Things to Do in Flagstaff: Arizona’s Mountain Town
Whether you want to hike, relax, shop, eat, or all of the above, Flagstaff, Arizona is the place for you. It truly is the iconic mountain town of Arizona. It sits at 6,800 ft and holds the tallest peak in Arizona: Mt. Humphrey’s at 12,633 ft. There are so many things to do in Flagstaff, AZ- let’s go over it.
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Best Time of the Year to Visit Flagstaff
Honestly, anytime in Flagstaff, Arizona is amazing. Fall is a stunner, winter is a white wonderland, summer is adventure central- it’s all good. Spring probably is my least favorite in the area (March-May), but it is all great. There is so much to do in Flagstaff regardless of time of the year. It is SOOO MUCH cooler (in temperature, haha) than Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix gets up to 115 degrees. The temperature in Flagstaff is on average 20-30 degrees cooler- WOW. It’s such a great break. So let’s go over things to do in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Things to Do in Flagstaff, Arizona
1. Conquer Humphrey’s Peak
We’re starting off with a bang here. This is one of the most iconic things to do in Flagstaff. Mt. Humphrey’s is the tallest point in Arizona, sitting at 12,633 ft tall. The hike itself is over 10 miles and over 3,000 ft in elevation gain. It takes up most of your day. But, if you live in Arizona, you NEED to complete this bucket-list item at least once. The trail itself is beautiful. This hike is best between late May and September, when snow isn’t covering the peak.
2. Visit Snowbowl Resort
Yes, Arizona is known for the heat, but don’t be fooled- Flagstaff is COLD in the winter. But because of that, one of the best things to do in Flagstaff is to ski/snowboard at Snowbowl Resort. It is Arizona’s best ski resort. I have not gotten into those activities YET, but I do love to snowshoe and winter hike. I try to get away every year to Flagstaff in the winter. In other seasons, Snowbowl is great for hiking, fall leaf peeping, and the scenic gondola.
3. Stroll Through Downtown Flagstaff
The community around Downtown Flagstaff is one of my favorite things about the area. There are always loads of people in the town square. There is live music, outdoor movie nights, families running around, people enjoying themselves. Plenty of times, I’ve been surprised with local festivals and events- which are my favorite. One of my favorite things to do in Flagstaff is walk around the charming downtown area. There are amazing stores downtown, whether you’re looking for Vintage Shops, Outdoorsy Shops in Flagstaff, or typical Souvenir Shops, you’re covered. I’ll list a few of my favorites! Remember, support small businesses- they need it!!!!
My favorite shops in Downtown Flagstaff
Babbit’s Backcountry (Outdoorsy Goodies)
Aspen Sports (Outdoorsy Goodies, High Adventure)
Mountain Sports (Clothing-Patagonia, etc)
Earthbound Trading Co (Hippie Dippie Stuff)
Old Town Shops (Multiple Shops- Clothing, Gifts, Jewelry, Candy, Coffee, TShirts)
Plantae (Epic Plant Shop)
Crystal Magic (Crystals)
4. Taste the Local Brews
From the best breweries in Flagstaff, to unique coffee shops in Flagstaff, there is no shortage of great places to eat in Arizona’s mountain town. A couple of my absolute favorites include Lumberyard Brewing Company, Diablo Burger, and Macy’s European Coffee House. Let me tell you, Flagstaff KNOWS BEER. There are so many breweries to visit, and whether or not you drink, they are A VIBE.
Grab My Camping Guide
I’ve created a FORTY PAGE GUIDE outlining all the best free and paid campsites in Northern Arizona, including Flagstaff.
It can be hard to spend hours researching campsites, trying to figure out were they’re located, what they look like, the price, and the amenities. With my guide, those days are over! I give you everything you need to know, with links to my Google Maps AND it’s in a PDF so you can access it any time!
5. Walk Through Buffalo Park
Buffalo Park is an awesome, large public park in Flagstaff. My favorite part- Sunflower season. As pictured above, this park becomes a beautiful flower field, usually sometime during August. Whether the flowers are present or not, Buffalo Park has a wonderful wide, well-maintained dirt path that’s great for walking, trail running (cross country stars train here), or biking. Anytime of the year is a great time to visit Buffalo Park.
