Lowell Observatory. Perched on Mars Hill at 7,250 feet, this National Historic Landmark is where Pluto was discovered in 1930 and where Apollo astronauts trained for their lunar missions. Nightly telescope programs let visitors peer through the historic 24-inch Clark refractor under some of the darkest skies of any American city.
Flagstaff — World's First International Dark Sky City. In 2001 Flagstaff became the first city on Earth designated a Dark Sky City by the International Dark Sky Association, enforcing lighting ordinances that date back to 1958. On a clear night, the Milky Way arcs overhead without any optical aid, and the annual Flagstaff Star Party draws astronomers from across the…
Grand Canyon South Rim Day Trip. The South Rim sits just 80 miles north of Flagstaff — roughly a 90-minute drive — making this one of the easiest Grand Canyon base camps in the Southwest. Sunrise from Mather Point and the Rim Trail's sweeping viewpoints are among the most iconic sights in the United States.
Arizona Snowbowl. Rising to 11,500 feet on the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona Snowbowl receives an average of 260 inches of snow per season across 61 runs and 2,300 feet of vertical drop. In summer, the scenic gondola ride to Arizona's highest publicly accessible point rewards riders with panoramic views stretching to the Grand Canyon.
Walnut Canyon National Monument. Just 10 miles southeast of downtown, this 400-foot-deep canyon shelters more than 300 cliff dwellings built by Sinagua people some 800 years ago. The 0.9-mile Island Trail descends 185 feet past the actual dwelling alcoves, allowing an up-close encounter with one of the Southwest's most intimate archaeological sites.
Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano Loop. A 34-mile scenic loop north of Flagstaff links the 900-year-old Ancestral Puebloan ruins at Wupatki — the largest prehistoric community in the region — with the dramatic black cinder cone of Sunset Crater Volcano, last active around 1085 AD. The drive descends nearly 2,000 feet from ponderosa pine forest to the…
Museum of Northern Arizona. Founded in 1928, this beloved institution sits in a pine grove three miles from downtown and houses world-class collections covering the geology, biology, and living cultures of the Colorado Plateau, including Hopi, Navajo, Zuni, and Pai traditions. Rotating Marketplace festivals throughout summer bring Native…
Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive (Flagstaff to Sedona). Highway 89A southbound from Flagstaff plunges through a 14-mile river-carved canyon of towering red sandstone cliffs, crystal-clear Oak Creek, and dense forest — rated one of the top five scenic drives in America by Rand McNally. Along the way, Slide Rock State Park offers natural sandstone water slides into ice-cold…
Top-rated tours & activities in Flagstaff
Zip Line Tour at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Sedona,Camp Verde — 4.9★ (249 reviews)
Downtown Flagstaff Haunted History Tour — 4.8★ (441 reviews)
Grand Canyon Railway Train Tickets — 4.5★ (844 reviews)
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour of Sedona — 4.4★ (131 reviews)
Half Day Private Grand Canyon Guided Hiking Tour — 5.0★ (245 reviews)
All-Star Private Grand Canyon Sightseeing Tour — 5.0★ (61 reviews)
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Flagstaff — 4.9★ (779 reviews)
Grand Canyon Tour from Flagstaff — 4.9★ (433 reviews)
Zip Line Tour at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Sedona,Camp Verde — 4.9★ (249 reviews)
Downtown Flagstaff Haunted History Tour — 4.8★ (441 reviews)
Grand Canyon Railway Train Tickets — 4.5★ (844 reviews)
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour of Sedona — 4.4★ (131 reviews)
Half Day Private Grand Canyon Guided Hiking Tour — 5.0★ (245 reviews)
All-Star Private Grand Canyon Sightseeing Tour — 5.0★ (61 reviews)
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Flagstaff — 4.9★ (779 reviews)
Grand Canyon Tour from Flagstaff — 4.9★ (433 reviews)