Things to do in Flagstaff, Arizona – The Top 5

Flagstaff, Arizona, is a beautiful northern city that boasts a hippy/lumberjack feel in extremely cool surroundings. The city is around a 4-hour drive north from Tucson and a 2-hour drive north of the state capital, Phoenix. The city sits at a much higher elevation than Phoenix and Tucson, so has a much greener environment with lots of forests and grasslands. Flagstaff is considerably colder than its fellow Arizonan cities, so you should pack some long sleeves and trousers!

Because of its cooler climate and mountain setting, the atmosphere here feels completely different to the desert cities further south. Pine forests surround the town, there’s a strong outdoorsy culture, and the historic downtown area has loads of independent coffee shops, breweries, and old Route 66 charm. If you’re planning a stop in northern Arizona, there are plenty of things to do in Flagstaff that make it well worth spending a couple of days here.

Below are some of the best attractions and experiences you shouldn’t miss.

Lowell Observatory

Arizona is a hub for space research and discovery. The Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff is one of the major historical astronomical sites in the world, and well worth a visit. Situated on top of a hill overlooking the city, the drive up is worth it on its own, however, keep driving up and you will reach Lowell Observatory.

The history of the site is undeniable; Pluto was discovered here in 1930 as well as the rings of Uranus in 1977. The observatory was founded in 1894 by Percival Lowell and has played a huge role in astronomical research ever since. Even if you’re not massively into space, it’s still one of the most interesting things to do in Flagstaff simply because of the history attached to the place.

At the observatory, you can look through the site’s largest telescopes at galaxies, star clusters, and other astronomical delights while learning about what you’re seeing from the guides. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and do a great job explaining complex astronomy in a way that’s easy to understand.

One of the highlights is the outdoor guided tour of the night sky. The guide uses a laser pointer to show you constellations, planets, and distant galaxies above Flagstaff’s incredibly clear skies. Because the city sits at high elevation with relatively little light pollution, the stargazing here is absolutely brilliant.

If you’re visiting in the evening, wrap up warm. Even in summer, the temperature drops pretty quickly once the sun goes down.

Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater isn’t technically in Flagstaff, but it’s only a 30-minute drive from the city centre, and I had to include it! This is the world’s first discovered and best-preserved meteor crater, and it’s around 50,000 years old.

The drive from Flagstaff out to the crater is actually part of the experience. As you leave the forests surrounding the city, the landscape slowly becomes flatter and more desert-like. Eventually you’ll find yourself driving across a huge, open plain with almost nothing around you.

After a while you’ll turn off onto Meteor Crater Road and will see what appear to be hills in the distance. They look fairly normal at first, but those “hills” are actually the rim of the crater itself.

Park up, pay the slightly annoying entry fee (which was around $16 when I visited), and enter what is easily one of the most impressive natural attractions in the area.

Standing on the viewing platform looking down into the crater is pretty surreal. The impact left a hole nearly a mile wide and over 500 feet deep, which gives you a real sense of the force involved when the meteor struck.

There’s a small museum in the visitor centre explaining the history of the impact and how scientists confirmed it was caused by a meteor rather than volcanic activity. Inside the crater viewing area there are plenty of telescopes and platforms that let you see details across the crater floor.

If you’re looking for unusual things to do in Flagstaff and the surrounding area, this place definitely deserves a spot on your list.

Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course

This is an extreme, extreme adventure course! Situated high in the pine trees just outside Flagstaff lies a group of zip line and aerial adventure courses known as Flagstaff Extreme.

There are five separate courses and for around $50 you can tackle them all, starting on the easiest and working your way up to the final course which apparently only about 20% of people complete.

Before heading up into the trees you’re given a really clear safety demonstration on how to clip yourself onto the cables and use the zip lines. Once you’re confident with the system you climb up to the first platform and start making your way through the obstacles.

From that point on you’re mostly left to your own devices, with guides keeping an eye on things from below.

