Things to do in Flagstaff AZ

If you are looking for fun things to do in Flagstaff AZ, you are in the right place.

Astonishing natural wonders, refreshing outdoor recreation and attractive cultural attractions make Flagstaff an ideal getaway. You can come here to revitalize the body and reload the mind. Flagstaff is located at the base of the gorgeous San Francisco Peaks. It is bordered by flourishing forests. The city offers plenty of opportunities for fresh air fun. Spring, summer, and autumn draw hikers, campers, and mountain bikers. Whereas the winter draws ice skaters and skiers. Flagstaff also has a lot of educational and cultural attractions. Don’t forget to see the award-winning exhibit “Native Peoples of the Colorado Plateau” at the Museum of Northern Arizona. The Museum showcases a glimpse of what life was like for the settlers of the area. It also contains a 1929 Baldwin locomotive in its assortment. The city also has a planetarium and an arboretum. The whole area is a living geology and anthropology lesson. It features historic Native American ruins and dazzling scenery at the Wupatki and Walnut Canyon National Monuments. These are just waiting to be explored. With so many things to do in Flagstaff AZ, you will never feel the lack of fun.

Top Things to do in Flagstaff AZ

1.) Walnut Canyon National Monument

Walnut Canyon National Monument is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. A visit here is among the top things to do in Flagstaff AZ. The monument is situated on Walnut Canyon Road southeast of downtown Flagstaff. The track which leads from the canyon’s edge to its floor goes by 25 Sinagua cliff dwelling rooms. Visitors can get a close-up view of the unique dwellings. Watch millions of years of history unlaced in the geology of the rocks at this scenic and remarkable hiking area. It was populated by the Sinagua Indians in an early period.

2.) Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki National Monument is situated on US-89. It is a U.S. National Monument, which includes a lot of Native American ruins discovered on more than 35,000 acres of desert land. It was established in 1924. It is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The park displays the ruins of the ancient Native American Pueblos like Wukoki, Crack-in-Rock, and Wupatki.

Wupatki is known as “tall house”. It is a breathtaking multi-story Pueblo. It comprises of over 100 rooms. The park’s also has an ancient community room along with a ball court.

3.) Flagstaff Extreme

Flagstaff Extreme is situated in Fort Tuthill County Park. It is an attractive adventure course. It offers numerous treetop courses where participants move through obstacles suspended from the giant trees. The obstacles include hanging nets, bridges, scrambling walls, rope swings and much more. The company offers numerous big obstacle courses at different skill levels. Some of them are appropriate for adults and some are for kids. Visitors are given training sessions. Flagstaff Extreme is also known to hosts events such as the Extreme Finisher Series.

4.) Coconino National Forest

The Coconino National Forest is spread over 2 million acres of land. It is situated on North Fort Valley Road. It was originally established in 1898 as the San Francisco Mountains National Forest Reserve. In 1908, it became a U.S. National Forest. Due to its size, the forest consists of different kinds of landscapes such as deserts, alpine tundra, flat lands, volcanic peaks, and mesas.

Here, you can also find Elden Pueblo, a historic Sinagua village. Another interesting thing about the forest is Red Mountain. It is a 1,000 ft volcanic cinder cone with a typical “U” shape.

5.) Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is situated on the Sunset Crater Road. This monument  is the home of a 900-year-old cinder cone. From the Visitor Center, there are numerous trails and regions in the park through which visitors can explore. Its features include the Cinder Hills Overlook, with spectacular views, the Lenox Crater Trail, the Lava Flow Trail and the Aa Flow Trail.

Visitors can also go on a 7-mile hike to O’Leary Peak. There are numerous programs available such as the Junior Ranger Program, school field trips, and the WebRangers. Visiting here is among the top things to do in Flagstaff AZ.

 6.) Lava River Cave

The Lava River Cave is a lava tube situated on South Thompson Street in the Coconino National Forest region. It was founded in 1915 by lumberman. It is the longest cave in entire Arizona. It is having 0.75 miles of length. It is also called the Government Cave due to its proximity to Government prairie and Government peak.

The cave also provides an educational experience which allows visitors to know about geology, biology, history, and caves. There is no door to the cave, visitors can access it through a hole in the ground. The ground is slippery in some areas. Visitors need to wear warm clothes as it can be quite cold inside. You might encounter a few animals like bats, rats and squirrels inside.

7.) Lowell Observatory

Lowell Observatory was established in 1894. It is among the oldest observatories in the U.S. It is situated on West Mars Hill Road. The observatory was selected as a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1965. In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered the planet Pluto using the Lowell Observatory telescope. The same telescope is used for public education. Visitors can also examine the night sky using the same telescope and other telescopes. Camps for preschoolers, middle school camp, elementary summer camp and numerous other programs are also available.

8.) Museum of Northern Arizona

Museum of Northern Arizona is situated on North Fort Valley Road. This museum is devoted to conserving and exhibiting Native American artifacts and objects from the Colorado Plateau. It was discovered in 1928. The museum features collections related to anthropology, geology, biology, art, etc. Museum Highlights Tours and Collections Tours are offered here. The museum also hosts numerous programs and events.

9.) Arizona Snowbowl

The Arizona Snowbowl is situated on North Snowbowl Road. Visiting this place is one of the fun things to do in Flagstaff AZ. It is a famous alpine ski resort on the San Francisco Peaks. It was opened in 1938. The 777-acre resort includes 2 lodges, the Hart Prairie Lodge and the Agassiz Lodge. Visitors can enjoy various activities in summers like riding on the Scenic Skyride chairlift. Enjoy your ride with a remarkable view of the Grand Canyon. Also, you can go for hiking on trails such as the Humphreys Peak Trail. It goes to the highest peak in Arizona. The resort is also available for corporate events, parties and weddings as well.

10.) Grand Falls of the Little Colorado River

Grand Falls also are known as the Chocolate Niagara due to brown color of its water. It is situated in the Painted Desert on the Navajo Nation. The falls are higher than those in Niagara Falls. They stand on at a height of 185 feet. During the dry season, there is just a dribble of water falls down the cliffs. But at the time of rain, Grand Falls gives an amazing sight and sound. You can easily hear the roar from a mile. The water flows down from the San Francisco Peaks and merges with the Colorado River to form this natural wonder. There is also a trail on the bottom of the falls. Here you can cool down your feet in the pool.