Flagstaff
At 2,100 metres, in the middle of the largest ponderosa pine forest on the continent, the town where Pluto was discovered in 1930 was the first in the world to be recognised for the quality of its night sky. Around its Route 66 main street rise dormant volcanoes, including Arizona's highest summit, and cliffs where the Sinagua built their homes eight centuries ago.
By PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ views on Google MapsBy PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ Maps views
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Flagstaff · Photo Dianna Sarmiento / Pexels
Things to do in Flagstaff in 5 days
Day 1
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On Mars Hill, the observatory founded in 1894 where Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930, with its historic Clark telescope dome by day and telescopes open to the public at night.
💡 Come in the late afternoon for the guided tours and stay after sunset, when the telescopes open; dress warmly, even in summer. The observatory is closed on Tuesdays and does not require a reservation for general admission. Planetarium shows cost extra. Price: $35, about €30, adults; $20, about €17, ages 6 to 17.
Packbj / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Day 2
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Founded in 1928, the key museum for understanding the Colorado Plateau, from Grand Canyon geology and local dinosaurs to Hopi, Navajo and Zuni pottery, weaving, jewellery and katsinas.
💡 The museum opens every day from 10am to 5pm. Allow two hours, more if you stop at the Native American crafts shop. Combine it with Snowbowl or the Grand Canyon, on the same Route 180. Price: $18, about €15, adults; $13, about €11, ages 10 to 17; free up to age 9.
Nathan Strait / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)Learn moreMore
Red-brick streets shaped by the 1882 railway and Route 66, with the Weatherford and Monte Vista hotels, the 1926 station, passing freight trains, craft breweries and a protected starry sky.
💡 Start at the station visitor centre for the map of Route 66 sites and breweries. In the evening, look up: street lighting is designed to preserve the sky, and the Milky Way can be seen from the districts close to the centre. Ten minutes away, the Riordan Mansion, a 1904 Arts and Crafts home, can be visited as a state park. Price: free.
teofilo / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Day 3
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One of the country's oldest and highest ski areas on the San Francisco Peaks, whose summer gondola climbs towards a viewpoint near 3,650 metres overlooking the Grand Canyon and Sedona.
💡 Buy gondola tickets online, as they are cheaper in advance and prices vary by date. In autumn, in late September and early October, the aspens turn yellow and the ride up is at its most beautiful. The ski season is expected to open around the end of November. Price: varies by date, check the official website.
Coconino National Forest / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Day 4
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Arizona's highest point at 3,852 metres, reached by a 16 to 17 km round-trip trail through aspens and above the tree line, on a mountain sacred to the Hopi and Navajo.
💡 Set off at dawn in July and August, as monsoon storms often break in the early afternoon and the ridge is exposed to lightning; turn back at the first rumble. Snow often lingers until June. The altitude causes headaches and breathlessness, so acclimatise for a day or two in Flagstaff. Price: free.
JohnIngraham / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Day 5
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A 120-metre-deep limestone canyon whose ledges shelter Sinagua cliff dwellings from around 1125 to 1250, reached by the Island Trail's 240 steps past 25 rooms beneath the overhangs.
💡 Access to the Island Trail closes at 4pm and the site at 5pm; it opens at 9am. Climbing back up the steps at 2,000 metres leaves you breathless, so take your time and some water. The park is not one of those that charge non-residents the $100 surcharge. Price: $25, about €22, per vehicle for 7 days; $15, about €13, per person on foot.
Packbj / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)Learn moreMore
Red-desert pueblos built after the eruption, including Wupatki with its hundred-plus rooms, North America's northernmost known ball court and a blowhole, plus Wukoki, the Citadel and Lomaki.
💡 The pueblo trails are open from sunrise to sunset. From November to early March, the Wupatki visitor centre is closed Tuesday to Thursday. There is neither fuel nor a restaurant on the loop: set off with a full tank. Price: included in the Sunset Crater ticket, $25, about €22, per vehicle.
Packbj / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)Learn moreMore
A 340-metre cinder cone born of an eruption around 1085, the region's most recent, with the Lava Flow Trail crossing a jagged field of blocks, collapsed tubes and lone pines.
💡 The ticket is valid for seven days for Sunset Crater and Wupatki, linked by a 55 km loop road: do both on the same day. The visitor centre opens from 9am to 4.30pm, and the road and trails remain accessible day and night. Price: $25, about €22, per vehicle; $15, about €13, per person on foot or by bike.
Tabbyblake / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)"Book" (hotels) and "via GetYourGuide" (activities) are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide). Prices, times and distances are approximate.
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Good to know before you go
🍽️ Must-try food
Burgers and barbecue
brisket and ribs cooked low and slow, done differently in every state.
Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl
the classic lunch on the San Francisco waterfront.
Mexican food
tacos from a truck in Los Angeles, a Mission burrito in San Francisco.
Pancakes and weekend brunch
a national habit, generous to the point of excess.
Craft beer, and California wine from Napa and Sonoma.
Dishes to look for in the good places: Flagstaff.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Tipping is not optional: add 15 to 20% in restaurants and bars.
- Prices on menus and in shops exclude sales tax, which is added at the till.
- Do not plan more than four or five hours of driving a day: the distances are larger than they look on the map.
- Never travel without health insurance. A night in hospital can cost thousands of dollars.
- In summer, do not hike down into the Grand Canyon in the heat of the day: the climb back out is where people get into trouble.
Have you thought of…?
The little details that make all the difference once you're there.
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📄 See the full guide: Flagstaff, detailed month-by-month weather, budget, what to avoid and FAQ.