From here, there is a small hill where you will come across 2 dried out springs (Veit and Canadian). Once you come to the rock wall, you will want to search for these faint markings. Although we found the pictographs, we were unable to find the petroglyphs.

The 2 pictographs are a faint red color and consist of a handprint and what looks to be 2 people near a stream.

Why you should hike this one

I think this is a wonderful low-key hike for all ages and skill levels. It happens to be one of my favorites in the area due to the abundance of trees, easy terrain, and absence of crowds. Whether you visit during the colorful fall season or during the summer to take in the beauty of the wildflowers, you are sure to enjoy the peaceful woodsy setting.

Additional Info

• Address: 9300 N Snow Bowl Rd Flagstaff, AZ 86001. There is no fee to park.
• Free backcountry passes required during the winter months. Pick them up at the ranger station.
• Facilities: No restrooms at trailhead

Trail Details

• Distance: 2 miles
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dogs allowed: Yes, they must be leashed.