An Eco-Friendly Travel Guide to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon

Before you go

What to pack 

• Daypack: You’ll want something sturdy enough to handle a morning or afternoon hike, while being light enough to wear around town.
• Refillable water bottle: It’s crucial to stay hydrated in Arizona, especially while on trails that don’t have water. There are numerous refilling stations around Flagstaff and Grand Canyon National Park, so it’s easy to keep a refillable bottle topped up.
• Sunglasses: It’s easy to tell who lives in AZ because their sunglasses are always at the ready. They’re a necessity in Flagstaff’s high altitude, whether on snowy slopes or sunny strolls.

Two Eco-Friendly Days Around Flagstaff

Day 1: Sustainable sandwiches, Pueblo history, and stars 

Morning 

• Go to Eat n’ Run Cafe, located on historic Route 66, for coffee and nourishment. The family-owned business serves smoothies, chai-spiced waffles, and breakfast burritos, which you can either enjoy onsite in the colorful cafe or on the go. Even better, they offer bagged picnic lunches you can pick up for a midday meal while out on the trail.
• The mountains surrounding Flagstaff are called the San Francisco Peaks, part of the San Francisco Volcanic Field, formed from eruptions a thousand years ago. The field also includes Sunset Crater Volcano, which is a national monument about 45 minutes from the heart of Flagstaff and the perfect place to go hiking amidst the unique lava rocks. There are several trails available, including an easy Lava Flow Trail that is a flat, one-mile loop up to the moderately strenuous Lenox Crater Trail that goes through the forest but should still only take a couple of hours.
• Drive north another 20 minutes to Wupatki National Monument. Ancestral Pueblo communities lived in the Four Corners area (now part of the Navajo and Ute nations) until approximately 1300 and at Wupatki, you can check out their preserved pueblos, one of which has 104 rooms and a ball court.

Midday 

• Lunch is back in Flagstaff at Proper Meat + Provisions, located on Route 66 in the Southside neighborhood. As one of the only whole animal butcher shops in the state, Proper’s meats are all sustainably raised and it works with local farms to source other ingredients for its sandwich menu. The options are plentiful too—everything from a bahn mi made with pork shoulder confit to warm aleppo pepper pastrami with roasted green chiles and cactus cream cheese on sourdough.

Afternoon 

• Spend some time wandering through downtown Flagstaff, which dates back to 1882. There’s a walking guide you can follow to hit the highlights of its history, which includes a stop at the train station, Weatherford Hotel (which hosts the annual Pinecone Drop on New Year’s Eve), and the Babbitt Brothers Building that now houses Babbitt’s Backcountry Outfitters. As you meander around the historic buildings, check out the variety of shops available; there are plenty of thrift and vintage stores like Incahoots Vintage Clothing, along with clothing boutiques like Basement Marketplace, art galleries such as West of the Moon Gallery, and more to keep your wallet engaged.
• Speaking of historic places, pop into Rendezvous at Hotel Monte Vista for a coffee or craft cocktail. The hotel opened in 1927 and over the years hosted a slew of celebrities, including Gary Cooper, Jane Russell, John Wayne, and Bing Crosby. It’s also famously haunted. While you kick back with a drink and some spring rolls, ask the bartender to tell you some of the best ghost stories.

Evening 

• Head to Dark Sky Brewing Co. for a pre-dinner beer. It’s been serving Flagstaff since 2014, named for the town’s honor of being the first International Dark Sky Place. There are two locations basically right next to each other: a family-friendly taproom with an outpost of Pizzicletta, serving Neapolitan-style pies, and a 21+ beer garden with elevated pub grub from Atmosphere Kitchen. Between the two, over 40 craft beers are on tap. The owners, alums of local Northern Arizona University, started the Dark Sky Community to help fundraise for nonprofits like High Country Humane and Lowell Observatory.
• Stroll over a few streets for dinner at Atria, a fine-dining spot serving hyper-seasonal farm-to-table fare from James Beard-nominated chef Rochelle Daniel. Dig into dishes like smoked short rib with birria consomme and tortillas or grilled oysters with chorizo and blood orange gel. There’s also a four-course tasting menu for $87; the $170 eight-course menu needs to be booked at least 24 hours ahead.
• For a little nature-inspired nightlife, go to Lowell Observatory, which was established in 1894 and is where Pluto was discovered in 1930. The observatory stays open until 10 or 11 p.m., depending on the time of year; general admission tickets run $35 for adults, $20 for kids, and give access to everything offered on property. Make sure to check out the Clark telescope, a 24-inch refractor commissioned by Percival Lowell in 1895 and used for his studies of Mars, as well as the Giovale Open Deck Observatory where you can peer through advanced telescopes to see far away celestial bodies.

