Flagstaff is the ultimate destination for a fall getaway. Nestled in the mountains of northern Arizona, each autumn this town transforms into a colorful haven of golden leaves, crisp mountain air, and cozy seasonal charm.

The Flagstaff area is known for it’s beautiful golden aspen trees across the San Francisco Peaks. This fall foliage is what most people flock to this area for this time of year. If that sounds like you, it’s important to know that the peak time to see the fall colors is the second and third week of October.

You can also check the Flagstaff LEAF-Ometer to check live updates of the fall foliage.

Whether you’re looking to hike through a forest of changing leaves, sip cider at a pumpkin festival, or experience a ghost encounter in Arizona’s most haunted town, Flagstaff has something for every type of traveler.

In this guide, I’m sharing all the best things to do in Flagstaff during the fall season. I hope these ideas inspire you in creating your ultimate fall trip!

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1. Scenic Gondola Ride at Arizona Snowbowl

The Arizona Snowbowl Gondola’s are an awesome way to view the fall foliage from an elevated view, without taking the time and energy to hike.

You’ll find the gondolas at the end of Snowbowl Rd on the western side of the San Francisco Peaks. This ride takes you up along the slope of the mountain.

You’ll be in an enclosed cabin with windows on all walls giving you phenomenal views as you ride. 

Once you reach the end, you’re able to get out, walk around and fully take in the views.

The ride up the mountain takes roughly 7 minutes and you will ascend about 2,000 ft! 

Tickets start at $19 per adult on weekdays and $24 per adult on weekends. For children 6-12 years old tickets are about $4-5 cheaper.

It is recommended to purchase your gondola tickets online ahead of time because they will likely be cheaper than getting them on site. Plus, you don’t want to chance them having no openings the day you want to go. 

This is the perfect activity if you don’t have a ton of time to hike in Flagstaff but still want to get some nice views of the fall foliage.

2. Flagstaff Ghost Tour

Get into the Halloween spirit and take a Flagstaff Ghost Tour!

You may not know it, but Flagstaff has a dark and violent early history.

Flagstaff’s haunted reputation is rooted in its violent frontier past, when saloons, gambling, and lawlessness gave rise to uncontrolled crime, murders, and dozens of public hangings. 

The town’s dark history deepened with tragic events like the great fire of 1884, the brutal murder of 6-year-old Johnny Elden Jr., whose grave remains the most visited in Arizona. Plus, the chilling tale of a former school custodian who murdered his family before taking his own life in the basement of what is now the Flagstaff Public Library.

These are all reasons why Flagstaff is known to be one of the most haunted cities in the US.

Flagstaff is home to several haunted locations, and the Flagstaff Ghost Tour will take you to some of the top sites. Most notably the infamous Hotel Monte Vista where dozens of unexplained events have been reported such as strange noises, moving furniture, and frequent ghost sightings.

You’ll also walk by The Weatherford Hotel, another hotel in Old Town Flagstaff known for regular ghost encounters in several different rooms. As well as the Doris Harper-White Playhouse, a haunted theater. 

Curious to experience Flagstaff’s haunted history for yourself? Use my code “SOUL10” to get 10% off your walking Flagstaff Ghost Tour!

3. Flagstaff Farmers Market

The Flagstaff Community Market actually begins in May and runs throughout the summer and into October, but I think it’s the perfect place to spend a crisp autumn Sunday morning. 

Parking and admission to the Farmers Market is free.

There are tons of vendors selling everything from fresh produce, crafts, coffee, homemade food, and so much more. It’s a great way to support some small local businesses and try out some new foods. 

You can find the market taking place at 211 W Aspen Ave every Sunday from May-October between 8Am-12PM.

4. Hike Humphreys Peak 

For the ultimate challenge on your trip to Flagstaff this fall, try hiking to the summit of Humphreys Peak!

Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona and it can be reached via a 10 mile round trip hike where you’ll ascend nearly 3,400 feet of elevation!

So this is a strenuous hike and should only be attempted by more experienced hikers and when you’ve already acclimated to the altitude in Flagstaff for a couple days.

Fall is by far the best time to hike Humphreys Peak because you’re avoiding the dangerous monsoon season in summer, and snowy conditions in winter and spring. Plus, the fall color you’ll see at various points on the hike is exceptional. 

5. Visit Walnut Canyon National Monument

Walnut Canyon National Monument is a site protected by the NPS right outside of Flagstaff. 

This monument is home to impressive cliff dwellings made by the northern Sinagua people.

Walnut Canyon is great to visit any time of year, but the crisp air and beautiful foliage you’ll only find here in the fall!

Not only will you be able to glimpse into the past and learn about how the Sinagua people survived here, you will also be treated to gorgeous views of the steep limestone cliffs and the unique plant life of Walnut Canyon. 

