Don’t forget to use the LEAF-ometer to catch Flagstaff’s fall colors and amazing scenery! Stay and play responsibly.
Perhaps it’s the calm, peace and quiet beckoning you. Look no further than The Arboretum at Flagstaff, an oasis of high-altitude native plants. As autumn draws near, trees transform into golden pieces of art. The Arboretum is open through October and is another great place for a picnic and family getaway. Stroll through historic downtown Flagstaff for excellent leaf-peeping, too, and certainly carve some time for a great meal and shopping with vibrant colors sprinkling the tree-lined streets. Another great vantage point is Northern Arizona University’s beautiful campus. There is an abundance of trees (think Old Main, north campus, as one such area) and you can even catch a Lumberjacks fall football game.
When, where and what color are the fall leaves? The Discover Flagstaff LEAF-ometer has the answer to these questions with an online tool. The LEAF-ometer gauges the changing foliage on the trails and around town. Visit flagstaffarizona.org/leafometer. This valuable resource provides an idea in real time of what stage of color alteration to expect in leaves when traveling to varying areas of the city and will help you experience the season at its most exhilarating.
Let’s keep Flagstaff beautiful, trails sustainable and wild places wild. To conserve trails and support responsible visitation, sign up for the FREE Flagstaff Trails Passport at go.discoverflagstaff.com to discover some trails less traveled. It’s easy!
Step 1: Sign up! This mobile exclusive passport is a curated collection of local trails where you can check in to collect points during your Flagstaff visit.
Step 2: Your passport will be instantly delivered to your phone via text and email and is ready to use immediately! There is no app to download. Your pass can be saved to your phone’s home screen for easy one-tap access. (Note: The private information provided is only used for the services within the Flagstaff Trails Passport.)
Step 3: When visiting a location, simply check in using your phone’s built in GPS and record your visit to count toward earning prizes! (You will need your phone geolocation services turned on to check in.)
Trails are assigned points based on their levels of difficulty. The accrued points from trail check-ins can be presented at the Visitor Center (1 E. Rt. 66.) for redeemable prizes. Prizes include a sticker, a postcard, a fanny pack and a donation made in your name by Discover Flagstaff to the Flagstaff Trails Initiative.
Did you know Flagstaff is a part of a group of mountain towns supporting responsible tourism in wild places through Pledge for the Wild (PFTW)? This responsible tourism initiative, PFTW, is making a difference in Flagstaff providing an opportunity to keep our trails beautiful with donations to the non-profit Flagstaff Trails Initiative. After a satisfying Flagstaff adventure, consider giving back with a small donation: visit pledgewild.com or text WILD4FLAG to 44321. Each donation submitted by text-to-donate or through the PFTW website is sent directly to the Flagstaff Trails Initiative, which is working hard to keep Flagstaff’s wild places special.
Find additional eco-friendly and donation opportunities by subscribing to Flagstaff Local at flagstafflocal.com. Flagstaff Local is a community movement encouraging and celebrating residents and visitors that choose to support Flagstaff. Make a difference, volunteer, vote, mentor, shop locally and be eco-friendly – it’s as simple and worthwhile as that. Take the Flagstaff Local Pledge, sign up for the Trails Passport, Pledge Wild, and stop by the Flagstaff Visitor Center (1 E. Rt. 66.) to pick up FREE bags to bring on your next hike.
Don’t forget to use the LEAF-ometer to catch Flagstaff’s fall colors and amazing scenery! Stay and play responsibly. Learn more at discoverflagstaff.com. FBN
By Meg Roederer