While the temperature in Tucson was breaking records at 111 degrees Saturday, it was a cool, crisp — relatively speaking — 87 degrees in Flagstaff.
About 260 miles north of Tucson at an elevation of about 7,000 feet, Flagstaff is a modern mountain community and university town that makes an ideal weekend getaway from the Old Pueblo.
Flagstaff has a fun, funky downtown and It's packed with quaint, unique-to-Flagstaff and chain restaurants. It’s a dog-friendly town many restaurant patios welcomer Fido, and others allowing pooches to sit outside the restaurant’s patio fence next to their person.
Wintertime skiing makes way for watersports and hiking during the summer. If you’re in shape, you can tackle Humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet.
Aspen trees, aspen trees and more aspen trees.
If you're not, or just want a gentle hike, Aspen Cornerhas jaw-dropping views, an open meadow and plenty of green. You’ll see other hikers, runners and mountain bikers along the trail. This trail intersects the San Francisco Peaks (South) No. 34 of the Arizona Trail.
Get there: Flagstaff is about 4 to 4½ hours from Tucson. Take Interstate-10 into the Phoenix area and head north on Interstate I-17. When you’re ready to hike, head toward the Snowbowl ski resort. The trail is about 11 miles from downtown Flagstaff. Take US-180/Fort Valley Road for about 7 miles. Turn right on Snowbowl Road and go 5½ miles to the parking area for Aspen Corner.
Aspen Corner is a contrast to Tucson's desertscape.