There are two trails in Walnut Canyon National Monument:

The Rim Trail is a 0.5 mile out and back trail that goes along the northern rim of the canyon. There are a few nice overlooks along the way, but you don’t see much of the inside of the canyon here. However, this trail is flat and paved so it’s perfect for people of all ages and abilities.

The Island Trail is the more strenuous of the two. It is a 1 mile round trip and starts in the Visitor Center. From the Visitor Center you will proceed to go down over 700 stairs until you reach what’s known as the “island” of the canyon. This island is home to well preserved cliff dwellings, some of which you can go inside and explore.

If you have the physical ability, I definitely recommend the Island Trail because you get an up close experience of the dwellings.

Admission to Walnut Canyon will cost you $15 per person unless you have an access pass offered by the NPS such as an America the Beautiful Pass. 

6. Disc Golf at McPherson Park

Another one of my favorite ways to enjoy the outdoors is by playing disc golf. It’s usually free, and all you need is a frisbee to get started.

My partner and I have played at several disc golf courses across the US and the course at McPherson Park in Flagstaff remains my favorite.

The course is pretty easy to follow and holes aren’t too challenging. Perfect for beginners. 

As you play you’ll be walking through a beautiful Ponderosa Pine forest with views of the San Francisco Peaks. 

This park doesn’t seem to get too crowded either, but you’re sure to see more people on the weekends.

7. Hike Inside the Lava River Cave

If you run into a particularly cold fall day, I recommend hiking the Lava River Cave.

This is one of the most unique hikes in the Flagstaff area because it takes you through a massive lava tube. This hike is almost entirely underground, shielding you from the harsh and cold winds around you. 

This hike is only a 2 mile round trip and is completely flat with the exception of a short rocky descent at the beginning to get into the cave.

The cave itself is also rocky in spots so you’ll definitely want to have sturdy shoes here.

As always when exploring a cave, bring multiple light sources with you. 

This cave is pretty popular though, so you will probably run into others while exploring. Especially if you go on a weekend.

8. The Arboretum at Flagstaff

The The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a 200‑acre botanical gem nestled in a Ponderosa Pine forest just south of town, dedicated to showcasing and conserving the unique plant life of Northern Arizona. 

There are several miles of flat, family-friendly trails winding through meadows and pine‑oak woodlands. Perfect for people of all ages.

Fall is one of the best times of year to visit the Arboretum because you’ll witness the leaves changing from green to beautiful yellow and red hues. September and October are the best times to see fall foliage at the Arboretum. 

Tickets for adults (18+) run for $12 and tickets for children (5-17) are $6.

Pumpkin Walk 2025

In addition to beautiful fall colors, you can join in on the park’s last event of the season: the Pumpkin Walk. The Pumpkin Walk takes place on October 25th, 2025 from 4PM-8 PM.

You’ll see hundreds of hand carved pumpkins along the trails with accompanying food trucks, music, activities for kids, and more! 

9. Flagstaff Star Party

If you’re in town at the end of September, you won’t want to miss Flagstaff’s annual Star Party and Celebration of the Night. 

This year from September 25th through the 27th, you can join in on a free, family-friendly star extravaganza featuring telescope viewing (10–30+ scopes), guided night-sky orientations, and astronomy talks led by local and professional astronomers. 

The Star Party takes place at Buffalo Park which is very easily accessible from downtown Flagstaff. 

Flagstaff is known as the first International Dark Star City so it has some of the darkest skies you’ll see near a town. This is the ideal place for stargazing and this event is perfect for people of all ages who are interested in astronomy. 

10. Visit Sunset Crater National Monument

The Sunset Crater is another great National Park site to visit when you’re in the area. This park was named after the now dormant volcano located just outside Flagstaff. 

About 1,000 years ago, the Sunset Crater Volcano erupted after a series of earthquakes in the region. 

When Sunset Crater erupted, it forced many of the local settlers to evacuate and rebuild their lives in nearby areas like Walnut Canyon and Wupatki.

Today, you’ll walk through a mix of jagged lava rock and vegetation slowly reclaiming the land. You’ll find Ponderosa Pines plentiful here, but the massive cinder cone in the backdrop of this park reminds you that this land was previously covered in flowing lava. 

In the fall, you’ll also find golden aspen trees adding bursts of color to the black lava rock landscape. These trees often grow in areas impacted by fire or volcanic activity, and their bright yellow leaves are a beautiful symbol of renewal rising from destruction.

Admission Fees for Sunset Crater go for $25 per vehicle unless you have an America the Beautiful Pass.

11. Walk Downtown and Explore Route 66

No trip to Flagstaff in the fall is complete without a stroll through its charming downtown area, where Historic Route 66 cuts right through the heart of town.

