Flagstaff, Arizona is the central location for some of the most beautiful desert and rock formations in the United States. A few days here will enable you to see some of the most unique and best things the West has to offer. Its historic downtown area alone offers delicious food options, popular activities, craft brews, and special events. There are also a number of museums with both temporary exhibits and permanent exhibits. Check out our list of the best things to do in Flagstaff, Arizona, and start planning your next trip!
1. The Museum of Northern Arizona
Nestled at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks, The Museum of Northern Arizona offers colorful exhibits that let visitors experience the unique character of the region. Some of the exhibits feature archaeology, footprints of the past, and histories in clay. Southwestern jewelry is among the displayed items as well. The museum also houses artifacts showing Colorado Plateau from all the way back to 15,000 B.C.
Apart from ventures and custom tours, the museum also offers special events that allow visitors to marvel at cultural masterpieces and participate in hands-on activities. A gift shop with apparel, books, fine art, and other featured items is found on the property.
The Museum of Northern Arizona
Address: 3101 N Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, United States
Website: The Museum of Northern Arizona
Opening hours: Wed - Mon: 10am - 4pm (closed on Tue)
Price: 15 USD
2. The North Pole Experience
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
If you’re in Flagstaff for the holidays, join the North Pole Experience to make the most of your vacation. It is a magical, interactive experience that lasts approximately 95 minutes and is spent entirely aboard the train traveling to the North Pole Village. Upon arrival, Santa comes aboard and greets the children with cocoa, a cookie, and a bell.
From working side-by-side with the elves to enjoying cookies and snowman soup in the bakery, the entire tour provides a bonding moment that is one for the books - not just for the kids but for the whole family as well. Participants also get to be inside Santa’s mailroom and “secret” hangar, where the mission control center is located. The adventure ends with a private family visit to Santa.
The North Pole Experience
Address: 2515 E Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, United States
Website: The North Pole Experience
Price: From 38 USD
3. Mother Road Brewing Company
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
One of the independent craft brewers in Arizona, Mother Road Brewing Company provides a relaxed setting for groups and children with families to hang out. It also features a patio that welcomes well-behaved and leashed pets. The site is an original brewery with an intimate tasting room where visitors can enjoy a pint and engage in casual conversations over craft beers. There is also a small library as well as several board games for entertainment.
Mother Road Brewing Company support local charities and partner with organizations that protect wild spaces in the state.
Mother Road Brewing Company
Address: 7 S Mikes Pike St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, United States
Website: Mother Road Brewing Company
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 2pm - 9pm; Sat - Sun: 12pm - 9pm
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4. Haunted Downtown Flagstaff Segway Tour (from USD 129.0)
Joining a haunted tour is already interesting enough, but experiencing it using a Segway just takes the whole adventure to a whole new level of fun. You also have the option of joining the tour on foot or bike. No matter which mode you prefer, fun is guaranteed as you’ll be going through the downtown core and hearing stories of ghost sightings and the history of the Wild West. You’ll also be provided with a headset so you can listen to the expert guide as they explain interesting facts and information about the city.
The tour starts from Thorpe Park and all the way through Northern Arizona University, the Historic Downtown, and, finally, the Lowell Observatory.
Haunted Downtown Flagstaff Segway Tour
Duration: 2 hours
5. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Happy Thanksgiving! The staff at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park are so thankful for the support of the Riordan Family, our volunteers, and the community!
Posted by Riordan Mansion State Historic Park on Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Visit this stunning 1904 mansion, showcasing arts-and-crafts style architecture and exhibits from different times, diverse people, and historic events in Arizona. Visitors are allowed to see the interior of the mansion via a guided tour that starts every hour from 10am to 4pm.
You can also have fun at the property’s picnic area or explore the expansive grounds. Make sure to keep your eyes open to see some of the wildlife that frequents the area such as mountain chickadees and juncos.
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Address: 409 W Riordan Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, United States
Website: Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Opening hours: 9:30am - 5pm (daily)
Entrance Fee: 2 USD; Free for kids below 6. Guided tour fee: 12 USD
6. Walnut Canyon National Monument
The highlight of Walnut Canyon is seeing the homes of the Sinagua people, a group that lived here from 1100 to 1250 CE. They were experts in conserving water, dealing with droughts, and trading with other groups as far away as Central America. When they mysteriously left in 1250 CE, they left behind around 80 cliff dwellings.
Today, lucky visitors can see 25 of these rooms via a 0.9 mile (1.4 km) loop trail, that descends 185 feet (56 m) into Walnut Canyon. Other things you might see on the trail include the 387 species of plants that live here or some of the native animal life.
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Address: 3 Walnut Canyon Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Website: Walnut Canyon
7. Wupatki National Monument
The Wupatki National Monument is famous for its rich Native American history and ruins. This protected land includes three buildings and 29 structures on 35,000 acres (14,164 hectares) of land. All the settlements here were built by the ancient Pueblo people, who lived here between 500 and 1225 CE. They harvested rainwater and produced maize and squash.
While Wupatki appears abandoned today, it is still cared for by the park service and the Hopi clans. They tell stories of their ancestors and believe that the people who lived and died here, remain as spiritual guardians.
Visitors today can hike on designated paths and see some of the ruins. If you time it right, you can enjoy a ranger-led hike to backcountry sites that are normally off-limits.
