By Melissa Bowersock
Anyone who’s familiar with Flagstaff knows that you can head off in almost any direction out of town and find forest roads and hiking trails in abundance. In Flag, the challenge is not in finding a trail, it’s picking one out of the many!
Since Flagstaff is notoriously dog-friendly, all of these trails allow dogs, but on-leash only. Many of these trails are very popular, so maintaining control of your dogs and cleaning up after them is essential for the safety and consideration of all. Be a good dog and trail steward so everyone enjoys the walk.
Howard and Mary Roth are desert-dwellers, but like many enjoy trading the triple-digit summer heat in the lowlands for the cool pines of Flagstaff whenever they can. Because they always take their two dogs with them, they’ve made it their goal to find all the dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, and hiking trails in Flagstaff.
Dusty, a small mixed-breed rescue, might not pose much of a challenge when traveling, but 70-pound Dolly, a Great Pyrenees, requires more than simply tucking her underneath an arm. Both dogs have benefited from the Roth’s quest for the best canine venues.
Buffalo Park
Very close to downtown Flag is Buffalo Park. This is a 215-acre park with a variety of offerings. The loop trail is two miles long through meadow and forest, and provides stunning views of the nearby San Francisco Peaks. From the bright green of spring to the gold colors of fall to the pristine snow of winter, this trail is a year-round favorite, and its close proximity to town makes it very popular with walkers, joggers, and families.
The trail itself is level and easy, but if you crave a bit more exercise, there is a fitness course along the way where you can challenge yourself to a quick workout.
Most wildlife will avoid the heavy-traffic hours when humans and dogs are abundant, but during quieter times, you might see mule deer in the meadows, and birds will flit from tree to tree. Woodpeckers, ravens, and lark sparrows are common.
The park is open all year round, but of course the winter experience can be quite different than the summer one. In addition, the dark skies of Flagstaff offer a unique opportunity to do some stargazing at night. Whatever activities you can combine with dog-walking, Buffalo Park has you covered.
To get there from downtown Flag, head north on N. San Francisco Street 1.2 miles to Forest Avenue. Turn right and go up the hill to Gemini, then turn left and park in the lot. There is usually ample parking available.
Kachina Trail
A bit farther out of town, Kachina Trail offers up more of a mountain hiking experience. This trail is five miles long and includes a 700-foot change in elevation along the way, from 8,800 to 9,500 feet.
The trail meanders through forests of brilliant yellow-gold aspen in the fall, and even crosses a massive lava flow. It’s effectively closed during the winter, depending on the snowfall, as the parking lot is often blocked by huge drifts of snow.
Because the trail skirts the San Francisco Peaks and lies within the Kachina Peaks Wilderness area, it’s not unusual to see wild animals. Mule deer are common, and elk may be seen, although more rarely. Black bears have been encountered there, and cougars are known to slink through the underbrush although they are more active at night. In the fall, you may encounter bow hunters along the trail.
Keeping your dog leashed and being situationally aware of all the possible activity is of primary importance. This is not the same as walking down a neighborhood sidewalk.
To get there, take Highway 180 north out of Flagstaff to milepost 223, which is also the turn-off for the Snowbowl. Go 6.5 miles to the parking lot.
Flagstaff Dog Parks
If your dog is high-energy and requires more riotous exercise, there are, of course, off-leash dog parks in Flagstaff as well. Thorpe Park, at 245 N. Thorpe Road, is near downtown and has many amenities beside the dog park. There are picnic grounds, basketball and tennis courts, a pond, and even a disc golf course.
Bushmaster Park is on the east side of town off of Cedar, at 3150 N. Alta Vista Drive. It offers similar options, including a skateboard area, tennis, volleyball and pickle ball courts, and ramadas for picnics. You never have to travel far in Flagstaff to find fun places to go with your dog.
Fun Paths & Patios
In our current situation and these times of social distancing, people may wish to avoid the popular hiking trails. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities on the sidewalks of whatever area you happen to be in.
There are hidden treasures in every little neighborhood, just waiting to be discovered. The Roths recently found a hidden pine forest trail bordering their own street, and now use the Google Earth app to look for new paths and fun walks close to home without compromising their health.
In addition, the Roths have discovered that many of Flagstaff’s restaurants have patio areas that allow dogs, and just about all breweries in town are dog friendly.
For out-of-towners, the Motel 6 in Woodland Village and Sonesta Suites off Country Club Road both allow dogs.
Mary’s favorite way to start the morning is to walk Dolly to a nearby convenience store for the morning paper, and the employees love seeing the big, fluffy Pyrenees. Later in the day, there might be a trip to Dairy Queen for a Pup Cup or two.
There’s no doubt that Flagstaff really rolls out the red carpets for dog lovers, and Dusty and Dolly have been down most of them!
