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Hiking Trails Under 5 km near Flagstaff

The directory currently contains 73 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Flagstaff. Their average mapped distance is 2.4 km and average recorded ascent is 134 m (440 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.9 km.

This subset represents 68% of the 108 quality-checked routes near Flagstaff. Its average distance is 2.4 km, compared with 4.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 134 m (440 ft), versus 224 m (735 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 21 routes (29%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 4 (5%) 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

2.1 km

Fay Canyon #53

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

95 m

Fay Canyon #53

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

Looking west over Flagstaff from Mt. Elden Lookout. Taken 7-17-13 by Brady Smith. Credit: U.S. Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
Moderate

Arizona · United States

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

Arizona · United States

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

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

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
316 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Boynton Canyon Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
302 m
Typical duration
1 hr 28 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Fay Canyon is a favorite hike for many who prefer a shorter hike with minimal elevation gain or who enjoy the grandeur of red sandstone walls towering overhead. Some people visit Fay Canyon to see the natural arch located just under a half
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
95 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Long Canyon Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
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

Arizona · United States

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

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Mountain
Red Rock Canyon road
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Canyon and gorge
The A.B.Young Trail leaves from the southernmost end of the Bootlegger Picnic Area in Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona, Arizona. Take steps down to Oak Creek, find a suitable place to "boulder hop" or wade the stream, cross the creek, follo
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
756 m
Typical duration
1 hr 57 min
  • Forest
Sterling Pass Trail To Vultee Arch Trail, Sedona, Arizona, Coconino County
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
358 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
293 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Forest
Little L.O. Trail For more information about this trail, see the a href=" http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55134 actid=50 " Little L.O. Trail No. 6 /a trail description on the a href=" http://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino/
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Typical duration
16 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
282 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Forest
Near the end of Forest Road 525 in the Red Rock Ranger District is the Honanki Ruins, which are located at the base of this rock formation, hidden by the trees and shrubbery. For directions on how to get there, visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconi
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
74 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
46 min
  • Forest
Secret Cabin on Secret Mountain Trail, Coconino National Forest, Arizona.
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Forest
Easy

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Forest
Easy

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Forest
Wilson Mountain North Trail, Sedona, Arizona, Coconino County
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
482 m
Typical duration
1 hr 25 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
234 m
Typical duration
1 hr 18 min
Red Rocks seen from the vista of Schebly Hill road. Taken on 7-7-09 by Brienne Magee. Credit: USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
58 m
Typical duration
46 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
311 m
Typical duration
50 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
24 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
224 m
Typical duration
37 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
196 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
182 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
Sterling Pass Trail To Vultee Arch Trail, Sedona, Arizona, Coconino County
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
187 m
Typical duration
51 min
Bear Mountain, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Arizona · United States

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

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
122 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Mountain
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
78 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
49 min
Aerie Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
78 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
18 min
Easy

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
25 min
Devil's Bridge Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Typical duration
17 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
242 m
Typical duration
1 hr 23 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
201 m
Typical duration
1 hr 12 min
Mescal Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
154 m
Typical duration
1 hr 5 min
Easy

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
57 m
Typical duration
20 min
Easy

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
22 min
Easy

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
11 min
Moderate

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
17 min
Easy

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
8 min
Easy

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
28 m
Typical duration
15 min
Easy

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
7 min

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
Elden Lookout TrailArizona4.2 km764 m2 hr 1 minModerateJuly to September
Bear Mountain #54Arizona3.7 km695 m1 hr 48 minModerateJune to October
Brookbank TrailArizona4.8 km98 m1 hr 8 minModerateJuly to September
Slate Mountain Trail #128Arizona3.5 km316 m1 hr 13 minModerateJuly to September
Boynton Canyon #47Arizona4.9 km302 m1 hr 28 minModerateApril to October
Fay Canyon #53Arizona2.1 km95 m34 minModerateApril to October
Canyon of Fools #174FArizona1.9 km13 m25 minModerateApril to October
Munds Mountain #77Arizona3.0 km239 m59 minModerateJune to October
Aspen Nature LoopArizona2.1 km90 m35 minEasyJuly to September
Wilson Canyon #49Arizona1.8 km41 m26 minModerateApril to October

Elden Lookout Trail, Bear Mountain #54, Slate Mountain Trail #128 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.

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