Flagstaff in Summer: Arizona’s Mountain Town
Summer in Flagstaff is amazing- you NEED to know. Did you know that Flagstaff sits at a higher election than Denver (the mile high city)? 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. Whether you want to hike, relax, shop, eat, or all of the above, Summer in Flagstaff is the place for you.
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Weather in Flagstaff in Summer
Flagstaff, Arizona is SOOO MUCH cooler (in temperature, haha) than Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix gets up to 115 degrees. The temperature in Flagstaff in Summer is on average 20-30 degrees cooler- WOW. Even better, the evenings and early mornings are actually a bit chilly, which feels so good. The activities that you can do in Flagstaff vary from Summer to Fall to Winter, which I LOVE. So let’s go over things to do in Flagstaff in Summer.
Flagstaff in Summer: Things to Do
1. Conquer Humphrey’s Peak
We’re starting off with a bang here. 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, which is why it’s a great thing to do in Flagstaff in Summer.
2. Check Out the Local Breweries
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.
3. Stroll Through the Downtown Shops
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. One of my favorite things to do in Downtown Flagstaff in Summer is SHOP. 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. Camp in the Pine Trees
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!
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)
Even Better- I’ve Created a Guide for YOU!
I’ve created a guide with photos, details, and specific locations including coordinates for numerous campsites within Flagstaff, Sedona, Payson, The Grand Canyon, and other areas of Northern Arizona. I promise you, it’s worth the few dollars!
5. 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 :).
6. 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.
7. 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. These are very family-friendly, if you’re traveling with little ones.
8. 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!
9. 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!
10. Ride the Scenic Gondola
AZ Snowbowl is Arizona’s Best Ski Resort. In the summer, you can enjoy the gondola to take in the beautiful sunny views. I have never done this myself, as you can’t take dogs and I usually always have mine, but I would love to do it. While you’re there, check out one of the mountain bike trails or hiking trails nearby. This is one of the best things to do in Flagstaff in Summer.
11. 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.
12. 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.
Putting it Together: Flagstaff Itinerary
Flagstaff in Summer is a great place to be, for hiking, biking, camping, sight seeing, relaxing, eating, and shopping. 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!
