Flagstaff is a unique town for many different reasons, from our pine trees and microbreweries to our adventure sports-filled lifestyle. One other unique part of Flagstaff is the sheer number of hardcore dog people. What can we say? We love our little furry faces! From Biff's Bagels, who lets people hang up photos of their passed on pooches, to local advertisements for dog-friendly patios to grab a beer with your pup, there are plenty of opportunities to take your dog out on the town. For those who want to experience the great outdoors with their furry friend, here are the 3 best dog-friendly trails in Flagstaff. So grab your bio-degradable poop bags and head out! Just remember, water isn't very prevalent in Flagstaff, so pack a bowl and some water for your pup.
2.5 miles round trip. Just 25 miles north of Flagstaff on Fort Valley Road, this lightly used trail is a favorite among locals to take their pups on due to its lack of elevation change and short duration. This lets dogs have fun, but not get completely exhausted and has to be carried out. During the week, crowds are minimal so locals let their dogs off-leash. Just remember to be considerate of others. Make sure other hikers are alright with your pup, and if your dog does not play well with others, please just keep them on a leash. The trail starts off going through some beautiful juniper trees and slowly eases you into a small pseudo-canyon. After climbing up a small ladder you enter into the caldera of a long-forgotten cinder cone volcano. Pups love this trail because there are many hills for them to run up and down and large rocks to perch atop. Kids also enjoy this trail for similar reasons. There are many twisting and winding off-shoots from the main center for you and your pup to explore, and the cinders are pleasantly soft for your dog's paws. In summer, the cinders can get toasty so keep this in mind and bring some dog booties!
Varying in length from 2 miles to 3.5 miles. Just east of Flagstaff, this section of trails are great for all dog and human types due to their varying lengths and difficulties. One loop is 2 miles, then there is a 3-mile loop that heads up to the top of a cinder cone speckled with caves -there is something here for everyone. There are amazing views from the top of the hill so it's also a great place for an impromptu photoshoot of your pup with the San Francisco Peaks in the background. Christmas cards anyone? The most popular route is straight up to the top and back down, about 2.5 miles, but it is also the most crowded and most likely to have other dogs on the trail. This route also allows for exploration of the various caves that are on top of the cinder cone, making it an adventure for everyone. If you take one of the smaller, less crowded loops, many locals let their dogs off-leash and the pups love to run around. Please keep in mind that many of these loops are popular, neighborhood trails; so clean up after Fido and pick up any trash you see to help keep the trails maintained.
This is a popular trail that follows the Arizona Trail. This is a great trail for dogs due to is lack of severe elevation change and interesting smells along the way. There are many starting points including one from the edge of NAU at Lone Tree and Brannen Circle, to Sandy's Canyon Trailhead to J.W. Powell Blvd. The lengths can vary from 4 miles to 12 miles, depending on what you and your pup feel up to. The main attraction on the trail is the rock formation called Fisher Point, which is situated in a field that is perfect for playing a game of fetch. With a fair amount of traffic and even some local wildlife, this trail is great for dogs due to the high level of scents to entertain them and the tall grass that many dogs love to run in. The trail even extends to the beginnings of Walnut Canyon, however, your dog must be on a leash for this portion due to the wildlife fragility of the canyon. In general, leashes are recommended as this trail is often busy. And don't forget to pack out your dog poop bags!
This an easy, scenic,pet-friendly trail located right in the middle of Flagstaff, just northeast of Downtown. This 2-mile loop goes through what used to be an animal-wildlife viewing park with great views of the Peaks and Mt. Elden. There are many other dogs on this trail, so please use a leash for this one! It is an extremely popular trail on weekends and after work, so the best time to go is during the day on weekdays for minimal crowds, or at night if you want to do some stargazing. Pups like this trail as there are other dogs around with an abundance of smells to check out and other pups to say hi to, making it a very social trail! A family of mule deer frequents this area as well, which can lead to wildlife viewing for both humans and their pups. Buffalo Park is a wonderful choice for older pups who want to experience nature but don't want to navigate uneven terrain. This trail is flat, packed, dirt surface is much easier on those back legs!
