Flagstaff combines a citywide trail network with nature and astronomy offerings, as well as several historical perspectives. When planning your stay, you can therefore choose different focal points: use the shared trails, explore the Observatory Mesa Natural Preserve, experience the dark night sky, or learn about the city’s history. These themes give your choice of stay a concrete connection to your interests.
City Trails and Natural Area
The Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) is a citywide network of non-motorized trails shared by cyclists, walkers, hikers, and runners. It serves both recreation and transportation. In total, there are approximately 59 miles of FUTS trails. About half are paved, while the other half consist of compacted gravel.
The Observatory Mesa Natural Preserve is a natural area of its own. It encompasses 2,251 acres of natural forest ecosystem and serves as a wildlife corridor for large mammals between the San Francisco Peaks and the Mogollon Rim. Activities in the preserve may include hiking, running, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and nature photography. The focus therefore ranges from getting active on trails to observing and photographing nature. If you plan your trip around activities, you can consider the citywide trail network and the offerings in the natural area as different focal points.
Dark Night Skies and Astronomy
On October 24, 2001, Flagstaff was recognized as the world’s first International Dark Sky City. Lowell Observatory on Mars Hill in Flagstaff offers year-round programs, interactive exhibits, telescope viewing, and experiences beneath a dark night sky. The city’s designation and specific astronomy experiences for visitors go hand in hand: when planning, you can decide whether you are interested in the night sky as a subject, want to visit programs and exhibits, or would like to include telescope viewing.
Historic Places and Different Perspectives
Flagstaff’s history also takes different forms. The Museum of Northern Arizona’s museum building opened in 1936 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. The Railroad Addition Historic District was added to the register in 1983. It includes historic buildings associated with travel, commerce, and social life from the late 19th century through the 1940s. The comparison highlights the different perspectives: one is a museum building, the other a historic district with buildings from several decades.
Riordan Mansion was built in 1904 for the two Riordan families, who operated a sawmill in Flagstaff. Interior access is available only as part of a one-hour guided tour. Check current operating details before your trip. Another way to explore the city’s history is Walk This Talk: this walking audio tour celebrates the original route of Route 66 in Flagstaff along Phoenix Avenue and Mikes Pike.
Planning Your Stay
The Flagstaff Visitor Center is located on Route 66 in the historic downtown train station. There, you can get personalized travel information, as well as free travel guides, maps, and brochures. This can help with further planning as you narrow down your interests in nature, astronomy, or history.
The trail network, natural area, and cultural destinations offer different starting points, without requiring you to limit your plans to just one theme.
Discover more destinations: Tusayan, Page, Tuba City, Sedona, Grand Canyon Village, Bellemont, Williams.
View the broader travel overview: Coconino.