Each course gets progressively harder and higher. There’s a mixture of rope bridges, swinging logs, tightropes, ladders, cargo nets, and zip lines connecting the platforms between the trees. The highest point reaches around 65 feet above the ground which definitely gets the adrenaline going.

If you enjoy physical activities or want something a bit different from sightseeing, this is easily one of the most fun things to do in Flagstaff.

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Walnut Canyon National Monument is located about 10 miles south of Flagstaff and is one of the most fascinating historical sites in the area.

This unique canyon reaches around 350 feet deep and cuts through the surrounding forest landscape. The canyon is impressive purely from a geological point of view, but what makes it truly special is the human history found within its walls.

Over 700 years ago the Sinagua people built homes directly into the limestone cliffs along the canyon. These cliff dwellings are incredibly well preserved and give you a fascinating glimpse into how people lived here centuries ago.

There is a one-mile trek known as the Island Trail that takes you down into the canyon itself. The walk includes a fairly steep descent via a series of switchbacks, but once you’re down there you get to walk right past dozens of the cave dwellings built into the rock walls.

Standing in front of these ancient homes and imagining people living there hundreds of years ago is pretty amazing.

The views across the canyon are also fantastic, with pine forests covering the surrounding plateau. If you enjoy history, nature, and scenic walks, this is easily one of the best things to do in Flagstaff.

Arizona Snowbowl

Snow in Arizona?! Yup! Flagstaff is at a much higher elevation than Southern Arizona so had a much cooler climate. The Arizona Snowbowl, located around 7 miles north of Flagstaff, is a mountain ski resort that provides epic entertainment throughout the year.

If you’re visiting during the winter months then you’ve arrived at one of Arizona’s best ski resorts. Snowbowl sits on the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks and offers around 32 runs catering for all skill levels.

The resort has been operating for over 80 years and, thanks to artificial snow machines, it’s usually able to maintain good skiing conditions even when natural snowfall is limited.

For many visitors, skiing in Arizona comes as a bit of a surprise, but because of the high elevation around Flagstaff the mountains here receive a decent amount of snow in winter.

If however you are visiting outside of winter, then you’re still in for a treat.

The ski lifts run during the warmer months and offer absolutely incredible views across the surrounding landscape. As you ride up the mountain you can see for miles across northern Arizona, with forests, desert plains, and distant mountains stretching out in every direction.

At the top, you can relax, take in the views, and enjoy the crisp mountain air. If you visit during autumn, the surrounding forests turn beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange which makes the scenery even better.

Whether you come here to ski, hike, or simply enjoy the views, Snowbowl is easily one of the most scenic things to do in Flagstaff.

Downtown Flagstaff

While the attractions surrounding the city are fantastic, it’s also worth spending some time wandering around downtown Flagstaff itself.

The historic centre sits along the old Route 66 and has a really relaxed, outdoorsy vibe. There are loads of independent coffee shops, craft breweries, vintage stores, and restaurants dotted around the area.

Because Flagstaff is home to Northern Arizona University, the town has a lively student atmosphere as well. You’ll often find live music, busy bars, and plenty of places to grab a good meal after a day of exploring.

Walking around downtown in the evening is a great way to soak up the atmosphere and get a feel for the city. If you’re looking for more laid-back things to do in Flagstaff after a day of sightseeing, grabbing a drink at one of the local breweries is always a good option.

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Flagstaff might not always get the same attention as places like the Grand Canyon or Sedona, but it’s a fantastic destination in its own right.

With its cool mountain climate, surrounding pine forests, and easy access to some incredible attractions, there are plenty of things to do in Flagstaff whether you enjoy nature, history, adventure activities, or simply exploring a relaxed mountain town.

From stargazing at Lowell Observatory to walking through ancient cliff dwellings in Walnut Canyon, the variety of experiences here makes Flagstaff a great place to spend a couple of days while travelling through northern Arizona.

If you’re planning a road trip through the American Southwest, make sure you add Flagstaff to your itinerary. It’s one of those places that quietly surprises you with just how much there is to see and do.