11 Best Things To Do In Flagstaff AZ (2024)
Are you looking for things to do in and around Flagstaff? If so, this article’s for you.
Flagstaff is a foresty town surrounded by pine trees, with a historic downtown area, parks, museums, national monuments, and more.
It’s an excellent jumping-off–place for many of Arizona’s natural wonders, being a 1-2 hour drive from the Grand Canyon, Sedona’s red rocks, and the small town of Page, home to both the iconic Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
I recently spent 4 days in Flagstaff, and was surprised with how many cool places it has to offer. This article will cover the best things to do in Flagstaff so you can plan a memorable trip. From ancient pueblo sites to lava caves, there’s something on this list for everyone.
Here are 11 fun things to do in Flagstaff that you won’t want to miss.
Wupatki National Monument
The Wupatki National Monument is one of the largest well-preserved pueblo sites, just 40 minutes north of Flagstaff. The large Wupatki pueblo consists of over 100 rooms, a ballcourt, and a fascinating natural blowhole, where you can feel cold air blow out of the earth.
This site is located at the visitor center, and is a 0.5 mile round trip hike. There are three other pueblo sites you can visit on the side of the road, just a few miles away from the main Wupatki pueblo.
This monument is connected to Sunset Crater on a 35 mile loop road, so you only need to purchase one entrance fee ($25/vehicle, 1–7 day pass) to visit both monuments. You can visit both Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater in 1-2 hours by driving along the loop road.
Sunset Crater Volcano
Sunset Crater Volcano is a cinder cone volcano, just 30 minutes outside of Flagstaff. It last erupted around the year 1085, and is named after the reddish-pink oxidized lava splatter you can see on top of the volcano.
There’s a visitor center and a variety of hiking trails, but the Lava Flow Trail will give you the best view of Sunset Crater. It sits at the base of the volcano, and has wheelchair accessible paths where you can view old lava flows, jagged lava rocks, and other volcanic features.
To visit, you can purchase a 1-7 day pass for $25, which will grant you access to both Sunset Crater and the Wupatki National Monument.
Downtown Flagstaff
Flagstaff has a charming historic downtown area with shops built in the late 1800’s, and a train station that runs along old route 66.
There’s a visitor center located inside of the old train station, and a variety of small shops, restaurants, cafes, and often live street music, so it’s a great place to walk around.
Walnut Canyon
Walnut Canyon National Monument is a large preservation site of ancient pueblos built by the Sinagua people around the 12th century. It has a visitor center with a museum and gift shop, and two hiking trails to see the cliff dwellings.
You can descend down 273 stairs on the Island Trail (0.9 miles roundtrip) to see the cliff dwellings up close, or see them from the Rim Trail (0.7 miles roundtrip), a flat trail overlooking the canyon. It costs $25 per vehicle to visit, for a 1-7 day pass, that’s only valid for Walnut Canyon.
If you plan on also visiting Sunset Crater or Wupatki National Monument, make sure to buy the annual pass ($45/year) instead. This will grant you access to all three national monuments for a year (and save $5).
Lava River Cave
One of the most interesting places to visit in Flagstaff is the Lava River Cave, a mile–long lava tube situated in the middle of the forest. This lava tube was created around 700,000 years ago from the nearby Hart Prairie volcano, and you can explore the inside of it for free.
The cave has a narrow entrance, and the inside is pitch black, with the trail consisting of large, loose boulders. When I visited, the cave was cold, and the descent into the cave was much steeper than I had expected.
If you plan on visiting, remember to bring a flashlight, wear comfortable hiking shoes, and take your time climbing down, to avoid tripping over the loose rocks.
Buffalo Park
Buffalo Park is a lovely park surrounded by pine trees in the forests, with beautiful views of the mountains. It’s free to visit, and a great place to bike, hike, or stroll around.
There’s a 2 mile flat trail that loops around the park, and additional trails that venture out further up into the mountains.
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory perched atop a mountain, overlooking downtown Flagstaff. This observatory was initially built in 1984 to study Mars, and is where Pluto was originally discovered!
You can tour the observatory, visitor center, and visit at night for a stargazing session. It costs $29/adult, and $17/children for an all-day pass, which is valid for the tours, exhibits, and telescope viewings.
Museums
Beyond the observatory, Flagstaff has a few interesting museums worth visiting if you love history. Here are a few museums and historic sites you may want to consider visiting.
- Museum of Northern Arizona: Large museum with exhibits on the geology of the Colorado Plateau and Native American history, $15/adult, $10/children
- Pioneer Museum: Historic 1908 hospital turned museum with a train, barn, and exhibits on the town’s history, free to visit
- Riordan Mansion State Historic Park: Large rustic mansion from 1904 filled with preserved furniture and artifacts, that offers hourly tours, $2/per person
- Fort Tuthill Military History Museum: Small military museum of the history of the 158th Infantry Regiment, only open in the summer with limited hours, free to visit
Day trip to the Grand Canyon South Rim
The Grand Canyon South Rim is just over an hour drive from Flagstaff, so it’s definitely worth a visit if you have the time. At the South Rim, you can view the Grand Canyon from the Mather Point Overlook, hike around the rim, hike one of the various trails into the canyon, and more.
The South Rim has a visitor center, the Yavapai geology museum, and a variety of great restaurants in Grand Canyon Village. Additionally, you can drive east of Grand Canyon Village, along Desert View Drive, to see several scenic viewpoints off the side of the road.
It costs $35/vehicle to enter the park, for a 1-7 day pass. I drove from Flagstaff to the South Rim, and only spent around 3 hours in the park, but it was incredibly memorable.
Day trip to Sedona
Sedona is less than an hour drive from Flagstaff so it’s perfect for a day trip. In Sedona, you can hike, shop in Uptown, or go on a Jeep tour to explore the beautiful red rock country.
Sedona has a wide variety of beginner hiking trails, and is home to Slide Rock State Park, where you can slide down a natural waterslide.
If it’s your first time visiting Sedona, I recommend hiking Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, or another one of Sedona’s energy vortexes. These are all beautiful hikes, with spectacular views of the red rocks and desert scenery.
Day trip to Page Arizona
Page Arizona is a small little town, straddling the border between Arizona and Utah. It’s just over a two hour drive from Flagstaff, and is home to Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and the magnificent Glen Canyon Dam.
I made the nearly 5 hour drive from Phoenix to Page, so it’s well worth visiting if you’re staying in Flagstaff. In Page, you can visit Horseshoe Bend, tour Antelope Canyon, go hiking, or rent out boats and kayaks on Lake Powell.
The actual town of Page is very small, consisting of a few stores and restaurants. But the geology surrounding the area is fascinating, and the desert landscape looks like it’s from another planet!
Summary
Flagstaff is a charming foresty town, in an ideal location for seeing the beauty of Arizona. You can shop around and dine in downtown, and stop by the visitor center to watch trains go by along historic route 66.
The national monuments Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon, are all under an hour drive from Flagstaff, so they’re worth stopping by to learn about the history of the area.
For those interested in astronomy, make sure to head to Lowell’s Observatory for a stargazing session at night!
And if you’re staying in Flagstaff for a few days, I recommend planning out a day trip to either Sedona, Page, or the Grand Canyon, to see some of Arizona’s most fascinating natural wonders.
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