There is a small canyon that the water runs through forming a waterfall, so be careful that your pup doesn't accidentally fall off the side of it, it can be very dangerous. Leashes are recommended. The trail also goes through oak trees where squirrels aplenty are around so make sure your pup doesn't bolt after these little critters! It's almost like this trail was made to tease dogs with some of their favorite things. Please pick up your dogs presents because this trail is near water, and we don't want to disturb the natural and delicate balance that lets this special ecosystem thrive.
Family-Friendly | Free Parking | Self Guided | Upgrades available | Pet-Friendly | Discounts Available | Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity
Pet-Friendly | Kitchenette or Full Kitchen | Fireplace(s) | Whirlpool Tubs | Great View | BBQ or Grill
Discounts Available | Family-Friendly | Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity | Pet-Friendly | ADA Accessible | Self Guided
Laundry/Dry Cleaning Service | Kitchenette or Full Kitchen | Fireplace(s) | Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity | Pet-Friendly
Environmentally-Friendly | Pet-Friendly
Whirlpool Tubs | Outdoor Pool | Sedona Lodging | Business Center | Pet-Friendly
Free Hot Breakfast | Free Wi-Fi | Business Center | Outdoor Pool | Free Self-Parking | Discounts Available | COVID-19 Precautions Taken | Pet-Friendly
Environmentally-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity | Pet-Friendly | Fireplace(s) | BBQ or Grill
Craft Breweries | Happy Hour | Veg/Special Diet | Italian/Mediterranean | Patio Seating | Pet-Friendly | Pet-Friendly | Outdoor Patios | Outdoor Patios | All Food | Large Craft Beer Selection | Serves Food | Lunch | Dinner | Gluten Free Options | Outdoor Seating | Pet-Friendly | Downtown
Free Hot Breakfast | Free Wi-Fi | Fitness Center | Whirlpool Tubs | Indoor Pool | Business Center | Pet-Friendly
Pet-Friendly | Outdoor Seating | Family-Friendly | Not Downtown
Breakfast/Brunch | Lunch | Carry-Out | Outdoor Seating | Pet-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Extensive Food Menu | Great Drinks | Not Downtown
Outdoor Patios | Winner of "Best of Flag" | BBQ & American | Pet-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Outdoor Patios | Take-Out | Pet-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Outdoor Patio Seating | All Food
Serves Food | Pet-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Outdoor Seating | Downtown
Pet-Friendly
Veg/Special Diet | Gluten Free Options | Family-Friendly | Coffee Shops | Smoothies | Breakfast/Brunch | Lunch | Carry-Out | Outdoor Seating | Pet-Friendly | BBQ & American | Outdoor Patios | Pet-Friendly | On Route 66 | Quick-Serve (5 min or less) | All Food
Pizza & Euro | Veg/Special Diet | Vegan | Build Your Own | Outdoor Patios | Quick-Serve (5 min or less) | Large Craft Beer Selection | Gluten Free Options | Vegan Options | Plant-Based Meat Options | Outdoor Seating | Outdoor Fire Pit | Pet-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Carry-Out | All Food | Outdoor Patios | Pet-Friendly
Gluten Free Options | Delivery | Pet-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Outdoor Seating | Gluten Free Options | Extensive Food Menu | Downtown
Happy Hour | Live Entertainment | Bar Games | Bars | Pet-Friendly | Outdoor Patios | Pet-Friendly | Outdoor Seating
100% Non-Smoking | 24-Hour Front Desk | Bell Desk | Business Center | Concierge Services | Fireplace(s) | Fitness Center | Free Self-Parking | Interior Hallways | Jacuzzi | Laundry/Dry Cleaning Service | On-Site Restaurant | Outdoor Pool | Private Patios/Balconies | Red Rock Views | Room Service | Suites | Valet Parking | Wi-Fi Available | Sedona Lodging | Mountain Bike Clean/Repair Station | Spa Services | Pet-Friendly
24-Hour Front Desk | Business Center | Discounts Available | Fireplace(s) | Free Self-Parking | Free Wi-Fi | Multi-Story | Outdoor Pool | Packages Available | Private Patios/Balconies | Suites | Wi-Fi Available | Free Hot Breakfast | Sedona Lodging | COVID-19 Precautions Taken | Pet-Friendly
Pet-Friendly | Kitchenette or Full Kitchen | Free Wi-Fi | Fireplace(s) | Laundry/Dry Cleaning Service | Free Self-Parking
Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity | Pet-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Educational