6. See Flagstaff’s Seasonal Waterfall: Sycamore Falls
Sycamore Falls is one of the most beautiful views near Flagstaff, to me. It is a seasonal waterfall, meaning it only flows after recent water flow. In Arizona, this means after snowmelt in the spring and in the summer after storms! Read more about catching it during the right timing in my blog post below :).
7. Camp in Flagstaff in the Summer
If you’re ballin’ on a budget, or just enjoy camping, Flagstaff is the place for you. There are so many camping options, from developed campgrounds with amenities, to dispersed camping in the middle of the forest. I will list some of my favorite camping options below! I definitely suggest camping between Late May and Mid-October.
Best Camping Near Flagstaff
Flagstaff KOA (Tent, RV, Cabins, Full Amenities)
Woody Mountain Campground (RV, Tent, B&B, Shop, Coffee and Wine Lounge)
Village Camp Flagstaff (RVs, tiny cabins, full resort amenities)
Fort Tuthill County Campground (101 sites, RV and tent, limited amenities, in the forest, 10 minutes from town)
Wing Mountain Dispersed Camping (Near Mt. Humphrey’s, Dispersed)
Lockett Meadow Campground (Developed Campground, Stunning Views, Requires a steep dirt road drive, beautiful views with hikes nearby)
“Edge of the World” Campground (Dispersed, on top of a canyon overlooking Sedona, pictured in photos above)
8. Visit One of the 3 National Monuments
Flagstaff, Arizona is home to 3 beautiful National Monuments: Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monuments. Sunset Crater is known for its geological history, being a prior volcano. Walnut Canyon and Wupatki are both known for their ruins, up against beautiful landscape. This is one of the best things to do in Flagstaff, AZ especially if you have a family.
9. Visit The Lava River Cave
The Lava Rive Cave is a unique mile-long underground cave about 25 minutes out of Downtown Flagstaff. They estimate that about 700,000 years ago molten rock exploded and created this cave. It’s only 1/4 mile from the parking lot and is family-friendly as well. It’s even better on a hot day, as walking a few steps into the cave drops the temperature 20+ degrees. Make sure to bring a headlamp!
10. Try Out Arizona’s First and Only Nordic Spa
Yes, that’s right! The first Nordic Spa in Arizona is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, within High Country Motor Lodge. I stayed here in July of 2024 and LOVED IT. A “Nordic Spa” is one that focuses alternating between cold and heat exposure- cold plunge and sauna, typically. There are many potential health benefits of doing this, like decreased inflammation, lower blood pressure, improved skin health, and many more! Highly recommend trying it out and staying!
11. Go Leaf-Peeping in the Fall
This has got to be one of my favorite things to do in Flagstaff. I would say it is the best places to see fall colors in Arizona. The aspens turn a bright yellow and are just absolutely stunning. If you search “Flagstaff Leaf-o-meter” you’ll find current updates on fall colors for that year.
12. Stargaze at Lowell Observatory
Flagstaff in Summer is a perfect time to visit Lowell Observatory. Did you know Pluto was discovered here? It was!! Discover your love for the Dark Sky at this beautiful spot.
13. Learn About Route 66 History
You may not have known, but the famous Route 66 passes through Flagstaff, Arizona. You can visit famous murals, retro neon signs, diners, etc. The best spot to stop first is at the Flagstaff Visitor Center- they will direct you to all of the coolest spots! You can also click the link below :). This is one of the coolest things to do in Flagstaff in Summer.
14. Go For a Hike in Flagstaff
Regardless of the time of year, you can’t go wrong with hiking in Flagstaff. Beware if you aren’t used to high elevation- it is definitely harder. You’ll find yourself needing more breaks- which is OKAY. Some of my favorite hikes include the Arizona Trail, Fat Man’s Loop, Kendrick Park, and so many more.
15. Walk Around the College Campus- NAU
Flagstaff, Arizona is home to Northern Arizona University. I went to Arizona State University, but if I knew about NAU at the time, I may have gone. It’s such a cute, old university in the middle of a mountain town. It’s beautiful to walk through during your visit to Flagstaff.
Putting it Together: Flagstaff Itinerary
Hiking, biking, camping, sight seeing, relaxing, eating, and shopping- there are SO MANY THINGS TO DO IN FLAGSTAFF. What more could you ask for? If you want to save this information for another time, I created FREE downloadable itineraries for you to reference in the future!
