Christmas Tree Trail

Sitting on the eastern slope of Mt Elden is a super fun multi-use trail called Fatman's Loop. It's a perfect spot for hiking, trail running, day strolling, or walking the pup. All the while, treating you to glimpses of the eastern suburbs of Flagstaff, beautiful wild flowers, and cool rock formations that hint back to Mt Elden's volcanic origins. Along the trail you will come through a narrow g...

McPherson's is a public disk golf course five minutes north of downtown Flagstaff.  The course is seasonally open from May - November. There are no tee times, and it is free to play. A somewhat tightly wooded 18-hole course with multiple pin placements makes this fun for beginners and a challenge for intermediate players. On the front nine you will climb a few very moderate hills, the back nine...

Waterline Road is a closed service road that follows along the southern and eastern slopes of the San Francisco Peaks of Flagstaff, AZ. You will pass through several miles of charred ponderosa pine as well as expansive groves of aspen trees as you make your way to the Inner Basin.The road follows a very gradual increase in elevation, gaining about 3,000 feet over 10 miles from start to finish m...

The trail is a short one - stretching only a mile in length. The only semi-strenuous portion of the trail is at the beginning and end where you start by descending a set of stairs in order to reach the trail that loops around the historic cliff dwellings. Since this is a loop trail, the same set of steep stairs will be there waiting for you upon your return. Once fully descended, the trail begi...

Hike the trail starting from the visitor center and take your time walking along the rim. Be sure to admire the canyon below and the ancient dwellings in the canyon walls. During the right season, there are also beautiful wildflowers along the way. This trail is partially paved and easy to walk.

The free camping in the Coconino (as well as the many other national forests) is generally along the old Fire Roads, and old Forest Service Roads. You can tell if a road is one of these by a brown sign with an FS 123 or any other number, FS meaning Forest Service Road. There are many of these roads just outside the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument on Highway 89 Heading in the direction o...