This area is packed with cozy cafés, craft breweries, bookstores, and one-of-a-kind shops tucked into historic brick buildings.

The crisp mountain air and changing leaves create the perfect setting for window shopping, grabbing a locally roasted coffee, or admiring vibrant street art and all the vintage neon signs.

The Flagstaff Visitor Center is a great first stop where you can find things to do, and explore the inside of the old train depot (which is also known to be haunted!)

12. Visit Aspen Corner

This may be one of the most popular, yet one of the best places to see fall color in Flagstaff. Aspen Corner is located on the western slope of the San Francisco Peaks.

Aspen Corner is named after a short curve in Snow Bowl Rd which leads you up to the Arizona Snowbowl and the trailhead for Humphreys Peak.

Lining this road are thousands of golden aspen trees. You literally can’t miss it. You’re likely to see tons of people taking senior pictures, family pictures, etc in these forests during this time of year. 

There’s no parking lot for Aspen Corner. You will just have to find a spot on the side of the road then get out and explore.

Even though this area can get crowded (especially during peak leaf season on the weekends) it’s still a beautiful place to check out to see the beautiful fall foliage in Flagstaff. 

13. Hike Aspen Nature Loop

Down the road from Aspen Corner, you’ll find an easy and family friendly hike called the Aspen Nature Loop. This trail takes you through an open field where you’ll see both the San Francisco Peaks and Kendrick Peak. 

This hike comes in at about a 1.8 mile round trip and it’s completely free! It’s a perfect hike to do when you’re visiting Aspen Corner.

The trailhead for the Aspen Nature Loop is in the same place as the trailhead to Humphreys Peak so there is ample parking here. If you aren’t able to take the trek to the highest point in Arizona, there’s an easy trail in the same area with amazing views of the peaks. 

14. Hike to Lockett Meadow

This is the less crowded alternative to Aspen Corner. It does require about a 9 mile round trip hike via the Inner Basin Trail.

Lockett Meadow is located on the eastern slope of the San Francisco Peaks and it offers a completely different experience than Aspen Corner. Still beautiful, but even more pristine. 

On AllTrails, it lists the mileage for the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail as 3.5 miles, which doesn’t sound too bad. However, this is not including the 3 mile (one way) road that you have to hike up just to get to the Inner Basin Trailhead. 

Inner Basin Road Closures in Fall

The road to get to this trailhead closes at the end of summer each year. So, if you want to get to Lockett Meadow, you’ll have to hike 3 miles up and 3 miles back down on the road that’s not even technically part of the trail. 

However, I can tell you that it’s completely worth it. 

Once you get to the actual trailhead after you hike the first 3 miles up, you will already be getting some great views of the fall colors. This is where many people turn around at. 

We kept going and did the entire Inner Basin Trail and we only saw 2 other people up there with us.

There aren’t many places where you can get some serenity and peace out in nature this time of year on the San Francisco Peaks, but this is certainly one of them. 

I definitely preferred Lockett Meadow over Aspen Corner just because of how quiet and peaceful it is.

For us it was almost hard to enjoy Aspen Corner because of all the people all over the place taking photos.

So if you have the ability and time to hike 6 miles or more, I’d recommend checking out Lockett Meadow instead of Aspen Corner. 

15. Take a Scenic Drive near Flagstaff

If you’re up for a drive, there are tons of scenic roads in the Flagstaff area showcasing the beautiful fall foliage.

Here’s a couple awesome drives to check out:

Highway 89A

If you plan to visit Sedona on your trip to Flagstaff, you’ll be taking Highway 89A. This scenic road winds through steep mountains, gradually descending elevation down to Oak Creek Canyon.

Once at the bottom, you’ll drive along a small and scenic creek where you’ll find trees changing all different colors. Red, orange, and yellow leaves can all be seen along Oak Creek around late September-mid October.

Pretty soon you’ll come out into red rock country and the peaceful woodlands turn into the towering red rock formations that Sedona is known for.

The drive from Flagstaff to Sedona is one of my favorite scenic drives in Arizona and fall is by far the best time to do it. 

Highway 180

Highway 180 is also a beautiful scenic road which passes between the San Francisco Peaks and Kendrick Peak. These two massive mountains come alive in the fall with splashes of golden yellow scattered throughout their slopes. 

You get some really phenomenal views of Humphreys Peak from this highway. I will say the views are better if you’re driving south on the road down to Flagstaff than heading north. 

And that wraps up my complete guide to the best things to do in Flagstaff during fall! It’s really such a magical time to visit this part of Arizona. The golden aspens, crisp mountain air, and all the local events make Flagstaff a place you won’t want to miss this fall.

I hope this post gave you plenty of inspiration for your own fall getaway to this amazing and charming town. Thank you so much for reading!