The Great Outdoors!

People come from miles around to enjoy the outdoor spaces around Flagstaff. Whether you are into biking, camping, skiing, hiking, fishing, history, or all of the above, we’ve got you covered!

The Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZ Trail, for short) is a complete non-motorized path, stretching 800 diverse miles across Arizona from Mexico to Utah. It links deserts, mountains, forests, canyons, wilderness, history, communities and people. It is the backbone of Arizona, and a beautiful stretch of it runs right through Flagstaff. Its creation was the dream of a Flagstaff schoolteacher, Dale Shewalter. The Trail is maintained by Trail Stewards, incredible volunteers who give their time and talents to keeping the trail in great shape. If you complete the Arizona Trail end to end, you receive a copper belt buckle or pin to celebrate your accomplishment! One of our very own Realty Executives agents is in the process of completing the trail! Previous finishers have included thru-hikers and segment hikers, speed record ultrarunners, yo-yo’s, horseback riders, mountain bikers, and some pioneers who trekked overland long before the AZ Trail was completely built. Wanna know more? Check out: https://aztrail.org/.

If you’re looking to stretch your legs within the city limits itself, check out the Flagstaff Urban Trail System. FUTS encompasses over 50 miles of trails throughout the city and includes areas on all sides of town. You can get just about anywhere around town on foot or by bicycle using these trails! FUTS trails offer an incredibly diverse range of experiences; some trails are located along busy streets, while others traverse beautiful natural places - canyons, grasslands, meadows, and forests - all within the urban area of Flagstaff. The system connects neighborhoods, shopping, places of employment, schools, parks, open space, and the surrounding National Forest, and allows users to combine transportation, recreation and contact with nature.

Keep your eyes peeled as you drive in and out of town…camels were once seen here! In 1857, Edward Beale was commissioned by Congress to establish a trade route from Arkansas to California, and he used twenty-two camels (a.k.a. “ships of the desert”) to carry supplies and tools. There are still stretches of his original trail around and outside of town. Some sections of his trail are abandoned, some are still in use, and others have been transformed by railroads, Route 66, and Interstate 40. If you happen across one of the trail markers, you’ll know it by the shape of a camel imprinted on its sign! Want to know more? Check out this pamphlet: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5434056.pdf

Like to spend time on or near the water? Upper and Lower Lake Mary are located just eight miles south from Flagstaff. These long, narrow reservoirs are great for fishing, boating, and bird watching. The boat landing features picnic tables, grills, vault toilets, and a paved boat ramp. There is also the Lake Mary Narrows Picnic Area, where you will find a fishing area with wheelchair access, tables, grills, ramadas and a paved boat ramp.

Once you start exploring all the beauty around Flagstaff, you'll never want to stop!