Flagstaff, AZ Summary

In a state known for its deserts, the town of Flagstaff sits amid pine forests and lofty mountain peaks at an elevation of 6,905 feet. Flagstaff was settled in 1871 and named on July 4, 1876 when a ponderosa pine from the region served as a flagstaff during the Independence Day celebration.

Since then it has grown to a population of over 55,000 people.

The forest is the basis of Flagstaff ’s wood-products industry and it is the seat of Coconino County, the second-largest county in the nation. It is ideal as a base for exploring the nearby Grand Canyon National Park and several other national monuments.

In February the city hosts Winterfest, a festival that celebrates the area’s abundant wintertime recreational opportunities with more than 100 events, including dog-sled races, sleigh rides, snowboard events, and Nordic and alpine ski racing.

Visitors can head for the Arizona Snowbowl, a year-round resort that is one of the country’s 10 oldest continuously operating ski resorts. It is located in the San Francisco Peaks about 14 miles north of Flagstaff via US-180.

The Coconino Center for the Arts and the Museum of Northern Arizona organize the Festival of Native American Arts from mid-June to early August. In July and August, Northern Arizona University is the venue for the Flagstaff Festival of the Arts.

Other places of interest include the Museum of Northern Arizona, which contains exhibits on the archeology, anthropology, geology, and art of northern Arizona, and the Riordan State Historic Park, with the 40-room Riordan Mansion, built in 1904, as its centerpiece.

Flagstaff is located at the intersection of I-40 and I-70. Tour buses are available to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Lake Powell, and other attractions. Commercial airlines fly to and from Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. Regular bus service is also available.