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Best Mountain Hikes near Flagstaff

The directory currently contains 26 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Flagstaff. Their average mapped distance is 9.0 km and average recorded ascent is 427 m (1,401 ft); the longest route in the set is 73.5 km.

This subset represents 24% of the 108 quality-checked routes near Flagstaff. Its average distance is 9.0 km, compared with 4.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 427 m (1,401 ft), versus 224 m (735 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 1 routes (4%) are rated easy, 3 (12%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (8%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

3.7 km

Bear Mountain #54

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

79 m

Humphreys Summit Trail #151

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Doyle Peak and Fremont Peak in the San Francisco Peak of Arizona. I hiked from Lockett Meadow on the Inner Basin Trail to the Weatherford Trail to Humphrey's Summit in the San Francisco Peaks Wilderness north of Flagstaff Arizona. Looking s
Moderate

Humphreys Summit Trail #151

Arizona · United States

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
79 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Looking west over Flagstaff from Mt. Elden Lookout. Taken 7-17-13 by Brady Smith. Credit: U.S. Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
Moderate

Elden Lookout Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
764 m
Typical duration
2 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Bull Basin Trail #40

Arizona · United States

Distance
6.2 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
679 m
Typical duration
2 hr 19 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Bear Mountain, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Bear Mountain #54

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
695 m
Typical duration
1 hr 48 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Hard

Weatherford Trail #102

Arizona · United States

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,354 m
Typical duration
5 hr 36 min
  • Mountain
Junction of Brookbank and Sunset Trails. Follow Sunset Trail downhill into a bowl between the Dry Lake Hills and Little Elden. Ascending from Schultz Pass through a peaceful ponderosa pine and fir forest, Sunset Trail drops into a cozy bowl
Moderate

Brookbank Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
  • River
  • Mountain
View of Kendrick Mountain on the return trek to the trailhead. This 2.4 mile moderately easy hiking trail rises from 7,362 feet to 8,215 feet in elevation to the top of Slate Mountain. The trail takes you through pinyon pine, ponderosa pine
Moderate

Slate Mountain Trail #128

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
316 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Certificate displaying the "Kendrick Lookout" being registered in the National Historic Lookout Register. This lookout was built in 1912. Williams district. Arizona. 10-5-16. 144654HRD. Photo by Dyan Bone. Credit the Kaibab National Forest.
Moderate

Kendrick Mountain Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
6.9 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
884 m
Typical duration
2 hr 45 min
  • Mountain
Secret Cabin on Secret Mountain Trail, Coconino National Forest, Arizona.
Moderate

Secret Mountain #109

Arizona · United States

Distance
8.7 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
435 m
Typical duration
2 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
The Two Spot Logging Train in Flagstaff (Arizona, USA).
Expert

Flagstaff Urban Trail System

Arizona · United States

Distance
73.5 km
/ 45.7 mi
Elevation gain
861 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Part of the Inner Basin Trail, which is in the San Francisco Peaks range near Flagstaff. Taken on 8-21-08 by Mike Chaveas. This shows how lush this trail can be in the summer and how beautiful the Aspen are. For more information on the Inne
Moderate

Inner Basin Trail #29

Arizona · United States

Distance
6.7 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
768 m
Typical duration
2 hr 32 min
  • Mountain
Wilson Mountain North Trail, Sedona, Arizona, Coconino County
Moderate

Wilson Mountain #10

Arizona · United States

Distance
8.7 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
140 m
Typical duration
2 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
The San Francisco Peaks seen from O'Leary Lookout. Taken 6-21-09 by Brienne Magee. Credit: USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
Moderate

O'Leary Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.9 mi
Elevation gain
664 m
Typical duration
2 hr 38 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Oldham Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
10.2 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
432 m
Typical duration
2 hr 46 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Heart Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
9.9 km
/ 6.2 mi
Elevation gain
525 m
Typical duration
2 hr 52 min
  • Mountain
Seen from atop Mt. Elden while on the Sunset Trail looking northeast. Photo taken on 7-16-12 by Brady Smith. Credit: U.S. Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
Moderate

Sunset Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
8.4 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
200 m
Typical duration
2 hr 3 min
  • Mountain
NAU students Aaron, Alex, and Matthew went on a field trip to the Arizona Snowbowl area to learn more about the Kachina Peaks and Kendrick Mountain Wildernesses. Rachel Cook, who documents southwestern Wilderness Areas for the Forest Servic
Moderate

Kachina Trail #150

Arizona · United States

Distance
8.8 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
246 m
Typical duration
2 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
The Munds Mountain Trail is a challenging, remote trail in the Munds Mountain Wilderness. The trail begins near Committee Tank in a remote area at 6,400' elevation where Schnebly Hill, Jacks Canyon and Hot Loop trails meet above Bear Wallow
Moderate

Munds Mountain #77

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
239 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Aspen Nature Loop

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Mountain
Bear Mountain, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Doe Mountain

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
157 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Little Round Mountain #9

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
122 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Mountain
Forest Road (FR) 222A in the Wing Mountain area offers a "camping corridor" between FR 222 and heading south and west to FR 171. Motor vehicles may drive and park up to 300 feet from FR 222A in the corridor. The western end of the road offe
Moderate

Spring Mountain Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
11.1 km
/ 6.9 mi
Elevation gain
111 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Mountain
500px provided description: Capitol Butte aka Thunder Mountain is a 6350 foot / 1940 meter peak in Sedona, Arizona. This photo was taken from the Munds Wagon Trail across the valley. The peaks in the distance are lit up by the sun while clo
Moderate

Thunder Mountain #165

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
107 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Mountain
Hard

Pumpkin Trail #39

Arizona · United States

Distance
7.2 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
933 m
Typical duration
2 hr 54 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Rocky Ridge Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
193 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Mountain

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Humphreys Summit Trail #151Arizona7.8 km79 m1 hr 44 minModerateJuly to September
Elden Lookout TrailArizona4.2 km764 m2 hr 1 minModerateJuly to September
Bull Basin Trail #40Arizona6.2 km679 m2 hr 19 minModerateJuly to September
Bear Mountain #54Arizona3.7 km695 m1 hr 48 minModerateJune to October
Weatherford Trail #102Arizona16.9 km1,354 m5 hr 36 minHardJuly to September
Brookbank TrailArizona4.8 km98 m1 hr 8 minModerateJuly to September
Slate Mountain Trail #128Arizona3.5 km316 m1 hr 13 minModerateJuly to September
Kendrick Mountain TrailArizona6.9 km884 m2 hr 45 minModerateJuly to September
Secret Mountain #109Arizona8.7 km435 m2 hr 28 minModerateJune to October
Flagstaff Urban Trail SystemArizona73.5 km861 m18 hrExpertJune to October

Humphreys Summit Trail #151, Elden Lookout Trail, Bull Basin Trail #40 currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

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Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

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Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

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