Day 2: Hike the Grand Canyon then reward yourself with pizza, chocolate, and scotch 

Morning 

• It’s time to head to the Grand Canyon, which is about a 90-minute drive from Flagstaff. You’ll want to fuel up before hitting the road, so grab breakfast at Morning Glory Cafe, which has been serving vegan New Mexican food since 1985. Over 90 percent of the menu is organic, with ingredients sourced from nearby farmers and the cafe’s own garden. Try the breakfast tamales, made with jackfruit and topped with avocado crema and red chili sauce, or the atole, a blue-corn porridge crowned with berries, coconut, and chia seeds.
• Grand Canyon National Park doesn’t require timed entry or reservations, but it does get busy fast so the earlier you arrive, the better, especially if you plan to hike. A day pass per vehicle is $35, though you can also use your America the Beautiful pass here. Once you enter the park, you’ll be on the South Rim; park near the Visitor Center to utilize the free shuttle system.
• Time to hike! If you’re only at the park for the day, South Kaibab Trail is a great option, as the trail itself is in good condition and offers options for multiple hiking lengths. Hop on the Orange Route bus to access the trailhead. After getting there, take a few minutes to soak in the views; the Grand Canyon really is an incredible sight. Depending on how much you want to do, Ooh Aah Point is just under two miles roundtrip and should take no more than two hours, while Cedar Ridge is three miles and can take up to four hours. The trail offers great views but there is little relief from the sun, so it’s critical to pay attention to temperatures and weather; make sure you have plenty of water, snacks, and sun protection.
• Alternatively, hit the Canyon Rim Trail, which is flat and paved, starting at the Visitor Center. It goes for miles, but if you just want a short jaunt, walk less than a mile to South Kaibab Trailhead, where you can pick up a return shuttle.

Midday 

• There are a lot of food options within the park, though they’re not always the most budget-friendly. Try the food court at Maswik Lodge or the dining hall at Yavapai Lodge for burgers, barbecue, pizza, and salads. For a little nostalgia throwback, go to Bright Angel Lodge for a sit-down meal at the historic Harvey House Cafe, which is Green Restaurant Certified. Find classic blue-plate specials like pot roast along with Southwestern-inspired wraps, sandwiches, and burgers.

Afternoon

• The visitor information at this National Park is particularly good, so it’s worth spending some time there post-lunch. The Yavapai Museum of Geology lays out everything you’d want to know about the physical formation of the Grand Canyon, set against a backdrop of the actual canyon. Also carve out a half-hour to watch the We Are Grand Canyon film at the visitor center theater that highlights the Indigenous perspectives of the 11 Associated Tribes that have always called the canyon home.
• Get back in the car and head to the Desert View Watchtower, which is about 30 minutes from the Visitor Center and en route back to Flagstaff (it can’t be reached by the shuttle). The nearly century-old stone tower was influenced by ancestral Pueblo buildings and offers stunning views of the Grand Canyon’s eastern area. There is a trading post here to pick up a little ice cream or snack before driving the 90 minutes back to Flagstaff.

Evening 

• Arizona is known for having some of the best pizza in the country; enjoy dinner at one of the state’s most beloved spots, Fat Olives. The pizza here is a serious business, run by the award-winning John Conley and certified as true Neapolitan pizza by Verace Pizza Napoletana. It’s hard to beat the classic margherita, but their adovada with spicy pork and wood-roasted onions is pretty fabulous too.
• Pick up a few post-dinner sweets at one of Chocolita’s two locations, where the chocolate is fair trade and sweetened with coconut sugar. Choose from a large variety of truffles, such as pine pollen lemon shell, gooey matcha, and dried persimmon.
• Finish off the evening at Uptown Pubhouse, which brings the cozy neighborhood vibes along with a seriously impressive whiskey list. There are more than 240 to choose from, including a strong selection of single malts, but if that’s not your jam, there are plenty of other local brews, including mead. If you’re feeling peckish, pair your drink with an order of curried fries. After all that hiking, you earned it.

If you have three days

All the above, but add…

• Wander through the flora and fauna at The Arboretum at Flagstaff, where the staff are working to preserve the native plants of the Colorado Plateau. The property used to be a private home; now, visitors can stroll across all 200 acres to see wetlands, greenhouses, a Horticultural Center, and more. Take some seriously beautiful photos with the San Francisco Peaks as the backdrop.
• Flagstaff’s Museum of Northern Arizona provides good insight into this part of the state through expertly curated collections. This is a great place to learn more about the arts and cultures of local Native nations, and see intricate and traditional Southwestern jewelry and lots of geological artifacts of the area.

If you have four days, plus

All of the above, but add…

• Take a drive to Bearizona, a 160-acre wildlife park located in nearby Williams, where more than 50 percent of the animals have been rescued. The park offers a three-mile driving stretch where critters like wolves, bison, and bears wander around their natural habitat among the pine trees. There’s also a 20-acre walkable park featuring both animals in enclosures (jaguars, grizzlies) and ones running free (peacocks, porcupines). While exploring the grounds, check out the recycled scrap metal used for enclosures.
• Spend a little time in Williams after your Bearizona visit. This throwback town includes a section of Route 66, complete with kitschy souvenir shops, restaurants serving classic comfort food, and even a zipline that’s strung 110 feet in the air.