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Flagstaff - A Destination for all Seasons
Flagstaff is the key destination for people seeking the adventure, natural beauty and peaceful solitude of northern Arizona. At 7,000 feet, the town is situated within the largest adjoining ponderosa pine forest in the world. Visitors are attracted to the clean mountain air, year-round outdoor recreation opportunities, historic downtown charm and Western legacy.
Rich History
Located along a pioneer trail, Flagstaff was initially a stop for travelers on horseback, rail and later by car on Route 66 and Interstate 40. The six majestic San Francisco Peaks are the highest mountains in Arizona and were an important landmark to travelers. Even before the arrival of the railway, adventurous visitors used the peaks as a reference point for exploring the Grand Canyon and other area attractions. Its signature scenery draws many outdoor enthusiasts who cherish this rugged yet picturesque part of the American West.
Staking its claim as part of America’s western legacy through the rustic veins of Route 66, Flagstaff awakens the adventure-seeking pioneer in all of us. The road is lined with hostels, the world famous Museum Club, roadside stands and the old motel row where many original buildings are still in use. Flagstaff continues to celebrate its “Mother Road” heritage at the Annual Route 66 Days Festival each September. Over 300 classic cars fill the streets of downtown in an effort to win prizes and entertain visitors.
Another important element in Flagstaff’s rich history is the Native American people. They have a significant presence in northern Arizona as it is home to over 280,000 Native Americans who live on five reservations that cover over 31,000 square miles in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. The Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, Kaibab-Paiute and Hualapai tribes are distinctly different and each is unique to any other culture in the world.
Primary Indian Communities in Northern Arizona
Navajo: The largest of the nation’s Indian reservations, the Navajo Nation has a population of over 250,000 and covers more than 27,000 square miles extending into Utah and New Mexico. The Navajo refer to themselves as Dine, which means "the people." Their homeland includes the unparalleled beauty of Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly and Chaco Canyon.
Hopi: Bordered on all sides by the Navajo Nation, the Hopi reservation has 12 villages that sit on three mesas and a history that dates back to 500 AD. The Hopi are the direct descendants of Hisatsinom, or San Juan Anasazi Basketmakers who once occupied the pueblos of the Southwest. One Hopi village, Old Oraibi, is thought to be the oldest continually inhabited village in the U.S. (since 1050 AD).
Havasupai: For over 1,000 years, the Havasupai, "people of the blue-green waters," have lived in the Grand Canyon, farming during the summer months and hunting on nearby plateaus during the winter. Today, tourism is the primary economic staple for the Havasupai people, with Havasu Canyon attracting approximately 12,000 outdoor enthusiasts each year.
Kaibab Paiute: The Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation, situated along Kanab Creek in northern Arizona, is surrounded by small communities including Fredonia, Kanab and Colorado City. Ancestors of the Kaibab Paiute settled along the Colorado Plateau around 1150 AD. Most of the reservation land is undeveloped; the tribe’s economy centers largely around tourism and the livestock industry.
Hualapai: Hualapai is an English translation of Hwal'bay, meaning "People of the Tall Pine." Evidence of their Pai ancestors has been found along the Willow Beach bank near Hoover Dam and dates back as early as 600 AD. The Hualapai reservation encompasses a million acres along 108 miles of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon.
Year-Round Playground
With 33 miles of urban trails to explore, including the Coconino National Forest trail system, Flagstaff beckons hikers, bikers, horseback riders and more. The four-season climate provides year-round outdoor activities, especially when Phoenicians want to escape the blistering summer heat. Surrounded by natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon and the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff is home to countless archaeological and geological treasures.
Monument Valley, the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest are all within a day's drive from Flagstaff. Slide Rock State Park is in the heart of Oak Creek Canyon 18 miles south of Flagstaff and is a family favorite known for its natural waterslide in the creek.
Visitors can even indulge the tourist trap bug with the "Best Preserved Meteorite Impact Site on Earth!" Formed nearly 50,000 years ago, the site features interactive displays, a large-screen theater, the Astronaut Wall of Fame, an Apollo space capsule and more.
When the Valley’s heat becomes simply unbearable in summer, Flagstaff offers a cool ride and awe-inspiring view on the Scenic Skyride at Arizona Snowbowl. The chairlift climbs to an elevation of 11,500 feet, providing vistas stretching over 70 miles and including the Grand Canyon. With unbelievable views and at 40 degrees cooler than Phoenix at its peak, Snowbowl is a must-see.
Flagstaff also has a wide variety of attractions right in town. Explore the starry skies at Lowell Observatory and see firsthand the original Lowell telescope, a 24-inch refractor used by Clyde Tombaugh to discover Pluto in 1930.
You can explore Native American cultures at the Museum of northern Arizona, where exhibits evoke the very spirit of the Colorado Plateau. Discover tribal lifeways, natural sciences and fine arts exhibits in nine exhibit galleries.
You can experience the historic charm of a 19th century mansion when you visit Riordan Mansion State Historic Park. The mansion has more than 40 rooms, 13,000 square feet of living area and servants’ quarters.
Downtown Charm
With over 200 restaurants, numerous nightspots and over 70 hotels, many people are surprised at Flagstaff’s thriving art and culture scene. Enjoy a local festival at Heritage Square. Don’t miss Movies on the Square with movies showing every Friday night at sundown from May through September. The Downtown Flagstaff Historic District has countless clothing boutiques, outdoor outfitters, unique bookstores and art galleries, plus a wide variety of great restaurants, cafes and microbreweries. Live entertainment can be found almost every evening at local coffee shops and other venues.
The historic Orpheum Theater offers the best in local and national artists as well as exciting and unique film screenings. Coconino Center for the Arts has a 4,000 square foot gallery featuring diverse exhibitions and an intimate, 200-seat theater offering concerts, performances, films and other presentations.
Able to provide a host of archeological treasures and year-round activities amidst the tall pines, Flagstaff is the ideal getaway from the summer heat.
