Coconino County, Arizona

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 roa...

This is a great hike that has amazing views at all times of the year. This trail might be closed for skiing season, but I am not sure. I went in October, just before Halloween and the weather was perfect. The leaves were changing and there was a nice brisk breeze. The short loop makes it accessib...

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 format...

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...

Desert View Watchtower is a 70-foot high stone tower located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Once you cross into the park through the east entrance look for the sign for Desert View, it's the first real lookout point in the park and there is plenty of parking.The tower was constructed in th...

25 miles east of the Grand Canyon Visitor's Center is Desert View, here you will find the Desert View Watchtower and plenty of space to set up a tripod to photograph the sunset. Make sure to arrive early to get a good spot, even though this location is less trafficked compared to the Visitor's Ce...

While not a replica of any known watchtower along the Grand Canyon, the Desert View Watchtower is an art installation to honor the Hopi Native Americans. The watchtower was designed by Mary Colter, the same woman responsible for the Bright Angel Lodge renovations in 1935. Much of the painting wit...

6.6 miles west of downtown Flagstaff off the I-40 West is the A1 Mountain Road. Continue over the cattle guards and enter into the A1 Mountain Area—perfect for hiking, camping, and trail running.The main road is well established for a dirt road, and many of the hiking trails branch off from it. T...

Coal Mine Canyon is a remote gem of the southwest that borders the Hopi and Navajo Indian Reservation. Coal Mine Canyon is located about 15 miles from Tuba City Arizona, The access to the canyon is off of Hwy 264 between mile marker 337 and 338 (right around 337.25). Once you make the turn off y...

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 ...

While the Grand Canyon is full of spectacular views, one particular spot has always been a favorite due to the relatively easy access and the ability to separate from all of the action. To access the sunset nook, start at the Grandview Trailhead at the South Rim (a 16 minute drive from the main V...

Starting from Downtown Flagstaff we headed west. After making a left turn on Woody Mountain Road, we continued for 22 miles. Woody Mountain Road then becomes Forest Road 231. Continue on FS 231 until you find a killer spot to pitch it! Make sure to be wary of elk herds crossing the roads.We made ...

This is a very easy "hike" at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  The drive itself is a little long and winding (keep your eye out for deer that bolt across the narrow road, especially at night), but the easy walk that takes you through a plethora of marked, detailed desert life completed by the ...

The Grand Canyon is over 277 miles long and is full of unique geological formations in all sorts of colors. One of the most striking aspects of the Grand Canyon is its immense scale and the dynamic landscapes it has to offer. There's something about it that makes it extremely difficult to fully c...

Note: The spot on the map is the beginning of the hike into Cremation Canyon Campground. For the full report on getting there, check out this adventure. Heading out of the campsite at Cremation Canyon, look for hints of a trail where you will scramble up, following other boot prints and cairns t...

These old ruins on the side of old route 66 in the town of Two Guns Arizona. The ruins themselves are very photogenic and worth a stop at. Be careful of snakes and the structural dangers of old ruins. This is a fun stop along the side of the highway to take photographs and watch the sunset.