Wupatki National Monument
Address: 25137 N Wupatki Loop Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Website: Wupatki National Monument
8. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Around 1085 CE, a huge volcanic eruption shook this area. Lava spewed and flowed over 4 miles (6.4 km), and a blanket of ash and lapilli, or rock fragments, covered over 810 square miles (2,100 sq km) of land. Today, the volcano is extinct and partially re-vegetated, but the evidence of its violent past remains.
Visitors can get a great view of Sunset Crater and enjoy a spectacular hiking trail, found here. The trail is below the summit and goes around the Bonito Lava Flow. Admire the hardened black lava fields of Sunset Crater and imagine how devastating it was to the area in the past. There is a small lava tube, but it is now closed to the public. Hiking to the summit is also not permitted.
Sunset Crater Volcano
Address: Coconino County, Arizona, U.S.
Website: Sunset Crater
9. Flagstaff Extreme
Flagstaff Extreme is a popular attraction that features rope swings and tree-top suspended obstacle courses, for both kids and adults, at varying difficulty and experience levels. Come walk across ropes and wiggly bridges, swing through the treetops and enjoy an amazing view and outdoor adventure. Flagstaff Extreme is a great place to build confidence and enjoy popular activities.
Flagstaff Extreme
Address: Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Website: Flagstaff Extreme
10. Lowell Observatory
Established in 1894, the Lowell Observatory is one of the oldest observatories in the United States. In fact, it was here that Pluto was discovered, in 1930. It features a wide variety of telescopes. The original telescope used for this discovery is still in use today, for public education.
Lowell Observatory sees over 85,000 visitors per year, who come to take both day and nighttime guided tours, to see the dark sky and stars and learn about the galaxies above their heads. Apart from a visitor center, there are also various special programs such as “Meet an Astronomer,” and many events around astronomical phenomena, such as meteor showers or eclipses. The site offers regular events and annual events as well, including the Heart Pluto Festival.
Lowell Observatory
Address: 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Website: Lowell Observatory
11. Small group Grand Canyon day tour from Flagstaff (from USD 224.0)
This tour is a great way to conveniently see the Grand Canyon from Flagstaff. You will be picked up from your hotel in the city and then proceed to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Here, you will stop between six and eight times and be given the opportunity to walk to some less visited outlooks.
Visitors will also get to see historic buildings, such as the El Tovar Lodge and Desert View Watchtower, as well as enjoy a picnic lunch at the Indian Ruins. Finally, the group will get to stop at one of the most famous Navajo Trading Posts in the United States before heading back to Flagstaff.
Grand Canyon from Flagstaff Small Group Day Tour with Guide
Duration: 8 hours
12. Lava River Cave in Coconino National Forest
700,000 years ago, molten lava erupted from a volcanic vent in Hart Prairie. The top, sides, and bottom of the vent cooled and solidified first, allowing the rest of the lava to continue flowing through the ground and create the cave.
Visitors can visit this mile-long (1.6 km), huge cavern, year-round, with no fees. They can also take a self-guided tour to look at the stone icicles hanging from the ceiling, a fascinating Y-shaped intersection, and pillars of light pouring through holes in the ceiling. Be sure to bring light sources and plenty of water. Dress warmly – temperatures in the cave are around 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 Celcius), even in the summer.
Lava River Cave in Coconino National Forest
Address: 171B Forest Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Website: Lava River Cave
13. Arizona Snowbowl
While you might not associate Arizona with a mountainous landscape, you can find snowy peaks and pine trees at around 9,500 feet (2895.6 meters) above sea level, here at the Arizona Snowbowl. Come and enjoy snowboarding and skiing, during the winter and for an escape from the intense heat and the fun of a scenic chair lift, during the summer.
Arizona Snowbowl
Address: 9300 N Snow Bowl Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Website: Arizona Snowbowl
14. Grand Falls Arizona
Thousands of years ago, lava flowed from the Merriam Crater into the Little Colorado River, creating a lava dam. This formed the Grand Falls of Arizona. At 185 feet (56 meters) tall, this waterfall is taller than Niagara Falls but much more unpredictable. Heavy rains and snowfall will cause torrents of water to pour over the dam, while at other times of the year, there will be barely a trickle. The water is known for being extremely muddy and has been likened to the chocolate waterfalls in Willy Wonka.
This formation is a little difficult to get to, requiring a four-wheel drive vehicle, a hiking permit from the Navajo, and a hiking trail that is a little over a mile (1.6 km) long, but adventurers will be rewarded with a beautiful natural formation, that most others miss.
Grand Falls Arizona
Website: Grand Falls AZ
15. Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour (from USD 299.0)
Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon, formed by the erosion of Navajo Sandstone due to flash flooding. The water swirled and churned through the canyon, forming stunning curves along the walls. Because of the danger of flash floods, especially in the late summer months, access to this canyon is granted only to approved tour companies.
Upon your arrival, a guide from the Navajo Nation, who own the canyon lands, will help you explore the depths of this natural wonder. Next, the group will proceed to an amazing view of Horseshoe Bend, a horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River. You will be hiking around 2 miles (3.2 km) on these excursions, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Flagstaff
Duration: 9 hours
Flagstaff - The adventure of a lifetime
These excursions are just what you need to get in touch with nature, history, and thrill – are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? If so, start packing your bags and plan a trip to Flagstaff, today!
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