Arizona Road Trip to San Francisco Peaks

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Image Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org

Arizona, while often depicted as a dry, hot corner of the United States, is a treasure for the modern sightseer in search of truly memorable scenery. The state is packed with unexpected beauty at every turn. While it’s fast becoming a nationwide road trip destination thanks to remarkably unique sights like those found around San Francisco Peaks, Arizona, it’s not yet so popular that it’s impossible to unwind and enjoy the view without bumping into another sightseeing group.

San_Francisco_Peaks_AZ_1Plenty to Do at San Francisco Peaks AZ

The San Francisco Peaks contain Arizona’s tallest mountain and are part of the Coconino National Forest. Like many national forests, Coconino has a handful of activities to partake in while in attendance. While the main source of interest for most park guests is the scenic loop drive, there are a handful of dedicated recreational areas and observation sites that are ideal for you to pull over at to take a hike and stretch your legs, prepare a picnic lunch, or set up a basic camp for overnight stays. There are also a handful of other activities to partake in, such as:

  • Fishing (in specified locations)
  • Biking
  • Horse riding
  • Hunting (during certain seasons and in certain locations)
  • Winter sports

The Loop driving trail itself takes approximately 2 hours to navigate and offers a pristine view of meadows, colorful forests, and looming cliffs throughout a range of different districts. The forest’s look changes wildly along with the seasons, and the sights you’ll see will be different depending on when you choose to take your trip.

San_Francisco_Peaks_AZ_2The Ideal Season for a San Francisco Peaks Road Trip

While taking a trip to the hot state of Arizona in the winter might seem like a smart move, keep in mind that, especially in the high, mountainous regions like those in the Peaks, the weather gets much colder than you might think. In fact, the unpaved roads on the San Francisco Peaks Flagstaff road trip loop are completely closed off during the winter months in order to prevent accidents as a result of avalanches, ice, and snow. They typically do not open again until the area thaws in April or May.

However, you’re still more than welcome to enjoy the cool cliffs during the fall, which is the most popular time for visitor attendance. The trees up on the mountains begin changing to their most vibrant shades in early October, drawing thousands of guests to the park to take in the view of gold, red and fiery orange leaves.

Spring and summer, however, still have plenty to offer and certainly shouldn’t be written off as ideal Arizona road trip seasons. During these warmer months, the park is all in green and is host to huge numbers of wildflowers and various other types of plant life drinking in the water left behind by the winter snowmelt.

San_Francisco_Peaks_AZ_3Getting To the Peaks

Flagstaff is the closest major city to the loop, so it’s generally wise to begin your San Francisco Peaks Arizona road trip there. Drive about 15 miles northeast on US 89 from the center of Flagstaff. You’ll eventually see a sign that reads “Forest Access” around the 430.4-mile marker, at which point you will turn left and head west, which truly marks the beginning of the loop experience. This will bring you to FR 552, which continues for half a mile until dead-ending.

Hang a right, and then continue for approximately one mile until you see access to FR 418 on your right. This will be the longest stretch of your drive, lasting about 12 miles until you come to the FR 151 fork. You can choose to go right to continue on FR 151 and come to US 180 within a couple of miles or go left to partake in a longer drive that offers a beautiful scenic view of both the Snowbowl and Heart Prairie. US 180 will eventually lead you back to US 189, where you can choose to head home or enjoy the loop a second time.

During your drive, you’ll be privy to the sights of aspen stands, meadows dressed in either gold or green (depending on the season), snow-topped mountain peaks, rolling hills, and in the distance, the Painted Desert, another of Arizona’s biggest and most well-traveled natural attractions. This loop captures the best natural displays the wide state has to offer and lays it all out beneath a pristine, blue sky so you can enjoy it all.

San_Francisco_Peaks_AZ_4The Road Trip Necessities

You don’t have to take an entire week’s worth of supplies with you when you choose to travel the loop, but there are a few key items you should keep on hand to ensure your sightseeing adventure is a safe, stress-free one.

For starters, the loop is well-traveled enough that taking emergency supplies shouldn’t be a huge worry, but in general, when it comes to exploring national forests and parks, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Take a simple first aid kit along with you in order to treat any cuts, scrapes or minor injuries you or your fellow travelers might encounter during hiking or other activities. You will, of course, need to keep a few other things on hand as well.

  • A day’s worth of nutritional food for each traveler
  • An ample supply of water (particularly if traveling during the summer)
  • A change of clothes
  • Blankets (if traveling in winter)
  • Basic fire-starting elements (check forest guidelines to determine where and if fires are allowed first)

San_Francisco_Peaks_AZ_5Simply put, prepare your vehicle with enough supplies for a single unexpected overnight stay before heading out. These items, along with a few key pieces of knowledge about the area you’ll be traveling through, will help you keep your basic needs in check if your vehicle breaks down or you encounter other difficulties along your journey.

The San Francisco Peaks are some of Arizona’s most remarkable landmarks, and the loop road trip gives you the perfect opportunity to not only take in the sights you won’t be forgetting anytime soon but also to engage with the environment in a responsible way. You will, of course, want to prepare for your trip properly, though. If you intend on heading off to explore some of the wilder trails, this could mean bringing along a vehicle with higher clearance.

Fortunately, the Chevy models sold by the nearby Valley Chevy dealerships more than fit the bill, offering you the clearance you need to thoroughly explore this breathtaking corner of the world and get the most out of your trip in complete comfort, regardless of the season.