Flagstaff

There are all of the facts about Flagstaff. Flagstaff is in Northern Arizona . It is in Coconino County. Flagstaff is the seat of government for Coconino County, which is Arizona ’s second largest county encompassing 18,629 square miles.

But the part we care about is the cool mountain air and great views from everywhere. Yes, there is the food and the fun times, but in the end its just “Flag” to most Arizonan’s.

Flagstaff is nestled at the base of the towering San Francisco Peaks. Mount Humphrey’s is the tallest of the peaks and is one of Arizona ’s highest mountains. Flagstaff is surrounded by the largest stand of Ponderosa pine forests in the world. Most Arizona residents affectionately call Flagstaff “Flag”. The town is located at the junction of Interstate 40, running east and west and Interstate 17, running north and south. You can get to Flagstaff from Phoenix and Tucson by heading north out of town on Interstate 17, until it ends in Flagstaff.

Flagstaff is sometimes called “The City in the Pines” because the town sits in the middle of a Ponderosa Pine stand in the Coconino National Forest. The town is also called “The City of Seven Wonders” because of it proximity to the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, Walnut Canyon, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater National Monument and the San Francisco Peaks. It is a wonderful town close to many outdoor activities. Today Flagstaff’s population is 50,708. Flagstaff is a lively place with Northern  Arizona University students accounting for almost 20 percent of the town’s population. The town sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The climate is cool all year round. The low temperature in the winter is 23 degrees and the summer high is 80 degrees. These temperatures give Flagstaff four seasons. The town receives close to 20 inches of precipitation and about 84 inches of snow a year. This snowfall makes Flagstaff a ski resort town and hosts the state’s largest ski area. Flagstaff is a wonderful base to use to see the variety of outdoor spots and attractions. After a busy day of seeing the sights Flagstaff is the perfect place to come back to and relax.

There are many attractions in Flagstaff that you will want to plan to visit during your stay. During the winter months Arizona Snowbowl is the most popular skiing area in Arizona . When summer arrives, Snowbowl turns into a wonderful viewing area atop the mountain by way of the ski lift. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is located near the Northern Arizona University Campus and is the largest mansion built in Flagstaff by two logging brother barons. Tours of this mansion are offered daily with a glimpse back in the early days of the town. The Museum of Northern Arizona is an outstanding place to learn about the Colorado Plateau and its geology, anthropology and fine arts. Lowell Observatory sits atop the hill near downtown Flagstaff. It was here inside the silver dome, that the planet Pluto was discovered. The Observatory has wonderful displays and tours. The Arboretum at Flagstaff sits on 200 acres. The Arboretum has a variety of plants, including many native to the area. Flagstaff has so many outdoor activities. Wupatki National Monument is located just north of Flagstaff. Here you will see countless ruins of community from long ago. The three story dwelling at Wupatki is the most striking. Walnut Canyon National Monument is another spot full of ancient ruins. The steep sides of the canyon walls hold cliff dwellings of the Sinagua people. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is 
a spectacular sight. There are two trails that visitors can take to get an up close look at the volcanic formations. Meteor Crater is truly amazing. A 570-foot deep and 4,000 foot diameter hole was created after a meteor slammed into the earth. Meteor Crater has a rim walk that lets you see the crater from all angles.

Events:
Flagstaff Winterfest (520) 774-4505 February
Archaeology Day (520) 774-5213 March
Wool Festival (520) 774-6272 June
Pine Country Rodeo (520) 526-9926 June
Coconino County Horse Races (520) 774-5130 July
Flagstaff Summerfest (520) 774-5130 August
Coconino County Fair (520) 774-5130 September